Kentucky : Tommy Ballard
Bardstown, Kentucky, is one of those small towns that most people in the true crime space know about, but not for a good reason. This small town of just over 13,000 people has a past like no other. The city was named after the Bard brothers, who obtained 1000 acres and then planned out the town known as Bardstown today. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival brings over 50,000 people to Bardstown annually and is one of Kentucky’s most prominent events. According to neighborhoodscout.com, Bardstown is only safer than 15 percent of all US cities. The violent crime rate is pretty low, though, at only 1.1 per 1000 residents. To give some comparison, the rest of Kentucky is at 2.85, and the United States is around four.
If you haven't heard of it, Bardstown, Kentucky, has had quite a few unsolved murders in the last few decades. I will briefly touch on all of them, but today’s focus will be on the unsolved murder of Tommy Ballard.
The first unsolved murder in Bardstown occurred in December 2011 when Daniel Cohoe went missing. His family hadn't heard from him, but he was a grown-up and might be off camping or fishing, so they didn't worry until Daniel didn't show up for Christmas with the family. Then on January 2nd, 2012, Daniel was found dead, shot execution-style in a barn in Spenser County, Kentucky. This county is next to Nelson County, which is the county Bardstown is in, and about 20 miles away from his home there in Bardstown. On January 5th, Daniel’s father was notified. His father described Daniel as a working man that loved the outdoors. He didn't have much money, and his father couldn't think of anyone who would want to hurt him. The family stated Daniel didn't have any friends in spencer county and didn't have a reason to be in that area, so they believe he was taken there by his killers. Zero suspects or motives have ever been released, and this case seems to be classified as cold.
The next unsolved murder occurred on May 25, 2013. Officer Jason Ellis was killed while driving home after finishing his shift at the Bardstown Police Department. When he came upon branches blocking the road on exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky, the fact that he was a police officer and an all-around good human being, he got out of his vehicle to clear the branches. While attempting to remove the debris, he was shot several times. A passing motorist discovered Officer Ellis and used his radio to call into authorities, but Officer Ellis would not survive this brutal trap. Ellis worked in the narcotics department and was a K-9 handler. He loved Bardstown, was always involved in the community, and was a coach for youth baseball. Ellis was described as a goofy, fun-loving man, and his murder is still unsolved.
The very next year, on April 21st, 2014, Kathy and Samantha Netherland were brutally murdered inside their own home right there in Bardstown. Kathy was a special education teacher and was beloved by the community. Police state, not one person had a bad thing to say about this mother and daughter. The two were still grieving the loss of Samantha’s father from cancer. Samantha had been stabbed and her throat cut. Her mother, Kathy, had been stabbed and shot. A black car was spotted on surveillance cameras in the area around the time of the murders, but that vehicle was never located or the person driving. This double homicide is still unsolved.
On July 3rd, 2015, Crystal Rogers disappeared from Bardstown. This case is the most infamous out of this town that once won the most beautiful small town in America award. Crystal Rogers, formally Crystal Ballard, was a 35-year-old mother of five when she went missing. Her mother reported her missing on July 5th, when no one in her family had heard from her in a few days. Crystal’s car, a red Chevy Impala, was found abandoned with a flat tire at mile marker 14 on the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky. Crystal’s keys, phone, and purse were still inside. Her family would state the seat was not adjusted the way Crystal would normally have it, which made them think right away that Crystal was not the last one driving her vehicle. There is so much to this case, and Brooks Houck, Crystal's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, was the last to see her alive. This guy owned a construction company and had a brother on the police force. Several people around Brooks, including two relatives and one employee, have been implicated in the case. A man that worked for Brooks was charged with 38 counts of perjury for lying to detectives. Brooks’ grandmother was also implicated when she invoked her Fifth Amendment right when called to testify in court. Authorities reported that whoever was responsible for Crystals disappearance used the grandmother’s car to move her body.
Eventually, the FBI took over the case; there has been quite a bit of traction within the last two years. Searches around Bardstown and raids of the homes of Brooks and his brother have been conducted. However, this case is still unsolved as the recording of this episode.
In 2016, a couple was murdered in a neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. Linda Leslie, 27 years old, and Julian Ramirez, 32, were residents of Bardstown. They were found inside a vehicle with the headlights still on. Linda was shot multiple times, while Julian was shot once. In 2022, a man named Donnie Ashby was indicted on two counts of murder. I could not find any information on how they connected or what evidence led the police to Donnie. Donnie was already incarcerated for unrelated charges. At least this case seems to be in the process of getting solved, but I would like to know his connection to this couple and the possible connection he has to Bardstown, if any.
