BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The trial of Steve Lawson, one of the men accused in the disappearance and presumed murder of Crystal Rogers, nears conclusion nearly ten years after she was last seen. The prosecution wrapped up its case on Thursday as courtroom proceedings were cut short due to the absence of two defense witnesses. On Friday, the defense announced that one of these witnesses would not be called to testify.
Rogers, a mother of five, vanished on July 3, 2015, during the Fourth of July weekend. Her car was discovered abandoned and running on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway days later, with her belongings still inside. Despite extensive search efforts, her body has never been recovered, leaving many questions unanswered.
Charged alongside Lawson are Brooks Houck, Rogers’ former boyfriend, and Lawson’s son, Joseph. The two men are set to stand trial together later this summer. Lawson’s trial was relocated to Bowling Green due to the extensive media coverage that has surrounded the case for nearly a decade.
The trial began with jury selection on Tuesday and concluded with significant developments. Earlier today, Lawson was found guilty on two counts: conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. Following the reading of the verdict, Sherry Ballard, Rogers’ mother, was visibly emotional, embracing family members in the courtroom. He is facing a possible 25-year prison sentence as the court has moved to the sentencing phase.
During closing arguments, Prosecutor Jim Lesousky asserted that the evidence against Lawson is undeniable. He implicated Lawson by claiming he was aware of discussions about eliminating Rogers and referred to his involvement as part of a “conspiracy.” Lesousky used eyewitness accounts and evidence gathered over the years to drive home the point that Lawson played an integral role in the alleged plan.
In defense, attorney Darren Wolff accepted the charges of evidence tampering but denied that Lawson participated in any murder plot. Wolff posited that there is still no clarity on what happened to Rogers, citing that the investigation remains ongoing and emphasized that Lawson had no prior knowledge of Houck’s alleged intentions.
Part of the defense’s strategy included testimony from Lawson’s mother, who described heated conversations with him regarding the case, suggesting he may not have been forthcoming about his knowledge. Lawson took the stand, denying any awareness of wrongdoing while asserting that Houck had tried to recruit him in a vague manner.
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by phone calls made while Lawson was incarcerated, during which he acknowledged Houck’s desire to have Rogers “gone,” but he repeatedly denied being involved in any plot. The jury now must decide how to weigh the testimony and evidence presented.
Moving forward, the defense’s strategy will be pivotal in the upcoming days, especially as sentencing looms. With the community closely following, this trial underlines the complexities and lingering mysteries surrounding Rogers’ case.
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