Trial enters day 8 in Crystal Rogers case

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The trial for the death of Crystal Rogers has entered its eighth day in Bowling Green.

News 40 is on scene at the Warren County Justice Center following the latest developments Thursday.

The trial being held in Bowling Green is of Brooks Houck, Rogers’ ex-boyfriend, and Joseph Lawson. Rogers disappeared in Bardstown in 2015, and her body was never found.

Today, the first defense witness was a cognitive psychologist, Jeff Neuschatz, who is an expert in police interrogation. Neuschatz criticized the way law enforcement conducted witness interviews, several of which produced statements incriminating Houck and Joseph Lawson in the death of Rogers.

Video clips of three interviews were reviewed, including those of Charlie Gurley and Heather Stone, who testified for the prosecution.

Neuschatz said manipulation and threats were used during the interviews of two state witnesses, which could have led to false statements being made.

The prosecution began its cross examination by saying the witnesses had affirmed those statements in court and under oath and that some of them had called law enforcement after initial interviews to say they had more information to offer.

Gurley’s interview was also criticized for taking place when he had been up for days under the influence.

The witness stated that memory is constructive and subject to changes depending on information presented about an event and timelines.

News 40 will continue to provide the latest information as it becomes available.