Special prosecutor appointed for 3 high-profile Nelson County death investigations
Three high-profile deaths in Nelson County have been appointed a special prosecutor.
Shane Young, Hardin County's Commonwealth Attorney, has been appointed the role of the special prosecutor for the cases of Crystal Rogers, Jason Ellis and Tommy Ballard.
Young will be working alongside the United States Attorney for the Western District and the Office of the Attorney General. His appointment to this role took effect on Jan. 4.
Watch in the player above: FBI focuses on farm where Crystal Rogers was last seen
All three cases remain under investigation by the Kentucky State Police and the FBI, with the FBI being the lead on Rogers' case.
The FBI was in Bardstown last October, searching the farm where Rogers was last seen. They spent an entire week searching a portion of the 200-acre farm.
In conclusion of their search, the FBI said that evidence was collected and being sent to Quantico. They did not specify what evidence was found.
Most recently the case for Ellis was intensified after a memorial for the fallen officer was vandalized last November.
Ellis' murder has been under investigation since 2013, when he was gunned down attempting to remove tree limbs from a roadway near Bluegrass Parkway Exit 34.
Investigators say that tips have come in over the years, but nothing has been substantial enough to solve the case.
Back in 2021, investigators were offering a $50,000 reward for any information that would lead to an arrest for Ellis' death. Tips can be called to 502-263-6000 or emailed to tips.fbi.gov.
Watch below: 9th anniversary of Officer Jason Ellis' death
As for the father of Rogers, progress in solving Ballard's death has been about the same.
This year marks seven years since Ballard was shot and killed while taking his grandson hunting.
The FBI is also offering a monetary reward for any information that could help them land an arrest in Ballard's case. Anyone with information has been asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
And while the three cases have been named in the document calling for Young to be the special prosecutor, there has been no mention of investigators saying that they believe the cases are linked.
Watch below: Anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death follows 2nd FBI search in Crystal Rogers disappearance
More information on each case: