The first trial in connection with the murder of a Kentucky mom who disappeared in 2015 has ended less than a week after it started, with a jury finding Steven Lawson guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.
The jury, which deliberated about 2 1/2 hours before returning the verdict, recommended 17 years in prison when Lawson is sentenced in August, WLKY reported.
Mother of five Crystal Rogers was last seen with her boyfriend Brooks Houck, a prominent and wealthy local businessman, over the the July 4 weekend in 2015. Her car was later found running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. Her body was not been found.
Houck is accused of killing her. Lawson and his son, Joseph Lawson, are accused of helping him.
Lawson’s defense tried to convince the jury that he only moved Rogers’ car when Houck asked him to, WLKY said. He admitted picking up his son on the Bluegrass Parkway, where the missing woman’s car was found, but said he did not know Rogers was missing or that there had been any wrongdoing.
On the stand on Thursday, Lawson said that his son told him to call Houck and tell him the job was done, WHAS reported.
“So I did just that,” he said.
The defense further tried arguing that the prosecution had not proved Rogers was murdered, but prosecutors countered that Lawson knew about the plan and conspired to help Houck even though Rogers’ body has not been located.
Joseph Lawson faces the same charges as his father, while Houck is charged with murder and tampering with evidence. Their trials begin next month.
All of the trials have been moved to Bowling Green from Nelson County because of the publicity surrounding the case.
