BARDSTOWN, Ky. (LEX 18) — Last week, the FBI took over the investigation into the disappearance of Crystal Rogers after human remains were found near the Nelson and Washington County line. While the remains have yet to be identified, there's speculation they may belong to Rogers.
Crystal Rogers was last seen by her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, on July 3, 2015. Sherry Ballard and her husband, Tommy Ballard, were determined to find answers. Then Tommy was shot and killed while hunting on November 19, 2016.
On July 23, just after the five year anniversary of Crystal's disappearance, the human remains were found.
"Maybe deep down, I'm scared of what I'm going to find out," Sherry Ballard said. "But at the same time, I want to know. People are not going to understand how I feel about that. It's very hard because I pray that it is my daughter. And at same time, I turn around and I feel guilty because I prayed for that."
The human remains were found in a river bank near the Nelson and Washington County line, an area Sherry says she and Tommy searched five years ago.
"We searched the area but we didn't go up on the bank, we went down the river and searched down the river," Ballard reflected.
Now, the bank has eroded, which is why Sherry believes someone was able to find the human remains. During an interview with LEX 18, Sherry said she doesn't believe there were any pieces of clothing found with the human remains and hasn't been given a timeline from the FBI on when the remains will be identified.
Starting on Thursday, August 6, 150 FBI agents executed nine search warrants and conducted 50 interviews. On Sunday, August 9, two never before seen photos were released. One photo shows a red SUV and a white SUV driving down Loretto Road near My Old Kentucky Home Campground. The time the photo was taken was not given. The next photo was taken on July 4, 2015 at 3:45am. It shows an unknown vehicle with its headlights on, traveling along Balltown road, near the intersection of Paschal Ballard Road, close to the Houck family farm.
As to why the photos are just now being released, Sherry Ballard had no idea why and said it is the first time she has seen the photos.
While arrests have yet to be made, Crystal Rogers' boyfriend, Brooks Houck was previously named a suspect in her disappearance. Sherry says she knows, without a shadow of doubt, who is responsible for her daughter's disappearance.
"For me to see him walking around town, I just think in the back of my mind, it's not going to be forever," Ballard said.
Sherry said she knows this investigation is different than the past and believes justice will be served.
"I've never given up on that, and I'm not going to ever give up on that. I have so many people praying, I don't think God is not going to give me that," Ballard said.
