Last week, a judge in Kentucky prohibited Brooks Houck, a wealthy convicted murderer, from selling or transferring any of his assets in light of a wrongful death lawsuit initiated by the mother and four children of his victim, Crystal Rogers.
Judge Charles Simms III, who presided over Houck’s criminal trial that led to his conviction, issued a temporary order stopping Houck from disposing of his property until at least an evidentiary hearing set for October 8, according to WDRB.
Phone call transcripts from jail revealed Houck’s efforts to hide his assets in order to dodge compensation if he loses the lawsuit brought by Sherry Ballard and four of Rogers’ five children. Although filed in December 2023, the lawsuit is now advancing following the criminal trials that resulted in the convictions of Houck and two accomplices.
“The Court finds that Plaintiffs have filed evidence proving Brooks has initiated the process through family members and friends to sell, transfer, and liquidate assets held by these business entities that may be available to satisfy any judgment entered herein in favor Plaintiffs,” Simms wrote in his ruling.
According to a filing made on July 17 by the attorney representing the plaintiffs, Gregory Smith, Houck made multiple phone calls after his July 8 conviction, including one to his girlfriend, Crystal Maupin, in which he told her, “We’ll try to figure out how we can sell this stuff.”
Transcripts show the pair discussing selling property and unfinished homes.
He made similar comments in phone calls to his sister, telling her, “All of it needs to go,” referring to equipment and other assets.
“You know, because we’re on that civil case is what’s coming next,” he said, according to the transcript. “… You know, so they’re going to take everything. They’re going to take everything that I’ve got. So go ahead and try to get what you can for it.”
Included in the filing was an affidavit from a man who said that Houck’s mother, Rosemary Houck, called him on the day her son was convicted of murder offereing to sell 13 separate properties. The man said she told him she would call back, but he did not answer her calls.
Houck also called his brother, former Nelson County Police officer Nick Houck, to talk about transfering money to him, selling vehicles and equipment, and encouraging “Nick to begin selling assets.”
Prosecutors have said that both Houck’s mother and brother are “unindicted coconspirators” in Rogers’ murder.
Houck was found guilty on July 8 of murder and complicity tampering with physical evidence. His 34-year-old co-defendant, Joseph Lawson, was found guilty on conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. His father, Steve Lawson was convicted of the same charges earlier this year and sentenced to 17 years in prison
Houck and Joseph Lawson are scheduled for sentencing on August 21. The jury recommended life plus five years for Houck and 25 years for Lawson.
Mother of five Rogers, 35, was last seen with her boyfriend Houck, a prominent and wealthy local businessman, over the the July 4 weekend in 2015. Her car was later found running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. Her body was not been found.
