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Closing arguments were delivered in the trial of Crystal Rogers investigation suspects Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson at the Warren County Justice Center Monday.

Robert Boyd delivered the closing arguments for Lawson. He said that he agreed with a comment made during the prosecution’s opening statement that the jury should use their “God-given common sense,” and reiterated a statement made during the defense’s opening argument that Joseph Lawson is collateral damage in the Commonwealth’s pursuit of Brooks Houck. Boyd said in order to believe the prosecution you have to believe that Houck would include the Lawsons in a conspiracy despite their struggles with substance and alcohol abuse and the difficult relationship the two had. Boyd also said there are concerns with the reliability of witness testimony, particularly from Charlie Girdley and Heather Snellen. Boyd described cell phone data, which both defenses argue shows Steven Lawson was on Boston Road rather than the Bluegrass Parkway, is the jury’s “North Star” in this case. He closed by saying: “Follow your North Star. Send Joey home.”

Houck’s attorney Brian Butler said the prosecution’s case is built on theories and guesses, and referenced Detective Tim O’Daniel’s testimony when he said the “lynch pin” in their case is based on it being “somewhat possible” that Lawson’s phone was on the Bluegrass Parkway. Butler discussed the number of searches and the amount of police resources that went into searches of Houck family properties that did not turn up any evidence, stating “They looked for ten years for a murder weapon. They found nothing.” He said the indictments against the suspects in the case were the result of political pressure that came about as the investigation continued to not turn up evidence. Butler said the time had come to move on, saying “It is time to send him home to his son. It is time to find him not guilty.”

Special Prosecutor Shane Young told the jury “If Crystal Rogers did not come home, then this man is guilty of murder.” as he pointed at Houck. Young said if the prosecution has a “lynch pin” in the case, it is Houck’s written statement to law enforcement on his whereabouts July 3 through July 5, with Young saying only about one and half lines he wrote for July 3 are true. Young walked the jury through the timeline presented by the prosecution, noting Houck’s actions and his lack of a response after Rogers went missing as well as other actions by the Houck family including their secret recordings and Rosemary Houck removing Rogers’s flowers just days after the disappearance. He also said that Joseph Lawson’s involvement is directly tied to Steven Lawson’s phone calls, with Young saying “Whatever Steve Lawson is doing, Joey is a part of it.” 

When the jury returns Tuesday morning, three of the 15 will be randomly selected to serve as alternates, after which the remaining twelve will begin deliberations.

If you have been looking for a way to assist Kentucky Fish and Wildlife this summer, then you will gobble this news up.

KFW is asking the public to be on the lookout for turkeys and share what they see with biologists in order to help better understand and manage the state’s wild turkey populations.

Residents can report wild turkey sightings on the KFW Summer Turkey Brood Survey webpage, or by searching for “turkey survey” at fw.ky.gov. Survey information may be submitted on the website or through a mobile app. The summer survey window runs now through August 31.

KFW says the summer survey helps state biologists evaluate turkey populations over time. Hunters across the Southeastern U.S. have reported fewer turkey sightings in recent years. Turkey observation data from the public is considered vital in supporting research findings, and the data from the summer brood survey impacts KFW decisions on turkey hunting in the state.

Visit the KFW website for more information.