BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Steven Lawson's trial will proceed as scheduled after a Nelson County judge denied his motion to conduct additional DNA testing on two hairs found in Crystal Rogers' car. 

Lawson, along with his son, Joseph Lawson and Brooks Houck, are charged with Rogers’ 2015 disappearance. His attorneys presented their case during an April 14 hearing, arguing the hairs could have belonged to an additional or unknown suspect such as Nick Houck, Brooks’ brother. 

In an April 18 ruling, Nelson County Judge Charles Simms said even if DNA testing revealed the identity of the hairs, it would not have excluded Lawson’s alleged involvement in the case. According to court documents, Lawson provided testimony to the grand jury that Houck requested his help with moving Rogers’ car and he drove Joseph Lawson to retrieve the vehicle before he called Houck to tell him it was moved.

“The Court also believes the Commonwealth has records to substantiate these telephone calls and tracking data from their phones to establish that Lawson and his son were in the vicinity of said vehicle,” the order said.

Simms also argued it is unlikely the hairs had any relation to Rogers’ disappearance, given hair is easily shed in day-to-day activities, and additional DNA testing would take months to complete. He added he believes Lawson was looking to further delay his trial, which is slated to begin May 27 in Warren County and was already postponed once from its previous start date of Feb. 11. 

Both Steven and Joseph Lawson are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. Houck is charged with Rogers’ murder; he and Joseph Lawson will be tried together in June.

Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five, is presumed dead. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway, and her body has never been found.