No Bond for Registered Sex Offender Accused of Kidnapping and Killing Former Co-Worker

No Bond for Registered Sex Offender Accused of Kidnapping and Killing Former Co-Worker

A Catawba County judge denied bond Monday for a registered sex offender accused of abducting and murdering his former co-worker, whose body was found in a wooded area after an extensive multi-agency search.

Leroy Loper appeared in court to face charges in the death of Robin Doyle, a Hickory woman who was reported missing earlier this month.

Investigators say Doyle was abducted from her home near Hickory after the rear door of the residence was found open. Her disappearance prompted a search involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Authorities identified Loper as a person of interest after using Flock camera technology to track a vehicle seen near the location of the reported abduction. Investigators also received assistance from neighbors in Surry County, who provided video showing Loper being taken into custody on unrelated charges involving violations of the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry.

During Monday's court hearing, investigators testified that cellphone data led them to a wooded area north of Claremont, where Doyle's body was discovered Friday.

Loper is a registered sex offender with previous convictions for first-degree kidnapping and second-degree forcible sexual offense. He and Doyle had previously worked together.

He is now charged with:

Murder First-degree kidnapping Concealment of a death

Loper remains in the Catawba County Jail without bond.

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Source note: Star News TV · Aug 4, 2026 1:43 PM.