BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Some people close to Crystal Rogers were inside a Nelson County courtroom Thursday, Feb. 9, including friend Willie Downs and Rogers' grandfather, Till Ballard. 

What You Need To Know

  • Family and friends of Crystal Rogers were in Bardstown Thursday 

  • This was as the three men indicted of her murder appeared for a hearing 

  • Willie Downs is a friend of Rogers' family 

  • He said he hopes the correct action will be taken with guilty parties 

They were there as father and son Steven and Joseph Lawson, as well as Brooks Houck, Rogers' boyfriend at the time of her murder, appeared for a hearing. All three men were arrested and charged with Rogers' disappearance and death. 

"For Till [Ballard] and the rest of the family, I'd say it was heartbreaking for them," Downs said. "Like I said a while ago, if they're guilty, do something with them. If they're innocent, let them go. I think you’re going to find there’s going to be more [who will] be guilty besides [who] was in the courtroom today.”

As the legal process moves forward, Downs said he hopes the correct action will be taken with the guilty parties.

"That's all anybody wants out of this here," he said. 

The three men charged will go to trial in February 2025.    

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