FBI resuming Crystal Rogers investigation in Bardstown this weekend after storm delay – WLKY Louisville

The remnants of a powerful hurricane may have temporarily halted search efforts in the Crystal Rogers investigation, but work is expected to resume this weekend.After a flurry of activity last week in a Bardstown subdivision, the FBI was forced to suspend its search efforts this week due to deteriorating weather conditions from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The weather system brought torrential rains to many areas of the Louisville region, including Nelson County, where the Rogers probe centers.It's been days now and weather impacts have subsided. Many have wondered when the FBI will continue its investigation, and that appears to be Saturday.In a statement sent to WLKY, a spokesperson for the FBI said personnel will be "conducting a search of the materials" that were recovered at the subdivision, but from an offsite collection point in Bardstown.The subdivision that has been at the center of the renewed search efforts is Woodlawn Springs, where the FBI initially focused its work on three properties.'I just pray this is it': Crystal Rogers' mother feeling encouraged as FBI search continuesThose properties were built by Brooks Houck, Rogers' boyfriend, at the time of her disappearance. The FBI then zeroed in on one of the properties, which no longer belongs to Houck. Teams spent last week digging up and excavating the driveway, and truckloads of concrete could also be seen around the subdivision.Multiple items of interestThe FBI hasn't shared much since it resumed search efforts last week, a year after taking over the investigation from local authorities.Outside of visibly seeing the teams search and excavate in the subdivision, the first major update came last Friday when the FBI confirmed it had recovered an "item of interest."Then on Monday, while announcing that it would suspend its search for the time being, the FBI confirmed that "multiple items of interest" had been uncovered and that they are "potentially relevant to the investigation into the disappearance of Crystal Rogers."The items have been sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis. The FBI has not shed light on what the items are and how they pertain to the disappearance of Rogers.In an update Thursday, a spokesperson for the FBI said while the teams will be working off-site this weekend, that doesn't necessarily mean efforts have concluded at the subdivision."That is still a day-by-day decision," the spokesperson said about efforts at Woodlawn Springs.Reward for informationLast weekend, for the first time, the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for information in Rogers' disappearance.They are hoping someone in the community will come forward and provide tips that will lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the mother's disappearance.Previous stories:Day 1 coverageDay 2 coverageDay 3 coverageDay 4 coverageThe main message the FBI has been sending to the community is cooperation. Since the team took over the case last year, they have called on residents to come forward and launched a dedicated website for tips to be submitted anonymously."Now is the time to come forward," the FBI said in a statement Friday.People can also call the FBI at 800-225-5324.What to know about the Crystal Rogers caseRogers went missing in 2015. Her car was found abandoned with a flat tire on Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown with her phone, purse and keys still inside.She had five children, one with Houck. While he is the only person since she disappeared to be named as a suspect, he has never been charged. His home was searched last year when the FBI started investigating. They also investigated his brother Nick Houck's home.At one point, investigators zeroed in on Houck's grandmother, Anna Whitesides.Crystal Rogers investigation: Where feds searched last year and whyThe state believed her car may have been used to dispose of Rogers' body. Whitesides, who had previously talked to investigators, later invoked her Fifth Amendment right, refusing to testify when called to court.Before the FBI came in last year, the Nelson County Sheriff's Department was handling the disappearance. A new detective took over the case a couple of years ago when Det. Jon Snow left the Sheriff's Department. Chief Deputy Joedy Gilliland then became the lead until the feds stepped in.Last year, when the FBI began its investigation, officials reported that they had found human remains at the Washington-Nelson county line. The FBI later reported that those remains were not of Rogers and their efforts remained largely quiet up until the latest flurry of activity this week.Just a year after Rogers died, on Nov. 19, 2016, her father was shot and killed on family property near Bluegrass Parkway, and his killing also remains unsolved.

The remnants of a powerful hurricane may have temporarily halted search efforts in the Crystal Rogers investigation, but work is expected to resume this weekend.

After a flurry of activity last week in a Bardstown subdivision, the FBI was forced to suspend its search efforts this week due to deteriorating weather conditions from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The weather system brought torrential rains to many areas of the Louisville region, including Nelson County, where the Rogers probe centers.

It's been days now and weather impacts have subsided. Many have wondered when the FBI will continue its investigation, and that appears to be Saturday.

In a statement sent to WLKY, a spokesperson for the FBI said personnel will be "conducting a search of the materials" that were recovered at the subdivision, but from an offsite collection point in Bardstown.

The subdivision that has been at the center of the renewed search efforts is Woodlawn Springs, where the FBI initially focused its work on three properties.

'I just pray this is it': Crystal Rogers' mother feeling encouraged as FBI search continues

Those properties were built by Brooks Houck, Rogers' boyfriend, at the time of her disappearance. The FBI then zeroed in on one of the properties, which no longer belongs to Houck. Teams spent last week digging up and excavating the driveway, and truckloads of concrete could also be seen around the subdivision.

The FBI hasn't shared much since it resumed search efforts last week, a year after taking over the investigation from local authorities.

Outside of visibly seeing the teams search and excavate in the subdivision, the first major update came last Friday when the FBI confirmed it had recovered an "item of interest."

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Then on Monday, while announcing that it would suspend its search for the time being, the FBI confirmed that "multiple items of interest" had been uncovered and that they are "potentially relevant to the investigation into the disappearance of Crystal Rogers."

The items have been sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis. The FBI has not shed light on what the items are and how they pertain to the disappearance of Rogers.

In an update Thursday, a spokesperson for the FBI said while the teams will be working off-site this weekend, that doesn't necessarily mean efforts have concluded at the subdivision.

"That is still a day-by-day decision," the spokesperson said about efforts at Woodlawn Springs.

Last weekend, for the first time, the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for information in Rogers' disappearance.

They are hoping someone in the community will come forward and provide tips that will lead to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the mother's disappearance.

Previous stories:

The main message the FBI has been sending to the community is cooperation. Since the team took over the case last year, they have called on residents to come forward and launched a dedicated website for tips to be submitted anonymously.

"Now is the time to come forward," the FBI said in a statement Friday.

People can also call the FBI at 800-225-5324.

Rogers went missing in 2015. Her car was found abandoned with a flat tire on Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown with her phone, purse and keys still inside.

She had five children, one with Houck. While he is the only person since she disappeared to be named as a suspect, he has never been charged. His home was searched last year when the FBI started investigating. They also investigated his brother Nick Houck's home.

At one point, investigators zeroed in on Houck's grandmother, Anna Whitesides.

Crystal Rogers investigation: Where feds searched last year and why

The state believed her car may have been used to dispose of Rogers' body. Whitesides, who had previously talked to investigators, later invoked her Fifth Amendment right, refusing to testify when called to court.

Before the FBI came in last year, the Nelson County Sheriff's Department was handling the disappearance. A new detective took over the case a couple of years ago when Det. Jon Snow left the Sheriff's Department. Chief Deputy Joedy Gilliland then became the lead until the feds stepped in.

Last year, when the FBI began its investigation, officials reported that they had found human remains at the Washington-Nelson county line. The FBI later reported that those remains were not of Rogers and their efforts remained largely quiet up until the latest flurry of activity this week.

Just a year after Rogers died, on Nov. 19, 2016, her father was shot and killed on family property near Bluegrass Parkway, and his killing also remains unsolved.

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FBI resuming Crystal Rogers investigation in Bardstown this weekend after storm delay - WLKY Louisville