In the late summer of 1997, 18-year-old Regina Renee Cox was on the cusp of a new chapter in her life, having recently joined the United States Navy with plans to report to the Great Lakes Recruit Training Center in Illinois on September 9th. Known to her friends and family as 'Reggie,' she was last seen on the morning of August 23, 1997, in her hometown of Somerset, Kentucky.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., Regina was seen leaving the parking lot of the United States Armed Services Recruiting Station. She was driving her white Chevrolet Cavalier. When she didn't return home, her family grew deeply concerned. The following morning, her mother made a discovery that would mark the beginning of a long and painful search for answers.
Regina's car was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart store, located about a mile from the recruiting station where she was last seen. The vehicle was locked, and inside, her mother found her purse, driver's license, money, and other personal belongings untouched. The only thing missing were Regina's car keys. There was no sign of a struggle or any indication of where Regina might have gone. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt, blue jeans, and black sandals. She also wore a distinctive blue star sapphire ring on her left hand. Physical characteristics noted were her shoulder-length brown hair, green eyes, and scars on her right elbow and right wrist.
The circumstances surrounding Regina's disappearance were immediately alarming to her family, who firmly believe she was taken against her will. The discovery of her car with all her personal effects, except for the keys, suggested she did not leave on her own accord. The investigation into her disappearance was launched, handled by the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department and later involving the Naval Criminal Investigative Service due to her recent enlistment. Over the years, law enforcement has exhausted all leads and now relies on tips from the public to help solve the case. Regina's family has endured years of uncertainty, holding out hope that someone will come forward with information that could finally explain what happened to her. The case of Regina Renee Cox remains an unsolved and heart-wrenching mystery for her loved ones and the community of Somerset.Last Seen: Aug 23, 1997
