HICKORY, N.C. — There is new information about a kidnapping in Hickory where a man was abducted from the parking lot of a Lowe's home improvement store.
The lead investigator of the case said the suspects planned the kidnapping before leaving their homes in Chicago.
Police said three of the four people arrested in the case are in the country illegally.
One suspect after another appeared before a judge Wednesday in Newton, charged with kidnapping Alfonso Moreno from a Lowe's parking lot in Hickory.
His girlfriend, who asked we not show her face, said Moreno had gone to buy curtains for their home.
About an hour after leaving she started getting phone calls demanding a $200,000 ransom for his safe return.
"Twelve o'clock was what they said was it or they would kill him. This is bad, this is bad. They want us to come through with some money now or we are not going to make it," she said.
"We believe he was specifically targeted because he had access to money and that he could get money for his release," said Capt. Reed Baer with Hickory police.
According to a search warrant, police traced the phone calls to a mobile home in southeast Hickory where they made the arrest after finding Moreno restrained. Inside they recovered several guns, rope, and a roll of duct tape. Moreno's girlfriend has a message for police.
"I am just very, very thankful," she said.
Police said they have already been in contact with ICE about the suspect's immigration status. All four of them are scheduled to be back in court on May 15 for a probable cause hearing.
Four arrested in Hickory kidnapping appear in court
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