"It's definitely put me in a different position to cover tragedy - I think in a way with more empathy and compassion.". On May 25 2013, Officer Jason Ellis was killed after finishing his shift for the Bardstown, Kentucky Police Department. She hadnt been seen or heard from since July 3, according to the FBI. Kyleigh Fenwick was 14 when Crystal disappeared and was 19 at the time of the anniversary. @Nelson_Sheriff pic.twitter.com/ghzbYqZ6Mp. This HAD to be Crystal. Jason Ellis, a 33-year-old police officer and father of two, was. "What I feel like I've given to the community is so unmatched as to what they've given to me," said McAlister about Louisville and the surrounding communities. She doesnt want to be in the way. Crystal's maroon 2007 four-door Chevrolet was . They knew Tommy wasnt going to stop.. "I've covered the absolute most horrible things that have ever happened to them. At the time of that call, Nick Houck himself was an officer with the Bardstown Police Department. McAlister, who continues to cover the Rogers' case and would later come to learn, investigate and follow all the unsolved cases in Bardstown, talked with the Times-Tribune about what it's been like trying to uncover the truth and juggling the lines between professional and personal as a journalist. They held vigils and fundraisers and raised tens of thousands of dollars for rewards and to assist Crystals children. If you have information related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, you can visit the website, call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. On Thursday, the FBI arrived in Bardstown and executed nine search warrants related to Rogers' disappearance. Why wouldnt the give us all the support? Her purse, keys, and uncharged phone remained inside the unlocked . He took Exit 34, a narrow ramp bounded on either side by steep stone walls. . Rogers had been datingBrooks Houck, an initial suspect, who is the father of one of her sons. He drove to the Exit 24 ramp and was one of the first responding officers to see Ellis lying dead in the road. Seeing how important it is to get answers to the family of Crystal Rogers made it equally important to McAlister to help get those answers. McAlister said her involvement with the Rogers case poured the foundation for the work she's gone on to do and the work she continues to do in journalism and beyond. When he answered it, it was his brother, Nick Houck, telling him not to talk to investigators. In November 2016, 16 months after Crystal disappeared, tragedy struck her family again. I feel discriminated against, she told Oxygen.com. He had been just about to go hunting with one of his grandsons Crystals son. The mayor of Bardstown said Nick Houck interfered with the investigation by phoning his brother on July 8 when he knew Brooks was being interviewed by detectives, warning that his brother "should protect himself," and that investigators "might be trying to trip him up," the Kentucky Standard reported at the time. High 64F. She also said that Tommy believed he was being followed in the days before his death. The Nelson County Sheriff released this statement: Today, we received word from the FBI that the human remains, which were located at the Washington County/Nelson County line were not those of Crystal Rogers. His father built houses, too, and still does as hes gotten into his 80s. Weve searched the rivers, weve searched farms, houses, sinkholes, wells, any place she might be, family member Sammy Johnson said. It did not take them long to become worried. The checkpoint was staffed around the clock by the Nelson County sheriffs office during the day and by Kentucky State Police at night. The sheriff's office did not immediately say who discovered the possible remains, or how. An unknown subject fired one shot and hit Ballard in the chest and instantly killed him. The second search took place in the Woodlawn Springs subdivision, where Brooks Houck's construction company built several houses shortly after the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. Learn how your comment data is processed. Whileattempting to remove thedebris,hewasshotseveral times and died shortly after. It wasn't until Tommy Ballard, Crystal Rogers' father, was shot and killed that McAlister really even learned about all the loss in Bardstown. She sees it both ways but makes the comparison to teachers. Unseld said he has never heard of the two men charged in the case. The Nelson County Sheriffs Office will continue to be the lead agency on the human remains case. He was usually unwilling to have his picture taken. The Ballard family has more than one victim for whom they want answers. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. Reporter Shay McAllister spoke to Sherry Ballard once this news broke: Just received this text from Sherry Ballard on news of the human remains: In my heart I truly never felt like this was my daughter. He pleaded not guilty to a handful of felony theft charges. Investigation Discoverys Still a Mystery: She Gave No Warning shines a light on Crystals puzzling vanishing and the events leading up to it. He wouldnt take a dime from her, Ballard said. Small town secrets The case of missing woman Crystal Rogers, A few days later on July 15, Brooke Ballard, Crystals sister, spoke to WHAS11 saying boyfriend Brooks Houcks story, Nick later told the Kentucky State Police. The case, as of today, remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. Who killed Jason Ellis? Then we got the unexpected call that they had arrested someone. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. She would attend her childrens school parties and make efforts to help their teachers, Ballard said. tower cafe sacramento; galley pirate blox fruits. Officer Jason Ellis (d: May 25th, 2013) - ambushed and shot to death while returning home from duty. