Paul Hicks became the central figure in one of Ohio’s longest-running cold case investigations following the 2001 death of his ex-wife, Regina Rowe Hicks. At the time of her disappearance, the couple was separated and involved in a strained relationship marked by disputes over custody of their young son and the breakdown of their marriage.
In the years that followed Regina’s death, Hicks remained in the community and was not immediately charged. The case lacked the physical evidence needed to move forward, and for decades, suspicion existed without a formal prosecution. During that time, prosecutors later argued that Hicks attempted to shape the narrative around Regina’s death, suggesting she was unstable and may have taken her own life.
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Behavior and Allegations Over the Years
Testimony presented at trial painted a picture of a man who maintained control over the story surrounding Regina’s disappearance. Prosecutors pointed to statements Hicks made to investigators in 2001, where he suggested Regina may have been suicidal, a claim that investigators later said was not supported by evidence.
Witnesses also described behavior that raised concerns. An ex-girlfriend testified that Hicks showed interest in true crime cases and discussed ways to beat polygraph tests. According to her testimony, he owned material about how lie detector tests work and spoke about methods to avoid detection.
Another incident that later drew attention involved a house fire years after Regina’s death. Investigators said Hicks attempted to stage the scene and shift blame onto an ex-girlfriend. Court records showed he went to significant lengths to support that claim, including creating what authorities described as staged evidence. That case resulted in a misdemeanor insurance fraud conviction and a financial penalty in a civil case.
Arrest and Charges in 2025
After more than two decades, the case against Paul Hicks was revived. In April 2025, he was indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder and kidnapping in connection with Regina’s death. His arrest marked a turning point in a case that had remained unresolved since 2001.
Prosecutors built their case around a reconstructed timeline and witness testimony. They alleged that Hicks knocked Regina unconscious, placed her in her car, and drove the vehicle into a pond, causing her death by drowning.
A key witness, Steven Gates, testified that he saw Hicks with Regina on the night she died and later watched as the car entered the water. Gates had not come forward for many years and was granted immunity before testifying, which became a central issue during the trial.
The 2025 Trial and Conviction
The trial began in December 2025 in Huron County, Ohio. Over the course of the proceedings, jurors heard from investigators, family members, forensic experts, and witnesses connected to Hicks.
The prosecution argued that the evidence showed a deliberate act driven by control, custody concerns, and financial pressure. They highlighted that Hicks filed for divorce the day after Regina was reported missing and sought full custody of their son.
The defense challenged the case by focusing on the lack of forensic evidence linking Hicks directly to the crime scene. They argued that the prosecution relied heavily on a witness whose credibility could be questioned and that the case required jurors to accept an uncorroborated account of events.
Despite those arguments, the jury found Paul Hicks guilty on December 19, 2025, of three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping.
Sentencing and Where He Is Now
On January 9, 2026, Paul Hicks was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The sentence included 15 years to life for murder and an additional 10 years for kidnapping, to be served consecutively.
He is now in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, serving his sentence for the killing of Regina Hicks. The conviction closed a case that had remained unresolved for nearly a quarter of a century.
The outcome brought a measure of resolution to Regina’s family, while also marking the end of a long legal process that began with her disappearance in 2001 and concluded with a conviction more than two decades later.
More “The Secret in the Water”
- “The Secret in the Water”: 20/20 Examines the Regina Hicks Cold Case May 1 2026
- Who Was Regina Hicks & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
- Who Is Paul Hicks & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile