The initial trial linked to the murder of a Kentucky mother who vanished in 2015 concluded in less than a week. A jury has found Steven Lawson guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.
After deliberating for approximately 2 1/2 hours, the jury returned a verdict recommending a prison sentence of 17 years for Lawson, with sentencing set to occur in August, as reported by WLKY.
Crystal Rogers, a mother of five, was last seen with her boyfriend Brooks Houck, who is a well-known and affluent businessman in the area, over the July 4 weekend in 2015. Her vehicle was subsequently discovered running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. Her body has never been found.
Houck is accused of killing her. Lawson and his son, Joseph Lawson, are accused of helping him.
Lawson’s defense tried to convince the jury that he only moved Rogers’ car when Houck asked him to, WLKY said. He admitted picking up his son on the Bluegrass Parkway, where the missing woman’s car was found, but said he did not know Rogers was missing or that there had been any wrongdoing.
On the stand on Thursday, Lawson said that his son told him to call Houck and tell him the job was done, WHAS reported.
“So I did just that,” he said.
The defense further tried arguing that the prosecution had not proved Rogers was murdered, but prosecutors countered that Lawson knew about the plan and conspired to help Houck even though Rogers’ body has not been located.
Joseph Lawson faces the same charges as his father, while Houck is charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Their trials begin next month.
All of the trials have been moved to Bowling Green from Nelson County because of the publicity surrounding the case.
