Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson’s stepchildren, former coworkers testify on day 2 of trial

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) — Day two of Steve Lawson’s trial in connection with the disappearance of Crystal Rogers is underway in Bowling Green.

Lawson is charged with conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence, and he’s one of three people accused in the Bardstown mother’s presumed death.

Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015, and her mother reported her missing two days later after her vehicle was found, still running, at mile marker 14 on the Bluegrass Parkway. She has since been presumed dead, but her body has yet to be found.

Lawson’s trial was moved from Nelson County to Bowling Green due to significant publicity surrounding Rogers’ disappearance.

Cameras and recording devices are not allowed in the courtroom, per the judge’s orders.

On May 28, we heard five new witness testimonies and the defense’s first cross-examination of Jonathan Snow so far, with proceedings resuming after recess.

Judge Charles Simms said the trial is ahead of schedule and things are moving more quickly than expected.

Here’s a live look at what’s occurred so far:

• Cross-examination of former lead detective Jonathan Snow
• Called Jamie Brooks to the stand, another detective who assisted in phone examination and and collection; no cross-examination.
• Called Lauren Hardin to the stand. She is Lawson’s stepdaughter to his late wife, Tammy Lawson.
  • She testified she was not looking for a rental property in July 2015, despite Lawson claiming that’s what he called Brooks about at midnight on July 3.
  • Further, Hardin said she was renting a property from Rogers and Houck already and was in the process of being evicted.
• Called Elizabeth Chesser to the stand. She shares a child with Lawson’s son, Joseph, who’s set to face a jury in June.
  • Defense called her testimony a “bombshell” after claiming Lawson wanted to leave his late wife, Tammy, because she “had murder on him” and was going to tell.
  • Also an alleged comment from Lawson, “No evidence, no case.” Chesser believed that this was about Crystal Rogers.
    • When she was watching a 2017 Oxygen docuseries and heard Steve’s voice on a recording for the first time, from a 2015 interview with Houck, who called Steven mid-interview to inquire why he called him late at night on July 3.
  • She said she believed testifying was the right thing to do and hoped it brought Sherry Ballard, Rogers’ mom, peace.
  • Defense questioned her loyalty to Sherry.
  • Lawson shakes his head at Chesser, who’s still on the witness stand.
  • Chesser’s testimony is the first time jurors submitted any questions surrounding Chesser’s relationship with her mother at the time of Lawson’s statements.
• In each defense cross-examination, it typically focuses on the following points: history of drug use, watching docuseries about the case, their preparations with the prosecution, and places emphasis on the length of time between 2015 and the trial.
• Called Stacie Cramer to the stand. She’s a former employee of Houck.
  • She allegedly witnessed Lawson riding around with Houck, talking about how he had to take care of a girl with 5 kids.
  • Although her written statement said it was about a girl “on meth” with kids involved. It’s unknown if Crystal was a drug user.
• Called Charlie Girdly to the stand. He’s a former employee of Houck.
  • He claimed that in 2015, Lawson told Girdly that “Brooks asked him to get rid of his old lady,” but that he had the wrong guy.
  • Further, he testified that Houck gave Joseph Lawson the keys to Roger’s car around the time of her disappearance to “work on it.”

Proceedings are expected to resume around 1 p.m. CST.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates.