Is Tommys murder connected to the other Bardstown unsolved cases? The Kathy and Samantha murder, don't you think this one is so f-ing brutal ? My opinion-I do believe this murder is connected to the disappearance of his daughter, Crystal Rogers. Beaten, stabbed, slitted throat, gunshot ? Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Their only possible clue was a black Chevrolet Impala, which had been filmed near the crime scene on April 21, 2014, the night of the murder. They include the ambush murder of police officer Jason Ellis in 2013, the brutal double homicide of Kathy Netherland and her teenage daughter Samantha a year later and the 2015 disappearance of Ballard . Thats how I remember Bardstown. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! An Amber Alert was released after police say Gray took his four children following the murder. Where the case stands today. I ended thinking Crystals disappearance and the murders of Tommy Ballard and Jason Ellis are connected. Crystal Rogers' mother, Sherry Ballard, hopes that the current FBI investigation in a Bardstown neighborhood may finally yield closure for her and family. I'm from Kentucky and know people in that area. For someone to knock on a random door, kill both occupants and leave without any robbery or sexual assault would be an extremely unusual crime. I say the police are involved. That was an excellent article. Samantha Netherland was a sophomore at Bardstown High School. By 7:54 AM, authorities were called to the 1400 block of Ed Brent Road for a death investigation. What you are about to read is not a news broadcast. Sign up now. (I think thats coincidental), all of these happened on or in fairly close proximity to the bluegrass parkway. It's been five years since Tommy Ballard of Bardstown was gunned down while hunting with his grandson. The sudden disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a young mother, in July 2015 had the small town of Bardstown, Kentucky, on edge. The driveway was reportedly dug up, as agents appeared to be zeroed in on the location. Alternately known as The Bardstown Murders or the The Nelson County Murders, the area is at the center of five unsolved deaths and disappearances, which continue to inspire speculation, gossip and intrigue far beyond the county line. The FBI has not released more details on the "items of interest" that were sent to the Virginia lab for testing. Police have yet to classify Ballards death as a homicide. I agree that it would be easier if they were all related, but I don't think they are. More telling than that: Investigators reportedly found a blanket with small traces of blood in the trunk of Nicks police cruiser. There was also gossip that Kathy taught Jason Ellis son at Bardstown Elementary School. In the same article, however, Trooper Gregory said, "I have no reason at this time to believe they're connected, but it's not something that we're discarding either.". Cassie jo something. Could he have been targeted? Details: On May 25 2013, Officer Jason Ellis was killed after finishing his shift for the Bardstown, Kentucky Police Department. He was with his 11-year-old grandson and on family property at the time of his death, butpolice have ruled out the child as the shooter, according to WDRB. When a region that has had virtually no murders suddenly has five unsolved murders in a short period, it is statistically unlikely that at least some are related. Bardstown today has more than doubled in population, and the shadows have grown deeper. Its striking to note that theres been so little progress in the investigation into the death of Officer Ellis. "I don't think they would just randomly pick a driveway unless they had a reason to do that," Ballardtold WHAS. That was disapproved by her family and Samantha also didnt babysit for the Ellis family, that was untrue gossip and hearsay. My Theories on the Bardstown Murders and the Disappearance of Crystal Rogers I used to believe that the murder of police officer Jason Ellis on May 25, 2013, the Netherland Murders on April 21, 2014, the disappearance of Crystal Rogers on July 3, 2015, and the murder of Tommy Ballard on November 19, 2016 in Bardstown, Kentucky we're all related. That led to the police theory that he killed her and disposed of her body, possibly with the help of his police office brother. Both women had their throats . "When my daughter went missing, Brooks was building in that neighborhood.". Absolutely. Chrystals boyfriend gave an account of his activities the night she disappeared that was established as untrue and it appear to be more than just simple lapse of memory. Thanks for sharing. The first killing to send shock waves through the community was. Tommy tells his wife he is being followed. LOUISVILLE, KY. Another search is underway relating to the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers in Bardstown, Kentucky. "Pick up the phone, call the number. A little over a year after she vanished, Crystals father, Tommy Ballard, was found shot to death on his own property. On the morning of April 22, 2014, Kentucky State Troopers found the mother and daughter dead at their home. To ensure the safety of the public, he got out of his vehicle to clear the branches. They lived in a white tin-roofed home at 5120 Springfield Road outside Bardstown near the intersection of State Routes 150 and 605. She didn't receive an inheritance when her mother and sister were killed and the idea that she killed her remaining family (her father recently passed from cancer) because they supposedly didnt like her boyfriend doesnt seem like a real motive. Regarding the thought of finally finding out what happened to her daughter, Ballard said, "I want it, but its going to be so hard for me. He was a K-9 handler (narcotics dog) for the police department in addition to his patrol duties. She was a very good daughter," Ballard told The Courier Journal. Its been called the most beautiful small town in America, but four unsolved murders and the disappearance of a beloved mother-of-five left an ugly stain on Bardstown, Kentucky. Less than a year after Ellis's murder, there was a gruesome discovery at a home on Springfield Road in Bardstown. You could have the information we need to desperately solve these cases.". Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. KY 40203 Phone: 502 . I mean, that would explain why they didn't get a call off because I know my mom always had a phone in her hand. Something a lot of the podcasts and articles and shows dont tell you is that Jason Ellis wife is also a teacher and she worked closely with Kathy and Crystals boyfriends brother worked closely with Jason as well and their family was always known to sell drugs, it is a small enough town to know that. 6 years later: Anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death follows 2nd FBI search in Crystal Rogers disa 6 years has passed since mysterious death of Crystal Rogers father, Tommy Ballard, 6 years later, Tommy Ballard's murder remains unsolved | whas11.com, 'Pushing for justice' | 6 years later, circumstances surrounding Tommy Ballard's death remain a mystery | News | wdrb.com, A move in the right direction: Sherry Ballard reacts to special prosecutor appointment to Nelson County cases, Special prosecutor investigating three Nelson County deaths, Signs speculating about suspect in disappearance of Crystal Rogers appear on anniversary of her father's death, Family still searching for answers in death of missing woman's father, Police investigating shooting death of Tommy Ballard, KSP clears victim's grandson in Nelson County shooting death, Sherry Ballard says her husband was being followed leading up to his death, Search continues for Ky. mom part 2 (Rogers), Witness Says She Saw Suspicious Car The Morning Tommy Ballard Was Shot, KSP seeks public's help in investigation of Tommy Ballard shooting death, Grandson cleared in missing woman's dad's death, TIMELINE: Crystal Rogers disappearance & Investigation, Autopsy scheduled in Tommy Ballard death, investigation continues, The Complete Timeline of Crystal Rogers' Disappearance, Family offers $20,000 for information on fatal shooting, Bardstown family longs for answers 6 months after Tommy Ballard was killed, WHAS11 Journalist Shay McAlister visits EKU at "A Night of True Crime" Event, FBI conducting new search in Crystal Rogers case, Family of Crystal Rogers hopes for answers during FBI search of Bardstown farm - ABC 36 News, Timeline: A look at the Crystal Rogers case since 2015, including FBI involvement, FBI begins fourth day of search for Crystal Rogers on Houck farm - YouTube. In August of 2017, Tommy Ballard's two brothers put up a sign offering $20,000 for information leading to an arrest of the person who murdered their brother. Paying a little homage to the Baard and his, "Something is rotten in Denmark." He is clearly the focus of the investigation. Greek stationmaster arrested in head-on train crash; 36 dead. A seven-year veteran of the Bardstown police department and a member of the K-9 unit, Jason Ellis was ambushed and brutally gunned down at around 2-3 a.m. on May 25, 2013. Outside of work, he was heavily involved in the community including coaching youth baseball. Officer Ellis was driving home late that night in his cruiser when he stopped on Exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway to clear brush from the road. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, who lived with her, claimed innocence and said he had no clue what happened to Crystal. He is heard signing off for the evening over the radio. On the morning of November 19, 2016, Tommy had plans to go hunting on his property with his grandson. In a bizarre twist, on November 19, 2016, Crystals father, Tommy Ballard, was fatally shotin the chest by an unknown gunmen while out hunting. Though all occurred in Nelson County, that doesnt mean there is a real connection, save the seemingly obvious one between the disappearance of Crystal Rogers and her fathers death. Michael Wayne Unseld was shot and killed above what used to be the Broke Tee Nite Club in Bardstown in 2016. All I know about the boyfriend was that he was former military and her mother apparently disinvited him to their home for Thanksgiving. Should You Want To? I think that the murderer(s) believed that Tommy was bringing too much attention to them in their small town and wanted to shut him up. Houck was under suspicion immediately. They are tied up, tortured, and suffer knife and bullet wounds. Although detectives considered Houck a suspect, he was never charged in connection with Crystals disappearance. No, it's not. People need to see order and connectedness. Tommy was married to Sherry and they had eight grandchildren. "We are a very close family, and Im not doing anything different that any mother would do for their daughter at all," Ballard added. Troopers released a photo of the suspect vehicle taken from video surveillance. Her car was found on the side of a busy parkway with a flat tire, keys, wallet and phone still inside. Sherry Ballard said her daughter's children are now 22, 21, 19, 17 and 9. in the chest by an unknown gunmen while out hunting. With a population of just over 14,000. and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. The two share a home with their 2 year old son and Crystal's other children. The person or persons who killed them is still on the loose. They need the FBI to get involved. He was close to figuring it out too. It's a relatively small town and to have so many deaths and a disappearance, I assumed they all had to be related, but I have recently started to look at other ideas. Police believe Nick interfered with their investigation. I suspect that one or more people murdered Jason to solve a problem and Chrystal and her father were murdered by the same to solve perhaps different problems. On May 25, 2013, Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and killed on his way home after signing off for the night by someone lying in wait for . Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. The missing mother's case has gained national attention, with it being featured on HLN's "Real Life Nightmare" docu-series. The Bardstown PD is a common denominator to all but the Netherland killings but the connections are vague. I always wonder what my life would be like if she and my papaw was still here.". At first, its as if the wind carrying the scent from the distilleries lining the town perimeter makes you a little high. I'm innocent. The crimes left a long-lasting effect on Bardstown. in Cincinnati, Ellis was fatally shot multiple times with a 12-gauge shotgun. I don't need an attorney. In 2014, the brutal double-homicide of 48-year-old Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, rocked the town of Bardstown, Kentucky. The Bardstown Murders are a series of 5 unsolved deaths over 3 years starting in 2013. BARDSTOWN, KY (WAVE) - Graphic details of how a Nelson County mother and her teenage daughter were killed inside their home in April are now public. [] It's taking a lot of energy and effort. Get InsideHook in your inbox. Someone traveling through, a violent person, someone like ngel Maturino Resndiz who traveled through the US, killing multiple people that were strangers to him. I hope Officer Ellis and his family receive justice soon. Kathy Netherland, a special education teacher, and her 16 year old daughter Samantha are brutally murdered in their own home. I can't remember which pod I heard it on - it's been years. When Bauer pressed him for details about how he knew it was gang initiation, he said, "Well, I know they was tortured. Despite such an incentive, the murders remain unsolved. Some find it suspicious because he wasn't driving his regular vehicle that night and didn't have his K-9 with him but I feel like that is a coincidence, as I think him having his K-9 locked in the back of his regular vehicle sadly wouldn't have changed the outcome of this terrible crime. After her family does not hear from Crystal, Sherry Ballard reports her daughter missing to the Bardstown police. Kathy Netherland, a special education teacher, and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, were found murdered in their home on April 21, 2014. The FBI has been involved in both the police officer's shooting and the disappearance of the woman. , "My whole family's name is trashed for something completely not even tied to me. I hope they receive justice in the near future. After exiting his police cruiser to investigate, he was ambushed. "She was nice to everyone she met. It was the sort of town a young man or woman visits and finds themselves wondering what was so great about the big city, anyway. It would be great if someone came forward and gave information to help solve these whether they're related or not and I hope someone does soon. The utterly brutal murder the Netherlands on a pleasant country road is as strange as Elliss murder. 5 years later, nobody knows, The FBI has been offering a reward of up to $50,000, FBI said it is "offering up to a$25,000 reward, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Someone, perched on top of the stone cliff above him, fired a shotgun. Trees crowd both sides of the road, lush green walls that grow denser as you go. A more likely explanation would be a killer who did not know the intended victims and got the wrong address. There are currently no cases that match the selected filters. Her daughter, Samantha, was a 16-year-old sophomore in high school. Two people have been arrested and charged in the murder of Michael Wayne Unseld, 61. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Do You Have Any? I know that trinkets were taken as trophies. The tragic events began six years ago. A month later, new Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig announced the creation of a new anonymous tip line that she hopes will encourage those with information on the cases to come forward. How do you protect your children from predators? Kathy, a widow, was a special education teacher. Kathy was attacked at the front doorway suggesting that she was attacked after she answered the doorbell. Former Sheriff Ed Mattingly named Brooks Houck a suspectin his girlfriends disappearance, which he believes to be a homicide. Prior to the rash of unsolved high-profile murders, the counties around Bardstown were home to The Cornbread Mafia, rural farmers turned drug traffickers, who at their peak ran the largest marijuana production operation in the United States. It's okay to have differing opinions, I just hope they all get a resolution. Nick was accused ofwarning his brotherthat detectives planned to interview him and advised him not to speak with them. Kathy Netherland taught special education at Bardstown Elementary School. There were about 6600 residents then, and even if the county seat for Nelson County sometimes felt for just a moment like the setting for a folksy episode of the Twilight Zoneone where all the good townsfolk are revealed as malevolent robots in the final act, or cultists searching for a sacrificethere was no real sense of danger. The Police Chief at the time of the murders, who has since been fired, had a reputation as a ladies man who was rumored to have had affairs with local married women. The mother and daughter were found dead in their home on Springfield Road near Bardstown. "Pick up the phone, call the number. I honestly don't know the situation in Bardstown but lets say that these murders are all connected. While removing the branches he is shot several times and dies shortly afterward. pokesperson Lt. Michael Webb said police haven't ruled out the possibility that the cases might be connected, but offered no further details. Copyright 2023 InsideHook. 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