Dive into the mysterious case of Regina Brown on "Dark Downeast," where host Kylie Low, alongside guests Advertiser and Rayna Brown, explores the unsettling events leading up to Regina's unresolved disappearance. The trio delves into Regina's troubled marriage with Willis Brown Jr., shedding light on a past marred by violence and fear. Regina's abrupt vanishing act in March 1987, after years of abuse, leaves more questions than answers as her personal ordeal with Willis takes center stage. Signs of a hurried escape from her house and the ominous disappearance of her car in New York City paint a harrowing picture for listeners, as the episode unpacks the suspicions and steps taken in the aftermath of her disappearance, declared legally dead eight years later without a trace.
The investigation into Regina's fate has spanned decades, with the primary suspect being her husband, who remains a person of interest due to damning allegations and enigmatic clues, such as a potential map to Regina's grave. As Kylie Low engages in conversation with Rayna Brown, they reflect on the initial investigative missteps, ongoing searches, and the relentless pursuit of closure by Regina's daughter and friends. With no definitive evidence to confirm foul play, "Dark Downeast" invites its audience to piece together remnants of a life disappeared, tracing the echo of Regina Brown through time, clamoring for answers in an indelibly haunting case that evades resolution.
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Regina Brown's disappearance has been shadowed by a history of abuse in her marriage to Willis Brown Jr. The marriage began positively, but it turned violent, leading to numerous encounters with the law and fears for Regina's safety. Regina had called the police on Willis after a violent episode in April 1984, and despite dropping charges for psychiatric treatment, the abuse continued. Regina's life was described by a judge as a "living nightmare," and her friend Hope Lambert was well aware of the fear Regina lived with, including threats from Willis that could explain her apprehensions. Regina went missing in March 1987, after which her car was located in New York City and her house appeared to have signs of a hasty departure. Regina Brown was legally declared dead in 1995, with foul play being highly suspected.
Willis Brown Jr., Regina's husband, is the primary person of interest in Regina's disappearance. His history of abuse directed toward Regina has led to early suspicions of his involvement. A "map" potentially pointing to Regina's grave was found, intensifying the suspicion surrounding Willis. This map included a reference to Block Island, an area linked to Willis through his business interests. Despite the evidence and suspicion, Willis has only been named a person of interest by the police. Raina Brown, Regina's daughter, and others, continue to suspect his involvement in the case.
The initial investigation into Regina's disappearance was limited: her house wasn't treated as a crime scene immediately, potentially losing valuable evidence. It was not until later that a thorough search of her home was conducted, finding her coat, purse, and ID card. Over the years, several searches have been instigated based on new leads, such as the one on Block Island following a tip, and efforts to find remains around her former home. However, no conclusive evidence has been unearthed, leaving the case unsolved. While suspected to have been a victim of foul play, no definitive evidence has emerged, and Regina Brown's fate remains a mystery.
1-Page Summary
The mysterious disappearance of Regina Brown remains, to this day, a haunting case exacerbated by the tumultuous and violent relationship between Regina and her husband, Willis Brown Jr.
The marriage between Regina and Willis Brown Jr., which began with generosity and affection, turned into a sour partnership marred by accusations and violence.
Police indicate that there has been a history of physical violence in the relationship, with a suspicion that Regina's remains may be buried near the Browns' old backyard based on cadaver dogs' reactions. Regina testified that after marriage, Willis changed dramatically, growing cold and angry. Regina called the police in April 1984 when Willis tried to choke her. He was arrested, but charges were dropped in favor of psychiatric help. However, Willis continued to threaten Regina's life, one fearful event leading her to lose consciousness and awake on the bathroom floor. Evidently, this was not an isolated occurrence, as allegations of abuse were prevalent throughout the divorce and custody hearings, painting Willis as extremely abusive.
Regina's life with Willis was described as "a living nightmare" by Judge Howard J. Horrigan, acknowledging severe physical and mental abuse. Regina's friend, Hope Lambert, was privy to Regina's fears, including the fear of the "book" Willis wrote to humiliate her. Regina had sought court orders for protection and had expressed to her friend that if there was no communication within three days, it would indicate Willis had done what he threatened.
Regina Brown vanished into thin air in March 1987, after sending ...
Regina Brown's Disappearance and Marriage/Abuse Allegations
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Willis Brown Jr. is under intense scrutiny related to the disappearance of his wife, Regina Brown. Chief DeJoseph has named him the only suspect, and his past behavior has raised early suspicion.
Regina's fear, her protective actions, and Willis's unpredictable and previously violent behaviors pointed to early suspicions regarding his involvement in her disappearance. Willis's history of physical violence towards Regina has been noted as a significant factor contributing to these suspicions.
A discovery that has added to the concern around Willis Brown Jr. is a hand-drawn map found by Randy, the son of Willis’s stepmother. The map, uncovered after his stepmother's death, mentioned Block Island and had the words "Regina O God" written on it, which Newtown police consider could potentially lead to Regina Brown’s grave. Willis ran a moped rental business on Block Island where the map pointed to.
Despite the mounting suspicion and the discovery of the map, Willis Brown Jr. has been designated only as a person of interest in the case of Regina’s disappearance. He has denied any involvement in the matter. Regi ...
Willis Brown Jr. as Main Suspect
After Regina Brown was reported missing, a babysitter resided in her house, which was not initially treated as a crime scene due to the authorities' uncertainty about whether a crime had actually occurred. It was nearly a month later when law enforcement conducted a thorough search of Regina's Newtown home and processed it for evidence. They discovered items such as Regina's coat—worn on the day she was last seen—her purse containing a $1,000 check, and her American Airlines ID card. Despite these findings, Chief DeJoseph stated that nothing else of significance was uncovered and that the house being painted over by the babysitter did not impact forensic testing for evidence, including blood.
Subsequently, new leads prompted additional searches, though the Block Island investigation was halted due to a lack of fresh information. A hand-drawn map emerged, which was analyzed by the FBI but without a definitive conclusion on who created it. Retrospective criticism has been directed at the initial investigators for not treating Regina's house as a crime scene and other investigative shortcomings.
After receiving a tip about a man named Willis renting a trailer on Block Island prior to Regina’s disappearance, police waited over a year to search a 37-acre property on the island with a dog trained to find human remains. Despite their efforts, which included a 2016 search of the property surrounding Regina's former home—where cadaver dogs and digging w ...
Continued Investigation Over Decades
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