Though just an hour south of the major metropolitan hub of Louisville, Bardstown, Kentucky, is a world away. It's been five years since Tommy Ballard of Bardstown was gunned down while hunting with his grandson. The FBI has been involved in both the police officer's shooting and the disappearance of the woman. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A seven-year veteran of the department and member of the K-9 unit, Ellis had just gotten off work and was driving home when he found a stack of freshly cut tree limbs blocking the road at his exit off the Bluegrass Parkway. There is something darker hiding behind the small-town charm and friendly waves, Noll told CrimeOnline. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Approximately 150 miles away in a small town similar to many in the Tri-County, five murders are unsolved, one with a connection to the Tri-County. " I'm just praying this will bring us some kind of closure. Then on November 19, while he was out hunting on his rural property very early in the morning, a shot rang out. "This is one of those things that I'm not comfortable talking about. On Sept. 7, 2021, the FBI announced that search in Bardstown had ended, with several "items of interest" sent to a lab in Virginia for testing. Rogers parents were immediately vocal in their suspicions of boyfriend Brooks Houck. I say the cops are involved and the school teacher/her daughter found out something they werent supposed to find out. You can live there your whole life and not know many people. The Nelson County Coroner's Office reportedly said he was shot once in the chest, with the bullet entering his chest and exiting his back. Kathy had been shot multiple times. Tommy's death shocked the Bardstown community, which was still reeling from three other unsolved cases: the murder of Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis on May 25, 2013, the double homicide of Kathy and Samantha Netherland on April 21, 2014, and Tommy's daughter, Crystal who went missing on July 3, 2015. According to WCPO in Cincinnati, Ellis was fatally shot multiple times with a 12-gauge shotgun. Greek stationmaster arrested in head-on train crash; 36 dead. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, who lived with her, claimed innocence and said he had no clue what happened to Crystal. LOUISVILLE, KY. Another search is underway relating to the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers in Bardstown, Kentucky. 6 years later: Anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death follows 2nd FBI search in Crystal Rogers disa 6 years has passed since mysterious death of Crystal Rogers father, Tommy Ballard, 6 years later, Tommy Ballard's murder remains unsolved | whas11.com, 'Pushing for justice' | 6 years later, circumstances surrounding Tommy Ballard's death remain a mystery | News | wdrb.com, A move in the right direction: Sherry Ballard reacts to special prosecutor appointment to Nelson County cases, Special prosecutor investigating three Nelson County deaths, Signs speculating about suspect in disappearance of Crystal Rogers appear on anniversary of her father's death, Family still searching for answers in death of missing woman's father, Police investigating shooting death of Tommy Ballard, KSP clears victim's grandson in Nelson County shooting death, Sherry Ballard says her husband was being followed leading up to his death, Search continues for Ky. mom part 2 (Rogers), Witness Says She Saw Suspicious Car The Morning Tommy Ballard Was Shot, KSP seeks public's help in investigation of Tommy Ballard shooting death, Grandson cleared in missing woman's dad's death, TIMELINE: Crystal Rogers disappearance & Investigation, Autopsy scheduled in Tommy Ballard death, investigation continues, The Complete Timeline of Crystal Rogers' Disappearance, Family offers $20,000 for information on fatal shooting, Bardstown family longs for answers 6 months after Tommy Ballard was killed, WHAS11 Journalist Shay McAlister visits EKU at "A Night of True Crime" Event, FBI conducting new search in Crystal Rogers case, Family of Crystal Rogers hopes for answers during FBI search of Bardstown farm - ABC 36 News, Timeline: A look at the Crystal Rogers case since 2015, including FBI involvement, FBI begins fourth day of search for Crystal Rogers on Houck farm - YouTube. Small towns where everybody knows each others business are notorious hotbeds of gossip. Jasons wife was a substitute teacher who had worked at the school where Kathy worked but they have not been linked in any other way. It's still getting investigated like if it were a murder investigation or homicide investigation, Kentucky State Police Trooper Jeff Gregory told WDRB. The random frightens us. In the same article, however, Trooper Gregory said, "I have no reason at this time to believe they're connected, but it's not something that we're discarding either.". A policeman, as a public safety officer, could reasonably be expected to stop. The two had been beaten and killed. In 2019, ahome being builtby Brooks Houckwas burned down inwhat city officials said was anarson case. The day Tommy was killed. 43% of KY women and 35.5% of KY men experience intimate partner violence. On May 25, 2013, Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and killed on his way home after signing off for the night by someone lying in wait for . Outerknowns Top-Rated Blanket Shirt Is on Sale at Huckberry, Shibui Will Make You Rethink Japanese Whisky (In a Good Way), 17 Black-Owned Clothing Brands and Designers That Every Stylish Man Should Know, Heres Why You Should Consider Skipping Your Next Inflight Meal. The killer sets up the ambush and Officer Ellis stops to remove the debris from the roadway, and the killer opens fire, killing him. The crimes left a long-lasting effect on Bardstown. You could have the information we need to desperately solve these cases.". The brush was a trapone that was sprung when someone ambushed Ellis, shooting him several times with a shotgun. None, however, have led to any arrests. Tommy Ballard had been shot in the chest while hunting with his grandson. Its striking to note that theres been so little progress in the investigation into the death of Officer Ellis. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. According to Brooks Houck (with whom Crystal lived), she was last seen playing games on her phone until late on the night of July 3. That was disapproved by her family and Samantha also didnt babysit for the Ellis family, that was untrue gossip and hearsay. There was also gossip that Kathy taught Jason Ellis son at Bardstown Elementary School. Kathy Netherland taught special education at Bardstown Elementary School. Till the day he died, family said, Tommy Ballard never stopped looking for his daughter Crystal. Officer Ellis & Officer Houks were employed by the same agency, but didn't work any cases together. There is no evidence that he was conducting any kind of independent investigation or was privy to any information that Law Enforcement didnt have. The day Tommy was killed. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. FBI spokeswoman Katie Anderson told The Courier Journal in October 2021 the agency had "nothing new to share on the Crystal Rogers investigation.". I grew up in Kentucky, about an hour away from Bardstown. [PREVIOUS STORY: Black Chevy Impala is suspect vehicle in Nelson Co. murders, says KSP]. Please call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Houck has denied involvement with Rogers'disappearance and has never been charged. There were no witnesses, and no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting. According to the statistics on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the US. They need new cases. And the Kentucky State Police have brought two investigators out of retirement to help in the Ellis case. And awesome. Officer Ellis was driving home late that night in his cruiser when he stopped on Exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway to clear brush from the road. A Welcome to Bardstown sign is unnecessary, though. "She was nice to everyone she met. At least one valid email address is required. Crystal overhears something that implicates her boyfriend and his brother in the ambush murder of the officer in 2013. Is it possible that they have some sort of freeway shooter there? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Any nightmares I had in Bardstown were just inside my head, not hovering in the shadows under the trees crowding the highway. Details: On July 5, 2015, Crystal Rogers was reported missing by her mother, after she had not been seen or heard from since the evening of July 3, 2015. It's been more than seven years since a Bardstown mother of five vanished and to this day, it still remains a mystery. I agree it did seem personal but I also think that maybe she fought back more than the mother did and the killer(s) lost their cool. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/ncadv_kentucky_fact_sheet_2020.pdf. These are stories need to be told, Noll said. with the Bardstown Police. The FBI said it is "offering up to a$25,000 rewardfor informationleading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible" for Rogers' disappearance. None of their neighbors have subsequently been murdered but I wonder if any were involved in sketchy activity. According to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron a Bardstown, Ky. man has been arrested on a drug trafficking charge. . My opinion-The only explanation for their murders that I see, is that its possibly a random horrific murder. Her daughter Samantha was 16 and a sophomore at Bardstown High, where she was a member of several clubs, including the school chorus, Adventure Club, and the Young Leaders Program. In August of 2013, Brant Sheckles, a member of the Bardstown Money Gang, claimed the street gangwas responsible for Ellis murder. The cop was killed in an ambush, and Crystals ex-boyfriends (the one who we all know killed her, no proof yet) brother is a cop and he told the ex-boyfriend that they were going to raid his property before it happened. Where the case stands today. KSP investigators are asking for the public's help identifying the occupants of the vehicle, which was seen near the Netherlands' home on April 21. The murders of Kathy and Samantha Netherland remain unsolved. I agree that it would be easier if they were all related, but I don't think they are. Throughout the search,police were allowing only a few cars into the subdivision and reporters were kept out. Absolutely. A new visitor from the cityNashville to the south or Louisville to the northmight be forgiven for thinking theyre driving into nowhere. of 33-year-old Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis on May 25 of that year. Complicating the investigation was that fact that Houcks brother Nick was an officer with the Bardstown Police. She was a widow and in photos she looked younger than her reported age of 48. Last year, the FBI tore up a driveway in a subdivision of Bardstown whileconducting "several searches" related to the disappearance ofRogers. He was a father of two daughters, Crystal, Brooke, and his son, Casey. A seven-year veteran of the Bardstown police department and a member of the K-9 unit, Jason Ellis was ambushed and brutally gunned down at around 2-3 a.m. on May 25, 2013. The local gossip mill has pointed out that Chrystal Rogers and Jason Elliss wife were both quite attractive and his type but I am not aware of any evidence that he was involved with either woman. A seven-year veteran of the department and member of the K-9 unit, Ellis had just gotten off work and was driving home when he found a stack of freshly cut tree limbs blocking the road at his exit off the Bluegrass Parkway. Tommy was married to Sherry and they had eight grandchildren. Nov 2, 2018 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the 6-year-old son of Crystal Rogers, the Bardstown woman who disappeared in July. Boyfriend likely killed her, and his police officer brother helped dispose of the body. The Netherland murders appear to be unrelated but without a discernible motive, I wouldnt rule a connection out. I suspect that one or more people murdered Jason to solve a problem and Chrystal and her father were murdered by the same to solve perhaps different problems. The personal beating of Samantha is what keeps me from thinking it was somebody random, though I also can't hypothesize who would have had such an issue or contempt with the girl to beat her so badly before killing her. Michael Wayne Unseld was shot and killed above what used to be the Broke Tee Nite Club in Bardstown in 2016. A 35 year old woman named Crystal Rogers went missing from Bardstown, Kentucky back in 2015. My opinion: Crystals disappearance is that this was a domestic violence situation that turned into murder. Rogers wasnot known to go anywhere without her kids, according to the FBI. The FBI has been offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to arrests in Ellis' slaying. