HURON COUNTY — The search for answers continues in the murder of Regina Rowe Hicks.

Two weeks ago, News 5 spoke with the family about their 23 years of searching for answers and justice.

‘I Never Give Up’: Community Comes Together to Help Solve 23-Year-Old Cold Case

RELATED: ‘I Never Give Up’: Community Comes Together to Help Solve 23-Year-Old Cold Case

Since then, Regina’s brother, Chad Rowe, told News 5 he has been contacted by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, saying “they have been interviewing people and preparing to dig on the land where Regina lived with her ex-husband Paul Hicks.

Regina’s body was found in the passenger seat of her car in a pond near Townline Road 12 and Section Line Road 30 in Huron County. The autopsy revealed bruises on the head. Authorities didn’t think it was an accident and opened a murder investigation, but without any leads, the case went cold.

The current owner of the property, where Regina and her ex-husband’s former home once stood before it burned down six months before her death in 2001, would not give her name or pass by the camera.

Still, she was eager to share that BCI had gone to her house to ask permission to dig Tuesday morning because they were looking for evidence.

“I told them, yes, if you can find something to stop this, then it’s worth it. They told me they were looking for a barrel, so I hope we find it and I hope it sheds some light,” the owner said.

Neighbors shared these photos of BCI agents digging. She said watching officials search for clues about the land Regina once lived on brought back happier memories.

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Ashli ​​Ford

“We saw her playing with her child, doing family activities outside or normal daily activities and to think that someone took that is just wrong,” the owner said.

And now, she finds herself confronted every day with the memory of his death.

“Directly from where I’m standing, if you look ahead, four rows down is Regina’s grave. It’s strange and to think I saw her playing with her baby here and now you’re looking at a tombstone across the street,” the owner said.

Regina is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Willard, right across the street from her old farm, and her former neighbor says he’s ready to get justice.

“Their family is made up of very good people and this matter needs to be resolved for them, so they can move on,” the neighbor said.

It is unclear when BCI will return to continue its research. News 5 reached out to BCI for any information regarding the case, and they said they do not have any information to share at this time.