Nearly 25 years ago, Regina Hicks vanished from Willard, Ohio. It’s a tiny town, where everyone knows everyone. And everyone knows everyone’s business.
On the evening of October 18, 2001, the 25-year-old was due to pick up her 4-year-old son from her estranged husband. But according to witnesses, Regina never showed.
Her family became panicked when they couldn’t reach Regina. They filed a missing person report.
And then, four days into the search, Regina’s car was found submerged in a nearby pond, her body inside.
It was an incalculable loss. While the family grieved, the Willard Police Department got to work.
Regina’s cause of death was drowning and the method was ruled “undetermined.” But here’s what’s strange: Regina’s body had been found in the passenger seat. The rumors flew. Theories, speculation and whispers were hard to ignore, but even harder to prove.
Regina’s case went cold for more than two decades. Until a bizarre arson case hours away prompted investigators to take another look at Regina’s case…
To find out what happened, watch the full episode “Secrets Unmasked,” available now on Peacock.
You can also watch on the NBC app or listen to the full episode on our podcast.
Plus, Regina’s loved ones share memories of her as a happy and fun-loving sister, friend, and mother.
Regina’s case was investigated by a cold case unit a former Ohio attorney general helped set up in 2020. Learn about another case the unit is looking at, the unsolved death of Eveline Ashbaugh, “The Llama Lady.”
Then listen to this week’s episode of Talking Dateline, in which Keith Morrison and Andrea Canning take you behind the scenes of the episode. You can also watch Talking Dateline on Peacock, YouTube, or by subscribing to the NBC News app.