The Parkersburg Police Department, with help from the FBI, are once again searching a house in the 1300 block of Division Street related to the Gretchen Fleming case.
27-year-old Fleming was last seen in Parkersburg, West Virginia on December 3, 2022. She disappeared after leaving a local bar with an older man.
The man she was last seen with, Preston Pierce, was staying at the Division Street residence at the time. Pierce, a former law enforcement officer, no longer lives in the home.
In January of 2023, police searched his properties, vehicle, and belongings. He remains a person of interest in the case, but has never been charged.
Parkersburg Police Chief Matt Board’s statement on the search this week:
A secondary search warrant is being in the 1300 block of Division Street Ext, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, regarding the missing person investigation of Gretchen Fleming. We are thankful for FBI’s ongoing assistance throughout this investigation, as they have assisted in various capacities from the beginning. Though there is no new information to be released at this time, the execution of this search warrant is a continuation of the investigatory process. Our agency remains dedicated to utilizing all available resources and investigative strategies to fulfill our commitment to seeking justice for Gretchen Fleming and providing answers for the Fleming family. The search warrant conducted today is part of that effort.
While we may be vague in our public communications, we continue to work vigorously behind the scenes and continue to update and inform the family every step of the way. We are approaching the two-year mark of Gretchen’s disappearance. We recognize and understand that this has been an unfathomable nightmare for the Fleming family. They have shown tremendous strength and courage throughout this investigation. We want to thank them publicly for their continued support and trust in our agency. The Parkersburg Police Department is committed to doing everything possible to provide them with the answers they desperately deserve.
We also want to thank the community and encourage everyone to continue spreading awareness about Gretchen’s case.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming please contact the Parkersburg Police Department at (304) 424-8444.
A reward of $100,000 is being offered for information leading to resolution in Gretchen’s case.
The Disappearance of Gretchen Fleming
Gretchen Fleming was born on December 24, 1994, in West Virginia. She studied Political Science at William Peace University and Shaw University in North Carolina.
At the time of her disappearance, Fleming was living with her grandmother in Vienna, a small town of about 35,000 in West Virginia. She worked at an H&M store in the Grand Central Mall.
Fleming had recently returned home from North Carolina where she went to college and lived for a few years. Described as independent and creative, she was passionate about music, travel, and writing.
Disappearance
On the night of December 3, 2022, Gretchen Fleming spent the night out with a friend at multiple bars and restaurants in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
After visiting the Front Row Bar, Gretchen went to My Way Lounge & Restaurants, a tavern located at 501 Juliana Street.
At 3:00 am on December 4, Gretchen was last seen on surveillance camera leaving the My Way Lounge with an older man and heading toward his car, a Black Nissan Rogue 1 Sport SUV. The video did not capture the pair getting into his car, due to it’s location.
Gretchen never returned home and hasn’t been heard from since.
On December 12, 2022, her family filed a missing person’s report with the Parkersburg Police Department after being unable to get in touch with her.
Investigation
Gretchen Fleming left her phone and purse behind at The Front Row, another tavern she visited earlier that night, located at 4000 Emerson Avenue in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
When questioned by authorities, the man Gretchen was seen leaving with said he gave her a ride, but that she departed at an unknown location. There is no indication that they knew each other before that night.
Surveillance footage from various cameras captured the man’s car traveling from the bar toward his home, about two miles away.
Police believe Gretchen left with the man and traveled back to his residence. By his own admission she was in his car that evening, though he says she didn’t make it to his house.
Authorities have since executed search warrants on his house, car, and electronic devices. The man, whose identity has not been publicly released, is currently considered a person of interest in Gretchen’s disappearance.
In June of 2023, Detective Zimmerman said Gretchen’s case is still being actively pursued by the Parkersburg police department, and that digital evidence continues to be analyzed.
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