In the early morning hours of September 16, 2012, Pareshkumar D. Patel, a 44-year-old man of Indian descent, arrived at the Raceway gas station he operated on Jefferson Davis Highway in Chesterfield, Virginia, for what he likely presumed would be a typical day of work. As he exited his vehicle around 6 a.m., he was immediately confronted by two individuals cloaked in hoodies.
A witness reported seeing these two people forcibly shove Patel into a van and speed away from the scene, marking the beginning of a harrowing ordeal for the local business owner.
For four days, the whereabouts of Pareshkumar Patel remained a mystery. Then, on September 20, 2012, his body was discovered at Ancarrow's Boat Landing in Richmond. An investigation determined that he had been killed by multiple gunshots. The case, which began as a kidnapping, had tragically turned into a homicide investigation.
Despite the efforts of the Chesterfield County Police Department, the Richmond Police Department, and the FBI, the murder of Pareshkumar Patel remains unsolved. The two individuals in hoodies who were seen abducting him are considered persons of interest, but no arrests have ever been made in the case. In an effort to generate new leads, the FBI has offered a reward of up to $15,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death. The investigation into who took the life of the dedicated family and businessman is ongoing.
