For the family of Crystal Rogers, the Fourth of July was usually a time spent together, having a backyard barbecue and enjoying the fireworks. But something was wrong on that holiday weekend in 2015.
Crystal wasn’t responding to text messages. The next day, her car was located on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky.
Crystal was nowhere to be found. Her disappearance was just the beginning of the family’s nightmare.
Watch as Crystal’s loved ones describe her as an outgoing and loving mother of five.
Crystal’s father, Tommy Ballard, would stop at nothing to find his daughter. But on November 19, 2016, just over a year after Crystal’s disappearance, Tommy was shot and killed on family land just off the Bluegrass Parkway. His case is unsolved.
Loved ones share memories of Tommy, a hard-working, family man who remained devoted to them till the day he died.
The investigation into Crystal’s and Tommy’s cases case drew attention to another of Bardstown’s unsolved cases. Police officer Jason Ellis was gunned down on Memorial Day Weekend 2013 in what authorities describe as an ambush.
Family and friends share memories of Jason, and their hopes for justice in his case.
The full episode “The Trouble in Bardstown” is available to watch on Peacock now.
You can also watch on the NBC app or listen to the full episode on our podcast.
Then listen to this week’s episode of Talking Dateline, in which Lester, Andrea, and producer Rachel White take you behind the scenes of the episode.
