The Crystal Rogers Murder
In the quiet, historic town of Bardstown, Kentucky—famous for it’s production of bourbon—35-year-old mother of five Crystal Rogers vanished without a trace on July 3, 2015. Her abandoned car sat on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with a flat tire, keys still inside, purse untouched, and her cell phone left behind. What should have been a simple roadside breakdown quickly unraveled into one of the most chilling mysteries in modern true crime.
As family and friends frantically searched, whispers turned to suspicion. Crystal’s live-in boyfriend, Brooks Houck, claimed he last saw her heading out that night—but his story had holes. Evidence vanished, witnesses clammed up, and the investigation seemed to stall in the shadows of small-town secrets. Then came the eerie connections: Crystal’s father, Tommy Ballard, relentlessly pursued answers, only to meet his own tragic end years later in a hunting accident many believe was no accident. What about Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis? Did his ambush-type murder have a connection to the Crystal Rogers case?
For nearly a decade, the case haunted Bardstown—multiple deaths, dead ends, and a lingering question: Who really wanted Crystal gone? Was it a calculated plot fueled by custody battles and money? A cover-up involving trusted locals? Or something far darker lurking beneath the surface?
In the first ever episode of one of two new podcasts, “The Husband Did It”, Mark & Amy peel back layers of deception, examine shocking trial revelations, and reveal how a single flat tire cracked open a conspiracy that led to convictions in 2025—yet Crystal’s body has never been found. Hear from those who knew her best, dissect the timeline that kept investigators one step behind, and face the chilling possibility that justice arrived too late… or not fully at all.
The truth is out there—but in Bardstown, some secrets stay buried forever.
Be sure to look for Amy & Mark’s other brand new companion podcast, The Wife Is Guilty!!
https://thewifeisguilty.com