Henry Co. Abduction May Be Retaliation for Family Drug Debt
Last Edited: Tuesday, 21 Oct 2008, 10:54 AM EDT
Created: Monday, 20 Oct 2008, 11:49 AM EDT
Juan Lopez

LAUREL PARK, Va. (WGHP) -- Investigators believe the abduction of a man from his grocery store Thursday was retaliation for a drug debt owed by the man's brother.

According to the Henry County Sheriff's Office, Juan Pedro Lopez, 32, was taken from a Mexican grocery store in the Laura Park Plaza shopping center along A.L. Philpott Highway around 10:15 a.m. Thursday. Lopez and his wife, who operate the store, were working in the back of the store when two suspects entered.

According to investigators, the two suspects grabbed Lopez and forced him into a 1999 silver Ford Expedition with North Carolina license plates.

Further investigation revealed that Lopez's brother, who lived in Burlington, N.C., owes a drug debt of approximately $300,000. The brother and other family members fled to Mexico a month ago, investigators said.

Investigators believe Lopez's kidnapping may be retaliation for the drug debt.

Several Hispanic males were seen casing Lopez's business and residence prior to the abduction.

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