Jury Recommends Life Sentence for Brooks Houck

Jury Recommends Life Sentence for Brooks Houck
A verdict has been reached this morning (July 8, 2025): a jury has found Brooks Houck guilty of murder in the death of Crystal Rogers. They also found him guilty of tampering with physical evidence. The jury has recommended a life sentence on the murder charge, plus the maximum of five years for tampering—these to be served consecutively lpm.org+15wkyt.com+15whas11.com+15.

Josepth Lawson Sentenced to 25 Years
Co-defendant Joseph Lawson was convicted as well. The jury recommended 20 years for conspiracy to murder and an additional 5 years for evidence tampering, also to be served one after the other reddit.com+8wkyt.com+8wkyufm.org+8.

What Happens Next
The court has scheduled final sentencing for August 21, 2025 wkyt.com+1wkyufm.org+1.

📌 Case Context & Reaction

• The jury handed down these decisions swiftly—just 5 minutes of deliberation—after 4 hours of discussion wkyt.com.

• Crystal Rogers’ family was visibly emotional and expressive in court, with some weeping and whispering “Thank you, Lord” when the verdicts were announced whas11.com+15wkyt.com+15wkyufm.org+15.

• Rogers disappeared in July 2015; though her body has never been found, prosecutors argued strongly for premeditation and physical evidence tampering 11alive.com+14wkyufm.org+14wlky.com+14.