Hicks was last heard from at approximately 1:50 p.m. on September 1, 2004, when he called a friend on his cellular phone. He has never been heard from again. On September 5, his maroon 2004 Ford F-150 pickup truck was found abandoned at a park-and-ride on Route 29 in Nelson County, Virginia. There was no sign of Hicks at the scene and no indications of a struggle. Hicks's wife cannot think of any reason why he would want to travel to Nelson County that day.

Authorities believe Hicks may have been the victim of a homicide. He was self-employed as a tractor-trailer driver at the time of his disappearance. There has been no activity on his financial accounts since his disappearance, and he left behind two daughters. His case remains unsolved.