Trial for suspects in Crystal Rogers murder case gets change of venue

NELSON COUNTY, Ky. (Scripps News Lexington) — Trials for three men accused in the death of Crystal Rogers have been granted a change of venue.

On Monday, the Nelson County Circuit court announced that Steven Lawson, Joseph Lawson and Brooks Houck will now stand trial in Warren County.

Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson and Joseph Lawson. (Scripps News Lexington)

Rogers went missing on July 5, 2015, and was last seen at Houck’s home, who was her boyfriend at the time. Last year, Houck was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in the case.

WATCH | The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers

Steven and Joseph Lawson are facing charges of complicity to commit murder.

Earlier this year , Houck’s defense filed a motion for change of venue stating that their client cannot get a fair trial in Nelson County, or any other county in central Kentucky, due to extensive media coverage. Houck’s attorney is also arguing for the cases to be tried separately .

According to official documents, the parties agreed on the move to either Christian County or Warren County, and the decision came from KRS 452.220, which states, “The change shall be made to the nearest county to which there is no valid objection.”

This story was originally published in Scripps News Lexington, an E.W. Scripps company.