FBI Puts Rush On Items of Interest In Case Of Missing Mom Crystal Rogers

The FBI has finished their most recent search for missing Kentucky mother of five Crystal Rogers, concluding with items of interest getting rushed to the head FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

A spokesperson for FBI Louisville confirmed to Oxygen.com on Thursday morning that the search has concluded.

“And we have asked the Lab to expedite the items of interest,” they stated over email, adding that they would not specify how many items of interest were recovered in the search.

The FBI thanked the Bardstown, Kentucky community for their support during the search, particularly the residents of the Woodlawn Springs subdivision. Starting in late August, FBI Louisville began the days-long search of the community, focusing on one of the homes built by Rogers' boyfriend, Brooks Houck. He has been the only person identified by authorities as a suspect in the case.

Rogers' mother Sherry Ballard previously told local outlet WLKY that this home is the same location that both she and her late husband Tommy Ballard searched during their own investigation into Rogers’ disappearance. Tommy was then shot to death in 2016 by an unknown person while hunting on a family property. His death remains unsolved.

Rogers, 35, was last seen alive in her Bardstown home in July of 2015. Her car was later on a parkway with a flat tire days later. Her keys, purse and cell phone still inside. While her body has never been found, investigators presume that she is dead.

Ballard told Oxygen.com on Thursday morning that she is “very confident" that the FBI will find her daughter.

“If not here then wherever she may be,” she said. “I’m not giving up hope though that this is what we’ve been searching for six years now. I pray the items of interest will be connected to my daughter so we can bring her home to rest in peace beside her daddy.”

She said she is grateful to all investigators, and particularly the FBI, for working "their butts off to be able to bring the justice my daughter and husband deserve."

While the search was still ongoing, the FBI announced a new reward of up to $25,000, just a day after recovering an item of interest. The first item of interest was recovered shortly after the FBI began excavation efforts at the home reportedly built by Houck. Investigators were digging around the home’s driveway.

Houck has long vehemently denied having anything to do with Rogers' disappearance and he has never been charged. He now has sole custody of the one child he had with Rogers. 

Last summer, the FBI took over the investigation from the local police. Bureau investigators have said they've been analyzing evidence and conducting dozens of interviews while searching homes — including Houck's.

FBI Louisville urges anyone with information to go to CrystalRogersTaskForce.com/tips or to call 502-263-6000.

For more on this case watch "The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers" on the Oxygen app, or on Peacock.