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“Secrets Unmasked”: Dateline NBC Explores Homicide of Regina Rowe-Hicks June 19 2026

Ryan Gill

Dateline NBC concludes its Friday night season with “Secrets Unmasked,” an investigation into one of Ohio’s most haunting cold cases. Reported by Keith Morrison, the June 19, 2026 broadcast examines the murder of Regina Rowe-Hicks, a young mother whose death remained unsolved for nearly a quarter century before a renewed investigation led to the conviction of her estranged husband, Paul Hicks.

The case combines elements that have defined many of Dateline’s most memorable stories: a suspicious death, years of unanswered questions, a grieving family that refused to give up, and a dramatic breakthrough that arrived decades after the crime. Through interviews with investigators, family members, and witnesses, the episode traces the long path from Regina’s disappearance in October 2001 to a courtroom verdict in December 2025.

A Young Mother Caught in a Troubled Marriage

Regina Rowe-Hicks was 25 years old when her life was cut short. Friends and relatives remembered her as a devoted mother to her son, Montana, and a caring family member who remained close to those around her. She had met Paul Hicks while they were still in high school, and the couple eventually married and had a child together.

By 2001, however, the marriage had deteriorated. The couple had separated, and Regina was attempting to move forward with her life. Family members later described the relationship as unhealthy and marked by conflict. Relatives told investigators that Regina wanted independence and was seeking stability for herself and her son as divorce proceedings loomed.

The Night Regina Disappeared

On the evening of October 18, 2001, Regina left her boyfriend’s residence in her white Chevrolet Camaro. Her plan was simple: pick up four-year-old Montana from the home of Steve Gates, a friend of Paul Hicks, and then return home. She never arrived.

As hours passed without contact, concern spread among family members. Regina was known as a dedicated mother, and her disappearance immediately seemed out of character. Search efforts began, but there were few clues regarding her whereabouts. The mystery deepened as days passed without any sign of her.

A Grim Discovery Beneath the Water

Four days after Regina vanished, authorities made a shocking discovery near Willard, Ohio. Her white Camaro was found submerged in a pond. When investigators recovered the vehicle, they found Regina’s body inside. At first glance, the scene could have appeared to be a tragic accident.

An autopsy quickly changed that conclusion. Examiners discovered blunt force injuries to Regina’s head, including multiple wounds to her scalp. The injuries indicated she had been attacked before entering the water. Investigators determined that her death was a homicide rather than an accidental drowning. The pond had become a crime scene.

Suspicion Falls on Paul Hicks

Almost immediately, attention turned toward Regina’s estranged husband. Investigators learned that Paul Hicks filed for divorce and sought custody of their son the day after Regina disappeared. Family members found the timing suspicious, and detectives began examining his actions before and after her death.

Paul denied involvement and suggested to investigators that Regina may have been unstable or suicidal. Detectives found no evidence supporting that claim. While suspicion remained strong, law enforcement faced a major obstacle: there was no direct physical evidence linking Paul to the crime. DNA evidence recovered from the scene could not provide definitive answers, and no witness was willing to place him at the center of the murder.

A Cold Case That Refused to Die

For years, Regina’s murder remained one of Ohio’s most frustrating unsolved cases. Detectives followed leads, conducted interviews, and reviewed evidence, but none of it produced the breakthrough needed for criminal charges. The investigation stalled, leaving Regina’s family without answers.

No one worked harder to keep the case alive than Regina’s mother, Lacella Holbrook. She spent years advocating for justice, distributing information, offering rewards, and pushing authorities to continue investigating. Family members later said the emotional toll was immense. Holbrook died before seeing anyone held accountable for her daughter’s death, a loss that added another layer of heartbreak to the case.

New Attention Revives the Investigation

The case gained fresh momentum in 2024 when renewed public attention focused on Regina’s murder. Community interest, media coverage, and efforts by local advocates helped bring the case back into the spotlight. Investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Cold Case Unit began taking a fresh look at the evidence.

Cold case detectives reviewed decades of investigative material and conducted new interviews with witnesses. The passage of time had changed circumstances. Some witnesses who had remained silent for years were now willing to talk. Investigators believed that if the case were ever going to be solved, it would require someone close to the events of October 2001 to finally reveal what happened.

Steve Gates Changes His Story

The turning point came when investigators re-interviewed Steve Gates, the man whose property Regina had visited the night she disappeared. Gates had spoken with police years earlier, but his account changed dramatically during the cold case investigation. In exchange for immunity, he agreed to provide testimony about what he claimed he witnessed that night.

According to Gates, Regina and Paul argued when she arrived to pick up their son. Gates testified that he briefly left the area and later returned to find Regina unconscious inside her vehicle. He claimed Paul told him that Regina was dead. Gates further alleged that Paul drove the Camaro into the pond with Regina inside and escaped before the vehicle became submerged. His testimony provided investigators with a detailed narrative that prosecutors argued finally explained how Regina died.

The Murder Trial

Paul Hicks was arrested in April 2025 and charged with three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping. His trial began later that year and lasted approximately two weeks. Prosecutors built their case around witness testimony, motive evidence, and the timeline established through the cold case investigation.

The state argued that Paul was motivated by money and control. Prosecutors contended that he wanted to avoid child support obligations and secure custody of Montana. They portrayed Regina’s growing independence and determination to pursue custody and financial support as factors that intensified tensions between the estranged couple.

The defense challenged nearly every aspect of the prosecution’s case. Attorneys emphasized the absence of forensic evidence linking Paul to the murder and attacked the credibility of Steve Gates, noting that he had changed his account after remaining silent for decades. Defense lawyers argued that the state’s theory relied on speculation rather than physical proof.

Conviction and Sentencing

After hearing testimony and reviewing evidence, the jury returned its verdict on December 19, 2025. Paul Hicks was found guilty on all counts: three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping. For Regina’s family, the verdict marked the end of a struggle that had lasted nearly 24 years.

In January 2026, a judge sentenced Hicks to 25 years to life in prison. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost described the conviction as proof that the truth can endure despite the passage of time. Hicks continues to maintain his innocence and is appealing the conviction while serving his sentence.

A Family’s Long-Awaited Search for Answers

Although the conviction brought accountability, the case left lasting emotional wounds. Montana Hicks lost his mother as a child and later faced the reality of seeing his father convicted of her murder. During sentencing, he expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging the pain of losing both parents in different ways.

For Regina’s relatives, the verdict represented a measure of justice that many feared would never come. Family members had spent decades pushing for answers while preserving Regina’s memory. Their persistence, combined with renewed investigative efforts, ultimately transformed a cold case into a successful prosecution.

The Legacy of Regina Rowe-Hicks’ Case

“Secrets Unmasked” is ultimately a story about perseverance. Regina Rowe-Hicks’ murder appeared destined to remain unsolved, another tragic case buried by time and fading memories. Instead, investigators, advocates, and family members continued searching for answers long after many would have given up.

Keith Morrison’s report explores not only the crime itself but also the decades-long effort to uncover the truth. Nearly 24 years after Regina’s death, the secrets surrounding her disappearance were finally brought into the open, delivering a verdict that closed one of Ohio’s longest-running cold case investigations and ensuring that Regina’s story would not be forgotten.

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