CONSPIRACY: Bardstown, Kentucky

The 'CONSPIRACY: Bardstown, Kentucky' episode of the 'Crime Junkie' podcast delves into the mysterious and unsolved cases of violent crime that have plagued the small town of Bardstown, Kentucky. The narrative begins with the ambush and murder of police officer Jason Ellis in May 2013. Ellis, a beloved K9 officer, was shot multiple times after removing debris deliberately placed on the road. Despite the clear setup and the use of unusual ammunition, the case quickly went cold with no suspects identified.

The story then shifts to the brutal double homicide of Kathy and Samantha Netherland in April 2014. The mother and daughter were found murdered in their home, with no clear motive and nothing stolen. Surveillance footage of a black Chevy Impala near their home led nowhere, leaving the case unsolved. The episode connects these murders to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers in July 2016. Rogers, a mother of five, vanished after her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, claimed she stayed up late playing games on her phone and was gone the next morning. Her car was found abandoned, and Brooks, along with his brother Nick Houck, a police officer, became the focus of suspicion. Nick was later fired from the police department for interference in the investigation, and Brooks was officially named a suspect.

The podcast also covers the November 2016 shooting of Crystal Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard, who was investigating his daughter's disappearance. His death is suspected to be a homicide, possibly connected to his daughter's case. The episode concludes with the theory that these crimes may be linked to a larger conspiracy involving police corruption, possibly tied to the shakeup in the Bardstown Police Department where an assistant chief was fired for shredding documents related to drug task force and internal affairs.