The After Show: The Secret in the Water

In this gripping After Show episode of 20/20, host Deborah Roberts and Court TV legal correspondent Julia Janay delve into the chilling true crime story of Regina Hicks, a 25-year-old mother who vanished in 2001 after agreeing to pick up her son from her estranged husband, Paul Hicks, in Willard, Ohio. Her body was discovered four days later in a white Camaro submerged in a local pond, with her positioned in the passenger seat—an anomaly that raised immediate suspicion. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, the case remained unsolved for over two decades, haunted by a troubling alibi and a lack of accountability. The breakthrough came not from forensic evidence, but from a dramatic shift in testimony: Paul’s longtime friend Steve Gates, who had previously provided an alibi, finally confessed under immunity that he had witnessed Paul murder Regina, drive her car into the pond, and cover up the crime. This testimony, combined with new investigative leads from a later arson case involving Paul, led to his arrest in 2025 and a conviction for murder and kidnapping. The episode also explores the emotional toll on Regina’s family, her son Montana, and Kelly, Paul’s ex-partner who was wrongly accused in the arson case. The story culminates in a powerful courtroom moment and a long-awaited sense of justice after 24 years. Key takeaways include the devastating impact of unresolved trauma on families, the importance of re-examining cold cases with fresh eyes and modern tools, the danger of relying solely on alibis without deeper scrutiny, and the profound psychological manipulation that can occur in abusive relationships. The episode underscores how a single, courageous witness can alter the course of justice, even decades later. It also highlights the emotional complexity of victims’ families, who must navigate grief, betrayal, and the long shadow of silence.