ABC 20/20 “The Secret in the Water” May 1 2026

ABC’s 20/20 returns with a powerful new true crime event titled The Secret in the Water, airing Friday, May 1, 2026, at 9/8c. Reported by Deborah Roberts, the two-hour broadcast examines a decades-old Ohio case that began with a mysterious disappearance and ended with a long-awaited conviction.

The story centers on Regina Hicks, a 25-year-old woman who vanished in 2001 after leaving to pick up her son. Days later, her white Chevrolet Camaro was discovered submerged in a farmer’s pond in Willard, Ohio, with her body inside. The shocking discovery launched an investigation that would stretch on for more than two decades, leaving her family without answers for years.

As investigators worked to understand what happened, the case went cold before new leads and renewed efforts brought it back into focus. Authorities eventually built a case against Regina’s ex-husband, Paul Hicks, uncovering evidence that pointed to a calculated crime. Prosecutors later argued that the killing was deliberate, and after a trial, Hicks was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The episode also explores a separate and unusual incident involving a house fire years later, where investigators said Hicks attempted to stage evidence and shift blame. That event raised further questions about deception and behavior that became part of the broader narrative examined by authorities.

The Secret in the Water follows the full arc of the case, from Regina’s disappearance to the courtroom outcome that finally brought accountability. Through interviews, archival footage, and investigative detail, 20/20 presents a story of persistence, unanswered questions, and justice that took decades to achieve.

The special airs Friday night on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.