Paul Hicks found guilty on all counts

NORWALK — After more than two decades, a Huron County jury on Friday found Paul Hicks guilty. Jurors convicted Hicks, 50, of three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping in the 2001 death of his estranged wife, Regina Hicks, 23, who was found submerged in a Willard-area pond. Hicks was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping. As the verdict was read, emotions in the courtroom's gallery were a mix of cheers and tears. The jury ultimately accepted the prosecution's theory of what happened on the night of Oct. 18, 2001, at a pond on Townline 30 Road. What happened that night Testimony at trial established that Hicks was assisting his friend, Steven Gates, with building a pond on Gates' property. Regina Hicks arrived at the property that evening to pick up the couple's young son who had been with his father, Paul, that day. Gates testified that Paul and Regina began arguing shortly after her arrival. According to Gates, the argument was verbal and began to get heated. According to his testimony, he went inside the garage, turned on the radio, and put away equipment for approximately 20 minutes. When Gates returned outside, he testified he saw Paul at the side of a vehicle and Regina crumpled in the passenger seat. Gates told the jury he placed Hicks' son into the back of his own vehicle. Paul Hicks then got into a white Camaro, and the two men drove toward the pond. Gates testified that Hicks drove the Camaro into the pond with Regina still inside. According to Gates, Hicks then swam back to shore, got into Gates' vehicle, and told him, "You're involved now." The two men then drove to Hicks' sister's home in Willard, where Gates testified Hicks showered and cleaned up, leaving his boots on the back porch. Those boots later came up missing — stolen, according to Hicks, disposed of, according to the prosecution. The case was notable for its lack of forensic evidence tying Hicks to the murder and hinged largely on Gates' testimony. Throughout the trial, the defense portrayed Gates as an accomplice seeking to deflect blame, while prosecutors argued he was a critical witness whose account was corroborated by the broader timeline and circumstances of the case. In his closing remarks, Huron County prosecutor James Sitterley said the night's events culminated in Hicks "launching his wife's coffin, in the form of a Camaro" into the muddy pond. Defense attorney Anthony Rich asked the jury to disregard Gates' testimony, citing his admission that he lied to investigators for over 20 years. "If lying were an Olympic sport, Steve Gates would win the gold, silver and bronze," he said. With their verdicts, it appears jurors ultimately found Gates' testimony credible. With the conviction, Hicks now faces a possible sentence of 26 years to life in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.