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Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Identifies Person Of Interest In Case Of Missing Hickory Woman

July 30, 2026 By Richard C. Gilbert

ᴄᴀᴛᴀᴡʙᴀ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʏ, ɴᴄ- Sheriff’s Investigators have established Leroy Allen Loper as a person of interest in this investigation. Sheriff’s Investigators are evaluating evidence and information potentially connecting Loper to the disappearance of Robin Doyle.

Loper, 54, a registered sex offender with felony convictions for 1st Degree Kidnapping and Second Degree Forcible Sexual Offense has been arrested by Sheriff’s Investigators on unrelated Sex Offender Registry Violations. Loper is being held in the Catawba County Detention Facility on a $200,000.00 secured bond.

Sheriff’s Investigators are asking for anyone with information about Leroy Allen Loper to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Specifically, Sheriff’s Investigators are seeking information from anyone who may have seen and or interacted with Loper in Catawba County, Surry County and all points in between from Monday, 07/27/26 until Loper’s arrest on the evening of 07/29/26.

Sheriff’s Investigators suspect that Doyle was possibly kidnapped from her residence on 07/28/26. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in this investigation.

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