Finally, we get to the unsolved murder of Tommy Ballard. Thomas Marvin Ballard was born January 7, 1962, in Louisville, Kentucky, to parents Edward Till and Betty Hammond Ballard. He had quite a few siblings, two sisters, Teresa and Barbara, and two brothers, Roger and Mike, who all lived there in Bardstown. Tommy is Crystal Rogers' father and the person that spent every day after she went missing searching and investigating her disappearance. He took advocating to a whole new level. His wife and Crystal’s mother, Sherry, stated Tommy spent all of his time finding out what happened to his daughter. Tommy Ballard had three kids, Crystal, Brooke, and son Casey. He also had eight grandchildren and was described as a devoted family person and a hardworking, do-anything-for-anyone kind of man. Being a military spouse for so long, I have no idea what it is like to have this much-extended family in one town.
As far as the day of his murder goes, it was November 19th, 2016. Tommy and his grandson headed out early in the morning to hunt on the family’s property. Tommy’s son and other grandson were also out hunting, but they went to the opposite side of the property. Just before 8 am, the grandson calls his grandma, Sherry Ballard, and states Papa has been shot. I could only imagine her heart stopping at that moment. It had been just over a year since her daughter had disappeared, and of course, they feared the worst, in that case, to only lose another person she loved more than anything.
Tommy Ballard was shot once in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, authorities looked at the grandson, who I believe was about 12 years old. He was ruled out as being the person that shot his grandfather. Police would start investigating; however, they weren't sure if it was a hunting accident or a targeted attack. To keep adding to the devastating loss for this family. In 2018, Crystal’s youngest son, who she had with Brooks, was no longer allowed to visit his grandmother Sherry. A judge ruled that the relationship between Brooks and his son was more important than the relationship between grandmother and grandson. Sherry had visitation every other weekend with this grandson, which would also allow him time with his siblings. However, Brooks would state that his son would come home after these weekends uncooperative and sullen.
Authorities aren't saying anything when it comes to all of these murders; not sure if they have anything to keep quiet about it, but it's been so long that you would think they would give the public something to produce some leads at this point. At least authorities changed it from a hunting accident to an actual homicide. Kentucky State Trooper stated, “If we give our whole case away, what our evidence is, what our statements are from witnesses or anybody else that may have information -- when people do come forward to us, and we don't know what they know -- if we haven't released anything, and they tell us stuff that's pertinent to the case, then we know that we're on to something.” Information or evidence that hasn't been released includes info about the bullet casing, the type of gun used, the direction of the shot fired, and the people who have been interviewed, just to name a few. The public usually gets some information, especially about the type of gun used to get or vehicles seen in the area. This helps the police gather new tips and possible leads. Still, this case is high profile, so police aren't letting anything slip passed them.
Sherry Ballard said in an interview that Tommy told her about his suspicions of being followed in the weeks leading up to his death. She believes wholeheartedly that they will know who killed Tommy once she finds out what happened to Crystal. Sherry also stated about her husband, and I quote, “Nothing would have stopped him, you know, he was going to bring our daughter home,"
There has been very little information released in Tommy’s case. Authorities have asked the public and especially truck drivers that may have been driving on Bluegrass Highway between mile markers 21 and 24 before 7:30 am on November 19, 2016. In 2019, Tommy Ballard’s father said detectives told him they were looking back at the cases again from “day one” and going step by step through leads and evidence. Then in October of 2022, just a few months ago, a search was conducted at the Brooks family farm. This farm was 200 acres, so a massive area to search. FBI agents stated they found some evidence in connection to crystals' case, and it was being sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, but of course, they didn't say what evidence was found. We can only hope once this evidence is processed, someone will be charged in not only Crystal’s disappearance but for Tommy’s murder as well. But let’s not stop there; Bardstown has way too many unsolved homicides for any town, let alone a town of this size.
Sherry stated in a recent interview, and I quote "It's very hard for me to sit and wait but I know the end result is going to be worth it. So, I sit and I wait and I think if they find who was guilty for Crystal then I think they will have justice for Tommy, too,"
There is a $20,000 reward available for information that leads to the arrest of his killer—and a $100,000 reward for information that leads to what happened to Crystal Roger.
The FBI leads the investigation into Crystal Rogers' disappearance, and Kentucky State Police leads the investigation into Tommy Ballard's death. But Anyone with information in any of the cases mentioned today is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Sources:
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