Regina Hicks vanished in 2001. Her estranged husband was convicted in 2025 after a decades-long cold case investigation.
A decades-old mystery has finally reached a courtroom verdict: Regina Hicks’ estranged husband was convicted for her murder years after her body was found in a pond.
Regina Hicks disappeared in October 2001 after failing to pick up her 4-year-old son. Montana. in Willard. Ohio. prompting a sweeping search that ultimately led investigators to her submerged white Camaro.. The case has resurfaced in a new episode of Misryoum featuring the key timeline and evidence that shaped how the prosecution and defense viewed what happened.
The investigation that began in the early 2000s struggled to move forward. in part because prosecutors said they could not point to direct proof tying Paul Hicks to the killing at the time.. Misryoum reports that investigators later revisited the case through a cold-case effort. re-interviewing key witnesses and tightening focus on testimony that had not fully been developed.
This kind of long-delayed progress is a reminder of how criminal cases can hinge on witness accounts, investigative continuity, and whether new legal strategies can bring old facts into sharper focus.
According to testimony presented during the eventual prosecution. Steve Gates. a person connected to where Montana was to be picked up. described what he believed occurred the night Regina vanished.. In that account. Regina was allegedly found incapacitated. and Paul Hicks was said to have driven the vehicle into the pond. leaving her there.. Over time. immunity was granted to Gates. narrowing what he could be prosecuted for while allowing his testimony to be heard.
Misryoum also reports that Paul Hicks denied wrongdoing. and his defense emphasized what they argued was a lack of forensic evidence directly linking him to the crime scene.. In court. prosecutors pointed to a motive tied to family disputes. including issues connected to custody and child support. while the defense argued the overall case relied too heavily on speculation.
A jury ultimately found Paul Hicks guilty on murder and kidnapping counts. and he was sentenced to 25 years to life. though he is appealing the decision.. At the time of sentencing. Montana said he still does not feel full closure because of the perceived gaps in proof. reflecting the emotional cost a family can carry long after the headlines fade.
That emotional aftermath, Misryoum notes, is part of why cases like this continue to resonate: even when the legal system delivers an outcome, families still must live with uncertainty, grief, and the wait for further court decisions.