LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Steven Lawson’s case is now in the hands of a jury.
Lawson is accused of tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to commit murder in the Crystal Rogers case.
Both he and his mother, Barbara Colter, took the stand Friday.
Colter testified first, saying she had a good relationship with Lawson.
Testifying on Wednesday, Elizabeth Chesser, the mother of Joseph Lawson’s child, expressed fear of Steven Lawson. On Friday, Colter said, “I don’t know what she was scared of.”
Colter said Chesser still communicates with Joseph Lawson and “still sends him money.”
Defense attorney Zach Buckler asked Colter, “Have you grilled (Steven Lawson) about this?” referring to what he knows. “I said don’t lie to me.”
“Do you believe Steven Lawson had knowledge of what happened to Crystal Rogers?” Buckler said.
“No,” Colter said.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Shane Young said to Colter, “You told me you thought Steven Lawson knew more about what happened to Crystal Rogers.”
“I did for a long time, yes,” Colter said.
After Colter's testimony, Steven Lawson was called to the stand.
Buckler asked Lawson if he helped Brooks Houck plan to kill Crystal Rogers.
“No sir,” Lawson said.
“Do you know where her body is?” Buckler said.
“I have no clue,” Lawson said.
Buckler asked Lawson if he knows who killed Crystal Rogers.
“No sir. I don’t know that she is,” Lawson said.
Lawson was asked by Buckler why he lied to the FBI during a 2020 interview where he denied having any involvement in Rogers’ disappearance and Lawson testified, “I didn’t want to man up and admit that.”
Buckler asked if Lawson knew where Rogers’ body was and he said, “I have no clue.”
Lawson was also asked if he knew who killed Rogers and Lawson testified, “I have no clue who killed her.”
During Lawson's cross examination by prosecutor Jim Lesousky, Lesousky said Lawson repeatedly lied to police and the FBI. Lawson responded, “And I done said I did.”
“I did not want to man up about moving this vehicle.”Lesousky asked Lawson why he continued to lie to investigators for five years after Rogers’ disappearance and Lawson testified, “I did not want to man up about moving this vehicle.”
Lesousky asserted that Lawson spent the early morning hours of July 4, 2015 at a farm known as Thompson Hill, helping to cover up a crime. However, Lawson claimed he was at that location drinking heavily.
“I was a raging alcoholic. I was up there all the time.”
During closing arguments, defense attorney Jarred Wolff questioned the integrity of the investigation into the disappearance of Rogers, asking the jury, “Why are we here? When we know that this case is still being investigated. Even though Rogers’ disappearance happened nearly 10 years ago?”
Wolff said this trial is a “rush to the courthouse,” adding “The Commonwealth has decided enough time has lapsed that we now need to bring closure to the Ballard Family. What closure can we possibly give the family?”
Wolff criticized investigators using the example of Rogers’ car being turned back over to the Ballard family without the car ever being fully processed and without hairs retrieved from the car being tested. “What are we doing here? This is crazy,” Wolff said.
Wolff’s closing continued with him mentioning how in 2019 someone filed a tax return using Rogers’ name and social security number. He questioned why there wasn’t an investigation. Wolff concluded, “How can we ask a jury to convict a man, Steven Lawson, of a Class B felony before the state completes a proper and thorough investigation?”
Prosecutor Jim Lesousky said Lawson is on trial because “by his own words put himself in the middle of a conspiracy, an evil conspiracy.”
Throughout Lesousky's closing statement, he referred to Lawson as a “co-conspirator” who had a “fundamental role in this conspiracy to kill Crystal Rogers.” Lesousky said, as Brooks Houck contemplated this murder, “he needed an important partner,” to carry it out.
Lesousky continued and said, “He knew before he took one step toward moving that car, he knew the plan was to kill that young lady. He knew she was going to get killed.”
The case went to the jury just before 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday.
Judge Charles Simms said he would like to finish the trial to wrap up on Friday.
Rogers hasn’t been seen since the night of July 3. Her car was found abandoned with a flat tire on the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown. Rogers’ keys, phone and purse were still inside of the red Chevrolet Impala.
The 35-year-old mother of five is presumed dead, even though her body has never been found.
Lawson is one of three men charged in connection with the 2015 disappearance of Rogers.
Lawson was charged Dec. 8, 2023 with tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to commit murder. Lawson’s son and Houck, Rogers’ boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, have also been charged in the case.
Prosecutors are trying to prove Lawson knew about Rogers’ disappearance and death and helped cover it up.
Joseph Lawson and Houck will be tried together in June.
