Tommy Ballard was a proud father, brother, grandfather, friend, and husband.

He was a father of two daughters, Crystal, Brooke, and his son, Casey. He was the owner of T.M.B. Construction LLC, was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church. Tommy was married to Sherry and they had eight grandchildren. Both Tommy and Sherry fought tirelessly to find their daughter, Crystal who went missing one year before he died. Tommy’s death shocked the Bardstown community, which was still reeling from three other unsolved cases: the murder of Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis on May 25, 2013, the double homicide of Kathy and Samantha Netherland on April 21, 2014, and Tommy’s daughter, Crystal Rogers who went missing on July 3, 2015.

The day Tommy was killed.

On the morning of November 19, 2016, Tommy had plans to go hunting on his property with his grandson. By 7:54 AM, authorities were called to the 1400 block of Ed Brent Road for a death investigation. Tommy had been shot in the chest from behind. It wouldn’t be long before investigators ruled out his grandson who was with him as a suspect. However, a few months before the shooting, Tommy told his wife, Sherry, that he felt like someone was following him. “I was actually told from the very beginning that it was no accident,” Sherry Ballard said. “I can't just hide that. No, it's not. It was never a hunting accident.” In “The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers” docuseries, Sherry mentions that she believes that Tommy was getting close to information about who may be responsible for Crystal’s disappearance.

Where the case stands today.

Tommy’s case remains unsolved. However, Sherry has been focusing on advocating for Crystal’s case and believes that it will provide answers for what happened to her husband. Did Tommy know too much? Is Tommy’s murder connected to the other Bardstown unsolved cases? Police have asked locals to come forward with any information if they were driving on Bluegrass Highway between mile markers 21 and 24 before 7:30 am on November 19, 2016.

If you have any information regarding Tommy’s case, please contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI.

UPDATE: On October 5, 2023, Lead Prosecutor Shane Young told the judge presiding over Crystal's case that his team was waiting on tests for a firearm he believes was used to murder Crystal's father, Tommy Ballard.

“There’s five criteria they’re looking at and so far it’s matched four of the five criteria,” said Young.

Young also said they purchased the firearm from Nicholas Houck, who was using a false name while selling the rifle. Nicholas (Nick) Houck, a former Bardstown police officer and Brooks Houck’s brother, is not facing any charges.

This is the first possible link between the murders of Crystal Rogers and her father.