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. There are currently no cases that match the selected filters. Two people have been arrested and charged in the murder of Michael Wayne Unseld, 61. There has been a string of unsolved murders and an unsolved disappearance in Nelson County. 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 . Bourbon Town Mystery, produced by the HLN Investigations team, takes a deep dive into the disappearance of Rogers. Throughout the search,police were allowing only a few cars into the subdivision and reporters were kept out. Despite such an incentive, the murders remain unsolved. Where the case stands today. Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis is murdered while driving home after his shift. Murder Victim Bardstown, Kentucky May 25, 2013. Just heard about these murders, here are my thoughts: The murder of the mother and her 16 yr old daughter appears to be someone they know who absolutely had a personal vendetta against them. A cop, Crystal Rogers, her father, and a school teacher and her daughter were all murdered and no one knows anything about it. Nick later told the Kentucky State Policethat he only contacted his brother to tell him that "they might be trying to trip him up" and "he should protect himself.". Ellis stopped, turned on his blue lights and got out of his cruiser to clear them. At least one valid email address is required. Life slows. More telling than that: Investigators reportedly found a blanket with small traces of blood in the trunk of Nicks police cruiser. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/ncadv_kentucky_fact_sheet_2020.pdf. He was a father of two daughters, Crystal, Brooke, and his son, Casey. pic.twitter.com/CITH0yeQ8i. With a population of just over 14,000, it was voted The Most Beautiful Small Town In America and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. Complicating the investigation was that fact that Houcks brother. Regarding the thought of finally finding out what happened to her daughter, Ballard said, "I want it, but its going to be so hard for me. After exiting his police cruiser to investigate, he was ambushed. Otherwise, it remains unsolved as of January 2018. There were about 6600 residents then, and even if the county seat for Nelson County sometimes felt for just a moment like the setting for a folksy episode of the Twilight Zoneone where all the good townsfolk are revealed as malevolent robots in the final act, or cultists searching for a sacrificethere was no real sense of danger. I hope they receive justice in the near future. It was the sort of town a young man or woman visits and finds themselves wondering what was so great about the big city, anyway. Kathy Netherland was older and does not appear to have been his type. I don't need an attorney. No, it's not. It is a sad, but an almost daily occurrence in the US. Police suspect the driver of that car may have information about the case. 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. Bardstown isnt as small as people think, there are 3 different high schools. 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. You can live there your whole life and not know anyone. Rogers was datingBrooks Houck, an initial suspect, who is the father of one of her sons. That's an important bit that is often overlooked! He was not a serious threat to local drug dealers but he could have made enemies. Bardstown today has more than doubled in population, and the shadows have grown deeper. Samantha Netherland was a sophomore at Bardstown High School. [] It's taking a lot of energy and effort. A month later, new Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig announced the creation of a new anonymous tip line that she hopes will encourage those with information on the cases to come forward. Father of missing woman is killed while hunting with his grandson. Everyone wants to know what the hell is going on. Crystal Rogers [Handout]On July 2, 2015, Crystal Rogers, 35, vanished from her Bardstown home off of Glenview Drive. He is clearly the focus of the investigation. (I think thats coincidental), all of these happened on or in fairly close proximity to the bluegrass parkway. I know that they were tied to their chairs. On February 25, 2023, at approximately 5:17 pm Deputies Jerry Meadows and Derek Dennis observed a vehicle making a traffic violation at the intersections of Barnes Drive and Rolling Hills . He believed he was being followed prior to his death, and even installed a camera in his truck to catch anyone on his tail. Officer Ellis was discovered by a passing motorist. Maybe her daughter had nothing to do with it but could he have seen her family as "trying to break them up?". Police believe Nick interfered with their investigation. Then again, I couldnt determine whether he was even on the force in 2013. 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. Her 16-year-old daughter Samantha was beaten in the head. Kathy and Samantha seemed to be lovely women who should still be living their lives today. On the day after Easter 2014, 48-year-old Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, were brutally murdered inside their home in Botland, just outside the Bardstown city limits.. Bardstown Mystery: Four dead, one missing in 'the most beautiful small town in America' by Leigh Egan September 2, 2019 Tweet It's been called the most beautiful small town in America, but four unsolved murders and the disappearance of a beloved mother-of-five left an ugly stain on Bardstown, Kentucky. Crystals father was with Crystals son when they were out hunting and her father was shot in the back. My opinion-Is it possible that the person who committed this awful crime wanted to kill someone, anyone and it didn't matter who it was? BARDSTOWN, KY (WAVE) - Graphic details of how a Nelson County mother and her teenage daughter were killed inside their home in April are now public. A massive search for her turned up more questions than answers, frustrating the authorities and loved ones alike. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, who lived with her, claimed innocence and said he had no clue what happened to Crystal. There seems to be compelling reason to suspect that Jason was targeted. This is starting to get silly. of 33-year-old Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis on May 25 of that year. Then on November 19, while he was out hunting on his rural property very early in the morning, a shot rang out. They lived in a small, isolated neighborhood. A woman was murdered and children were taken Friday night in Bardstown, . It wouldnt be long before investigators ruled out his grandson who was with him as a suspect. I have read nothing to suggest that she was anything other than a typical college student. Crystal overhears something that implicates her boyfriend and his brother in the ambush murder of the officer in 2013. Tommy's family announces reward of $20,000. ", None of her claims, however, have ever been substantiated. The crimes left a long-lasting effect on Bardstown. Seems like almost everybody around knew her and everyone is still thinking of her. I know that one of 'em had her throat slit. " I'm just praying this will bring us some kind of closure. 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. Something a lot of the podcasts and articles and shows dont tell you is that Jason Ellis wife is also a teacher and she worked closely with Kathy and Crystals boyfriends brother worked closely with Jason as well and their family was always known to sell drugs, it is a small enough town to know that. 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. I definitely think it was all connected. Tequila fanatic? Kathy Netherland, 48, and her daughter, Samantha, 16, were killed inside their home on April 21, 2014. Her car was found on the side of a busy parkway with a flat tire, keys, wallet and phone still inside. There were no witnesses, and no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting. Five years ago, Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter Samantha were found shot to dead inside their Bardstown, Kentucky home on April 22, 2014. Both women had their throats . 7:54 AM:Tommy Ballard is killed on family property. All rights reserved. I hope they get justice. It's a relatively small town and to have so many deaths and a disappearance, I assumed they all had to be related, but I have recently started to look at other ideas. LOUISVILLE, KY. Another search is underway relating to the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers in Bardstown, Kentucky. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Samantha, a young, hopeful teenager, had been stabbedher throat cut. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Still, it seems stalled. Oxygen did a 5 episode series on this and its interesting and thought provoking. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. [PREVIOUS STORY: Friend of murdered teacher says she 'loved her daughters more than anything']. The mother's case has spawned documentaries and podcasts and plenty of news coverage. If you have information related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, you can visit crystalrogerstaskforce.com,call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI,contact your local FBI officeor get in touch with the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. There wasn't a robbery, a sex assault and the mother showed signs of overkill which to me seems personal. ", "I just hope that I can handle that, when they come to me with that news, even though Ive waited for six years," shesaid. I agree that it would be easier if they were all related, but I don't think they are. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. All towns and cities have shadows, but when I lived there from May to September 1990 as a cast member in The Stephen Foster Story, I didnt see many. Details: On May 25 2013, Officer Jason Ellis was killed after finishing his shift for the Bardstown, Kentucky Police Department. Hed twice received a Governors Award and in 2008 was Officer of the Year. The thing about Samantha's death was that she seemed to get the brunt of the "beating" and it seemed incredibly personal for some reason. 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. Mrs. Ellis was a substitute teacher in the area but that doesn't mean that her and Kathy knew each other than in passing. Crystals father was with Crystals son when they were out hunting and her father was shot in the back. Kentucky, like other parts of the country, is now grappling with different and more pervasive types of drug epidemics like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, which has some wondering if the drug trade has played a part in any of the Bardstown mysteries. The next mystery to befall Bardstown was the 2015 disappearance of 35-year-old Crystal Rogers. This, to me, is starting to get silly.". Rogers wasnot known to go anywhere without her kids, according to the FBI. The similarities between his murder and the murder of Jason have been noted. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. I grew up in Kentucky, about an hour away from Bardstown. Though all occurred in Nelson County, that doesnt mean there is a real connection, save the seemingly obvious one between the disappearance of Crystal Rogers and her fathers death. 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. Absolutely. Greek stationmaster arrested in head-on train crash; 36 dead. Prior to the rash of unsolved high-profile murders, the counties around Bardstown were home to The Cornbread Mafia, rural farmers turned drug traffickers, who at their peak ran the largest marijuana production operation in the United States. Tommy Ballard is killed on family property, Signs show up on the first anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death, Major Crystal Rogers update as FBI searches Bardstown farm linked to missing mom-of-5 seven years after she vanished | The US Sun, FBI searching farm in connection to KY woman who went missing in 2015 | News | WPSD Local 6, Timeline: The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers, FBI searching Bardstown farm in relation to Crystal Rogers case, FBI extends search for Crystal Rogers on Bardstown farm | whas11.com, FBI: Search on Houck family farm will continue for fourth day | whas11.com, 6 years later: Anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death follows 2nd FBI search in Crystal Rogers disappearance. 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. (Barnes received a life sentence. Forward to Dateline, 48 Hours or some entity with the money and resources to dig further. Crystal Rogerss family has already been afflicted with too much tragedy. Absolutely. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! That October, Nick Houck was fired from the police forceor allegedly interfering with the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance, that he only contacted his brother to tell him that "they might be trying to trip him up" and "he should protect himself.". Within a very few short minutes of his killing a couple of vehicles rolled up on the scene and both of them attempted to use the police radio to get help for him. Lived in bardstown when all this was going down. Their only possible clue was a black Chevrolet Impala, which had been filmed near the crime scene on April 21, 2014, the night of the murder. KSP still believes the person or persons inside a black Chevrolet Impala seen traveling north on U.S. 150 from Botland into Bardstown on the night of the murders know something or had something to do with the murders of the Netherlands. It was as out-of-the-way and quiet a spot as you could imagine. Rogers' keys, phone, and purse were still inside her red Chevrolet Impala. None of their neighbors have subsequently been murdered but I wonder if any were involved in sketchy activity. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. In a March 2017 interview with WDRB, Crystal Rogers mother, Sherry Ballard, surmised that her daughter disappeared because she overheard something maybe she shouldn't have, related to the murder of Jason Ellis. The Kathy and Samantha murder, don't you think this one is so f-ing brutal ? Despite these accusations, neither Houck brother has ever been charged with any crimes related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, which they both deny any involvement in. More on Jason Ellis: Who killed Bardstown Officer? Crystal Rogers' mother, Sherry Ballard, hopes that the current FBI investigation in a Bardstown neighborhood may finally yield closure for her and family. with the Bardstown Police. Police said the Netherlands were murdered around 8 p.m. on the evening of Monday, April 21 at their home in Nelson County's Botland community. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ellis was hit multiple times and died on the side of the road. She was a very good daughter," Ballard told The Courier Journal. Bardstown Murders and Mysteries: Brookelyn Farthing, Disappearance of Crystal Rogers 104: This is Much Bigger than Kentucky. In the fall of 2016, Tommy tells his wife Sherry that he believes he is being followed, but he is unsure of who is following him. During the summer of 2020, the FBI took over from Kentucky State Police and the Nelson County Sheriff's Office as the lead investigator inthe case, with over 150 federal agentsservingsearch warrants in August 2020 atthree sites owned by Houck and his family members. However i noticed one major difference in these murders. As the Kentucky Standard reported after she vanished, her aunt Sherry Ballard Barnes disappeared in January 1979. Security footage near the Netherlander home captures a black Chevy Impala that could be connected to the murders. Tommy was married to Sherry and they had eight grandchildren. That's the type of person she was. And the Kentucky State Police have brought two investigators out of retirement to help in the Ellis case. There is no evidence that he was conducting any kind of independent investigation or was privy to any information that Law Enforcement didnt have. Crystal Rogers case: FBI Louisville, other federal agencies search for Crystal Rogers with new warrants. Her kids need closure, but to physically hear it, its going to be so hard on us.". I know that trinkets were taken as trophies. How to watch: HLN airs docu-series investigation on missing Kentucky mom Crystal Rogers. According todeath certificates obtained byWAVE 3,Kathy had been shot multiple times, and Samantha had been bludgeoned in the head. Victims include a Bardstown police officer, an elementary school special education teacher, and her teenage daughter. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. The Bardstown Murders are a series of 5 unsolved deaths over 3 years starting in 2013. Complicating the investigation was that fact that Houcks brother Nick was an officer with the Bardstown Police. I also hope that the person(s) responsible for Crystals disappearance pay for their crime. She went on to say her husband Tommy "was never going to give up for my daughter, and he was going to push, and I think people knew that. Her mother, Kathy, had both knife and bullet wounds. If you have any information regarding Tommys case, please contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI. According to death certificates obtained by WAVE 3 News, 48-year-old Kathy Netherland was shot multiple times. The land, which sits on 30 acres, is owned by the mother of Brooks Houck, who was named a suspect in the case in 2017. I'm from Kentucky and know people in that area. 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