Investigators, prosecutors, and family from every stage of an eleven-year case gathered in downtown Bardstown Tuesday to dedicate a bridge to Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard- a permanent marker just a mile from Sherry Ballard's home.

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It was a sea of pink in the heart of downtown Bardstown Tuesday night. People who have carried this case in some form for the last eleven years- family, investigators, prosecutors, neighbors who never met Crystal Rogers but never stopped thinking about her- stood shoulder to shoulder outside the Nelson County Fiscal Court building for the dedication of the Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard Memorial Bridge.

Crystal disappeared on July 3rd 2015. Her case went unsolved for almost a decade- with a jury finding her boyfriend Brooks Houck guilty in her murder almost ten years to the day after she was last seen alive. Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson- former employees of Brooks Houck- were also convicted in connection to her murder. And even today, it still has an active thread running through the Nelson County court system: Nick Houck- Brooks' brother- is due back in court Wednesday, asking a judge to dismiss his perjury charge.

But tonight was about Crystal, and about her father, Tommy Ballard, who was murdered in 2016- and about a permanent reminder of both of them going up on Woodlawn Road, less than a mile from the house where Sherry Ballard still lives.

Senator Jimmy Higdon opened the evening, and before he introduced a single speaker, he made sure to name the people the night actually belonged to.

"Today we gather as a community to honor two lives whose tragic deaths have touched so many people," Higdon said. "This bridge will stand as a lasting tribute to Crystal and Tommy, to the love of their family, to the community that has never forgotten them."

He recognized Crystal's children- Ashley, Kyleigh, Tori, Trenton, and Eli- her siblings, Casey and Brooke, and Tommy's parents, Till and Betty Ballard. And then he turned to Sherry.

"I know it takes a brave lady to do this tonight. Thank you," Higdon said.

The crowd that showed up around her told its own story about how far this case has traveled. FBI Special Agent Steve Keary- who spent years rebuilding the Ballard family's trust in investigators after the case moved to federal jurisdiction- was there with his own family, though he didn't speak. Special Prosecutor Shane Young, who argued this case to three convictions last year, came with his wife and co-counsel, Teresa Young. Sitting among them were people who worked this investigation as sheriff's deputies, state police, and federal agents, at completely different points over more than a decade- in Sherry's words afterward, "all phases of this case of the last ten years in one place at one time."

The bridge will carry their names. Sherry Ballard chose who would carry their story.
As Nelson County prepares to dedicate a bridge to her daughter and husband, Sherry Ballard reflects on the investigators who moved from adversaries- or strangers- to the people she trusts most. I’m Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with
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Till and Betty Ballard, with tissues in their lap

The first speaker Higdon called up was retired Detective Jamie Brooks, formerly of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, who spent years assigned to the IRS Financial Crimes Task Force that assisted Detective Jon Snow early in the investigation.

He described the first time he and his team sat down with Tommy and Sherry, not long after Crystal disappeared.