Shivangi Sinha
For years, the disappearance of Crystal Rogers remained one of Bardstown’s most haunting unsolved cases. Despite multiple searches and investigations, the case stalled for nearly a decade. It wasn’t until 2023 that a major breakthrough came with the arrests of Steve and Joseph Lawson. Though neither man had any personal connection to Crystal, evidence indicated that they had assisted Brooks Houck in disposing of her remains and other key evidence. Their arrests finally pushed the case toward resolution and renewed public interest as it has been featured on Peacock’s true-crime series ‘The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers.’
Joseph and Steve Lawson Were Connected to Crystal Rogers’ Case Years Later
Steven Eugene “Steve” Lawson worked part-time in construction for Brooks Houck at his farm in Bardstown, Kentucky, while his son, Joseph Lee Lawson, was also acquainted with the Houck family. However, the extent of their relationship remains unclear. When Crystal Rogers vanished in July 2015, investigators had little evidence to move forward. Not long after, Brooks, her boyfriend and the father of her youngest child, Eli, was named a suspect, but with no remains or solid proof, the case went cold. Significant progress came in September 2023, when a grand jury indicted Joseph Lawson on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and complicity in tampering with physical evidence. Although authorities initially withheld details, more information has since surfaced, which shines light on the Lawsons’ role in the long-stalled case.
In December 2023, Steve was also indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, joining his son Joseph as they both awaited trial. According to court records, a phone call was placed from Steve’s phone to Brooks Houck shortly after midnight on July 4, 2015, which was the night Crystal was believed to have vanished. Investigators had questioned Brooks about the call during his 2015 interrogation, but at the time, no solid evidence tied him to the case. Later, police used phone records and GPS data to determine that after Crystal disappeared, Joseph had been driving her car along the Bluegrass Parkway. Authorities believed Joseph was helping dispose of the vehicle, but pulled over after getting a flat tire and abandoned the car by the roadside.
That was when Joseph called his father, Steve, who soon arrived at the scene. Steve later admitted that he had adjusted the driver’s seat to make it appear as though a smaller person had been driving and removed a small Louisville Slugger bat that his son often kept in the car. He then made a call to Brooks to inform him that “the job was done,” and this tied the three men together in the case. Witnesses later testified that Joseph had spoken about receiving $50,000 to move the car and had hinted at his involvement in Crystal’s disappearance. His own grandmother also testified against him, alleging that Joseph once told her Steve had killed Crystal while intoxicated. Steve, however, maintained that he had no direct role in the murder and only assisted in moving the vehicle after his son called for help.
Joseph and Steve Lawson Are Being Held Within the Kentucky DOC Today
Steve Lawson’s trial began in May 2025 and ended with his conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Two months later, in July 2025, Joseph Lawson’s trial, which was held jointly with Brooks Houck, concluded with a similar outcome. Joseph was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence and received a 25-year prison sentence.
Steve is currently incarcerated at the Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, with eligibility for parole in 2038. Joseph is also serving his term at the same prison facility and will be eligible for parole in 2042. He has been paralyzed and has used a wheelchair since an accident in 2021. He was still in the hospital during his arraignment. Their convictions finally brought a sense of closure to a case that had remained unresolved for nearly a decade.
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