Suvechha Sarkar
Regina Rowe Hicks was a 25-year-old loving mother and a beloved daughter. However, her beautiful life came to a sudden halt when she went missing in Willard, Ohio, on October 18, 2001. Her remains were discovered a few days later under suspicious circumstances. The case comes into the spotlight on ABC’s ’20/20: The Secret in the Water.’ It explores the details of the investigation, which uncovered a web of suspicion and betrayal. Through interviews with her loved ones and officials, the episode also dives deeper into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Regina Hicks’ Remains Were Discovered in Her Submerged Car in a Pond
Rollie B. Rowe and Lacella Patrick Holbrook were overjoyed when they welcomed their beloved daughter, Regina Rowe Hicks, into the world on September 13, 1976. Growing up in Norwalk, Ohio, Regina was always surrounded by the love and support of her parents and her beloved brothers, Chad and Charles Rowe. She was known among her loved ones for her infectious smile and kind nature. Regina and her family experienced a profound loss when Rollie unexpectedly passed away on May 2, 1998, at the age of 51. Over time, Lacella moved on and found love again when she first met Lancan “Lance” Holbrook. Soon, Lacella and Lance’s relationship blossomed, resulting in their marriage. It led Regina and her siblings to welcome their stepbrother, Lancan Edward Holbrook, and stepsister, Kimberly Holbrook, into their lives.
After completing her initial education, Regina became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) community in Willard, Ohio. In adulthood, she crossed paths with Paul Daniel Hicks. Gradually, their deep conversations brought them closer, leading them to tie the knot. Within the next few years, they welcomed their son, Montana Hicks, into the world. Unfortunately, Regina and Paul soon noticed cracks in their marriage. She eventually got a second chance at love when she began a new relationship. By 2001, Regina had moved out of Paul’s home and was living separately with her boyfriend. On October 18, 2001, she was seen leaving her boyfriend’s home in her white Chevrolet Camaro to pick up Montana. When Regina’s loved ones realized she hadn’t picked up her son and could not be located, they reported her missing.
It led to an intensive search by her family and officials. On October 22, Regina’s remains were found in her vehicle, which was submerged in a pond along Section Line Road 30 and Townline Road 12 near Willard. Detectives reportedly noted that her remains were in the passenger seat, which raised questions about how her car ended up inside the pond. Based on the positioning of Regina’s remains, they deduced that it was not an accident. Although experts collected DNA from the scene, it was deemed insufficient for comparison. The autopsy report revealed that she had bruising on her head, indicating that she might have suffered trauma before her death. It further determined Regina’s cause of death as drowning and her manner of death as homicide.
A Witness Statement After Over Two Decades Helped Solve Regina’s Murder
Authorities initially learned from Regina’s family that she was estranged from Paul. According to reports, they discovered that Paul had filed for divorce on October 19, 2001, just a day after the 25-year-old was reported missing. In the documents, Paul sought the full custody of Montana, alleging that Regina was an unfit mother who was unstable and used drugs. He also claimed she was using poor judgment and pointed out that, per court records, she was living with her boyfriend. Further reports suggest that when Paul was questioned, he claimed that Regina was suicidal, but that was contradicted by witness accounts. Due to a lack of leads and progress in the forensic investigation, the case went cold. More than two decades later, officials reopened the case.
It reportedly brought forth several witnesses, who claimed that Paul had a violent past and had a pattern of being abusive towards Regina. Upon speaking with Paul’s sister, Crystal Hicks, officials reportedly discovered that he was living with his sister at the time of the murder. In her statements, she told investigators that on the fateful day, she found her home in disarray. Crystal continued that she also observed muddy clothes in the bathtub after Regina went missing, as per official records. A breakthrough came when Paul’s close friend, Steven Gates, came forward as an unexpected witness. According to court records, Steven confessed that he had witnessed Regina’s murder. In his statements, he said he was building a pond with Paul on Steven’s property when Regina arrived.
According to investigative reports, Steven told detectives that Paul and Regina then got into a heated argument, following which Steven went into the garage for around 20 minutes. Steven stated that when he came out, he saw Regina “crumpled” in the passenger seat while Paul was standing outside. As per Steven’s statements, Paul then got into Regina’s car and asked Steven to follow him. Steven continued that after he and Paul reached the pond, Paul drove the car into the pond with Regina still inside. When authorities questioned Paul about the incident, he claimed that his twin brother committed the murder. On April 22, 2025, Paul was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping.
Paul Hicks is Serving His Sentence at a State Correctional Facility Today
Following his arrest, Paul was held in custody on a $2 million bond. Steven was reportedly offered immunity in return for his testimony against Paul. The jury trial of Paul began on December 9, 2025, during which the prosecution presented several witness testimonies before the court. It included Steven, who testified about the day of the murder. According to court records, he recalled that after Paul drove Regina’s car into the water, Paul had told him, “You’re involved now.” The prosecution argued that Paul’s motive was to get custody of his son, as Paul had filed for custody and divorce just a day after Regina went missing.
The prosecution also pointed out his false claims of having a twin brother. On the other hand, the defense claimed there was no physical evidence linking Paul to the crime. They emphasized the lack of forensic evidence and claimed that Regina might have died by suicide. They further challenged the witnesses’ credibility. On December 19, 2025, the jury convicted Paul on three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping. Ultimately, on January 9, 2026, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for murder and a maximum term of 10 years in prison for kidnapping, to be served consecutively. Currently, Paul is incarcerated at the Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut, Ohio.
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