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to anidentification, arrest or conviction in the Rogers case. Her estranged husband, Edsel Barnes, was found guilty of murder by a jury, according to court records. If a teacher sees something concerning going on with one of their students, they naturally want to get involved for the wellbeing of that child. Copyright 2019 WAVE 3 News. We should just be giving it out because it's so true, you have no idea what someone is facing.". And then in August 2020, FBI agents turned up at a storage unit that belonged to Crystal. The sudden disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a young mother, in July 2015 had the small town of Bardstown, Kentucky, on edge. Who would do such a thing?' More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. Investigators had conducted numerous searches on Houck family property, including the home of Anna Whitesides, the grandmother of Brooks Houck. They have other people work for them, so they may never look at it., Things were pretty quiet until 2020 in this case. There has been a string of unsolved murders and an unsolved disappearance in Nelson County. An arrest slip says witnesses told detectives Tate admitted to killing Unseld. You hope this is the year, and then you get no answers.. And authorities have been left without closure for six years now. 3. BARDSTOWN, Ky. - After nine years since Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis was murdered, police still need help solving the case.Ellis was shot and killed on May 25, 2013, near exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway on his way home from work after he stopped to remove branches from the road. The next day, the sheriff's officerequested the assistance of the FBI Evidence Response Team because it was difficult to reach the location of the possible remains, which were sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for testing. They recovered two items of interest that were sent for examination. It wasnt uncommon for someone to stop by during the day with sandwiches, Gatorade and other offerings for Nelson County sheriffs deputies and FBI investigators. Were glad the FBI finally has took over the case, Ballard said. You may also contact your local FBI office, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. The vehicle had a flat tire, but what was more troubling was what they found inside the car. And it. We are at the top of the list, he said. They recovered two items of interest that were sent for examination. This is to compile a list of of the names of the unsolved murders in Nelson Co. Sheriff Ed Mattingly said at that time that Houck was fully cooperating with the investigation. It cost him his life. The Houck Family Farm was also searched in August 2016 The Nelson County Sheriffs Office, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, FBI and Louisville Metro Police Department searched 300 acres with at least 14 cadaver dogs. michael lombard actor obituary; justinas duknauskas biography; organic valley grassmilk yogurt discontinued The motive and the person behind his murder remain a mystery to this day. She was Rebecca Coriam who worked on the Disney Wonder which was one of Disney's many cruise ships. He said when they got home, he went straight to bed, and Rogers stayed up playing games on her phone. KSP said detectives are still actively working on the case and following leads, which come in periodically, according to KSP. City officials held an administrative hearing on Nick Houck's actions and fired him a day later. I don't think a lot of people were trying to connect the dots," McAlister said. Brooks was considered a person of interest and was questioned. We are now at 2021 and Crystal will have been missing for 6 years this July. The remains were processed through CODIS, which stands for the Combined DNA Index System. . But the two still showed up daily, staying well into the evening and waving at workers as they drove excavators, trucks full of dirt and evidence trailers in and out of the otherwise quiet Kentucky neighborhood. On August 15, Crystals parents Sherry and Tommy started a fight to get custody of Eli, the son that Crystal and Brooks shared. Sharenes child wouldve been Till and Bettys first grandchild, Betty said. Hill and Unseld are both processing the new development. They're reportedly searching three properties owned by Rogers' ex-boyfriend, Brooks Houck, in addition to properties owned by his brother, former Bardstown police officer Nick Houck, and their mother, Rosemary Houck. In May 2013, Officer Jason Ellis was ambushed on his way home from work, and shot multiple times. On Friday August 16, 2019, Bardstown police arrested Robert Tate, 26, and charged him with murder. Investigators had wanted to ask her about a white car of hers they believed was connected to Rogers disappearance. Although detectives considered Houck a suspect, he was never charged in connection with Crystal's disappearance. Large construction equipment could be seen tearing up the driveway of the home and hauling large piles of dirt and concrete slabs away from the search. Tommys murder is still unsolved to this day and the FBI are involved in his death: After his daughter, Crystal Rogers, disappeared in July 2015, Tommy Ballard created Team Crystal, a group of Bardstown, Kentucky, community members dedicated to finding Crystal and bringing her home. Now, McAlister is returning t Her remains were found buried in the woods in 1983. 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. They had taken over the investigation into Crystals disappearance once the human remains were found. Ellishadsigned off on the radioand was driving home when he encountered branches blocking the roadonexit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky. Although she was brand new to the job, McAlister said the Rogers case immediately stood out. Cloudy skies. Outside of work, he was heavily involved in the community including coaching youth baseball. Rainfall around a half an inch. The Bardstown, Kentucky, woman's maroon Chevrolet Impala was later found on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with a flat tire. September 8, 2018, 8:02 PM ET Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis Murdered For Burglary Investigation, Says Anonymous Inmate The inmate claims Ellis was shot because "he was close to an investigation of a ring of storage shed burglaries and business burglaries." By Aly Vander Hayden London, KY (40741) Today. She had a huge heart, Sherry Ballard said. The search for Crystal still continues. Until then she challenges people to think about the impact they want to leave on the world. You can read a timeline of Crystal's case from WDRB here. Kentucky State Police is still the lead in the investigation. He was building the houses around the same time Rogers went missing, Sherry Ballard said. 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