A special prosecutor from Hardin County has been appointed to assist three Nelson County murder investigations.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office appointed Hardin County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shane Young to help in the investigations into the deaths of Crystal Rogers, her father, Tommy Ballard, and Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis.
- Rogers, 35, was last seen on July 3, 2015. There is a $25,000 reward being offered in the case.
- Ballard, 54, was shot and killed as he prepared to hunt with his grandson on the morning of November 19, 2016.
- Ellis, 33, was also shot and killed during the early morning hours of May 25, 2013, on a Bluegrass Parkway exit ramp. There is a $50,000 reward being offered in his case.
Young, who was selected the state’s top commonwealth attorney in 2015, will coordinate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky and the state Attorney General’s Office in prosecuting suspect[s] in the three high-profile murder cases.
The FBI took control of the Rogers case in August 2020. Kentucky State Police is assisting the federal law enforcement agency.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office said about the appointment of Young, according to WAVE3.com:
“This appointment shall be for the purpose of assisting this office in the prosecution, if any, of potential criminal charges related to the deaths of Jason Ellis, Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard, all formerly of Nelson County, Kentucky, or of any other criminal activity discovered as part of the investigations into those matters.”
“The Office of Attorney General has made some administrative adjustments in the case in order to streamline a continued effort toward justice for the victims, their families, and the people of Nelson County. These minor alterations clarified lines of authority in order to make the combined efforts of the dedicated law enforcement officials involved more efficient in pursuing an investigation.”
(Photo l-r: Crystal Rogers, Tommy Ballard, Officer Jason Ellis)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