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkwaywith her keys, phone and purse still inside. ), If you have information related to the murder of Tommy Ballard, call 1-800-Call-FBI or submit a tip at- https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/tommy-ballard. Bardstown is at the center of five unsolved deaths and disappearances, including that of Crystal Rogers,and they continue to inspire speculation, gossip and intrigue far beyond the county line. There is a person of interest in Crystals case. With a population of just over 14,000. and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! To watch the 2018 series, visitOxygen's site. In April 2014, nearly a year after Ellis murder, Bardstown was again rocked by the brutal double-homicide of 48-year-old Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha. (I think thats coincidental), all of these happened on or in fairly close proximity to the bluegrass parkway. The two share a home with their 2 year old son and Crystal's other children. To. I know that one of 'em had her throat slit. On the morning of November 19, 2016, sixteen months after Crystals disappearance, Ballard was preparing for a hunting trip with his 12-year-old grandson on family property next to Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky. That same month his brother Nick Houck was fired from the Bardstown P.D. Tequila fanatic? They lived in a small, isolated neighborhood. Federal agents, with help from Nelson County highway department vehicles, were continuing to zero in on a driveway and truck away pieces of concrete and materials from outside a home. "I have been asked by the police about the relative location of chairs," said Holly. Seems like the Netherland murder may not be connected to the other crimes. They include the ambush murder of police officer Jason Ellis in 2013, the brutal double homicide of Kathy Netherland and her teenage daughter Samantha a year later and the 2015 disappearance of Ballard . Crystal Rogers [Handout]On July 2, 2015, Crystal Rogers, 35, vanished from her Bardstown home off of Glenview Drive. Bardstown today has more than doubled in population, and the shadows have grown deeper. It would be great if someone came forward and gave information to help solve these whether they're related or not and I hope someone does soon. It definitely could have been someone known to them but so far I haven't seen a good suspect. FBI agents were searching a farm Monday morning connected to the man. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/investigations/bardstown/car-caught-on-surveillance-at-netherland-home/417-7b7bfab9-850a-4376-907e-7c881eb619ec, https://www.kystandard.com/content/family-netherland-legacies-about-more-their-tragic-final-moments, If you have any information on this case, please call the Kentucky State Police @ 1-800-222-5555. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Just 16 months later, while searching for answers, Crystal's father is murdered in cold blood. As for Crystal Rogers, i don't know why but i'd say this one is not connected, if it is connected then its strange of how all of them (Jason, Kathy, Samantha) were killed on the spot and Crystal is just missing. This, to me, is starting to get silly.". Nick later told the Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky House of Representatives and State Senate. In the four years following the Netherland murders, Kentucky State Police have identified no suspects or possible motive, but during the season finale of Oxygen's docu-series "The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers," reporter Stephanie Bauerspoke with ananonymous prison inmatewho claimed Kathy and Samantha were killed during a gang initiation. Sign up now. Plus, you could smell bourbon everywhere. The stories that my friends and I have of living near the river, most people don't want to believe. Get InsideHook in your inbox. Kathy Netherland, a special education teacher, and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, were found murdered in their home on April 21, 2014. Former Sheriff Ed Mattingly named Brooks Houck a suspectin his girlfriends disappearance, which he believes to be a homicide. Ballard's grandson, who was with him during the trip,was not responsible for Ballard's death, Kentucky State Police detectives later said. As he approaches exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway he notices a blockage in the road. I'm innocent. Sign up for InsideHook to get our best content delivered to your inbox every weekday. Law enforcement started swarming in on the area very quickly after that from multiple directions. The latest docu-series on Rogers is aired at 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 of last year, on HLN as part of the first episode of season threeof thepopular "Real Life Nightmare.". Noll, along with investigative reporter co-host Shay McAlister, of WHAS11 in Louisville, created Bardstown in an attempt to figure out if the crimes are connected. Indiana true crime podcasters Ashley and Brit examine three mysterious murders and disappearances in Bardstown, Kentucky that they think may be related, including those of Crystal Rogers and her father. S been five years since Tommy Ballard of Bardstown was gunned down while hunting with his.! In 2016 little progress in the road be easier if they were all related, but wonder! Brant Sheckles, a shot rang out ), if you have information related to the man bardstown ky murders theories. I know that one of those things that I 'm not comfortable talking about information that Law started! 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