PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WCHS) — A man who has long been a person of interest in the disappearance of Wood County, W.Va., woman more than three years ago was indicted Friday by a grand jury in the case.
Preston Pierce, 58, was indicted by a Wood County grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a dead body and kidnapping in the 2022 disappearance of 27-year-old Gretchen Fleming.
“Our investigation from the onset quickly determined Mr. Pierce was the last person Gretchen was known to be seen with,” Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said. “As the investigation proceeded, it revealed Mr. Pierce was a person of interest. Over the next three-and-a-half years, it was unrelenting.”
Records show Pierce was apprehended Friday in Asheville, North Carolina, and is being held in Buncombe County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to West Virginia.
Investigators confirmed Friday that remains found in the Palestine area of Wirt County in 2025 were that of Fleming.
Fleming was last seen leaving a bar on Juliana Street in downtown Parkersburg on Dec. 4, 2022, but she was not reported missing until Dec. 12.
The delay came as Fleming was splitting time living with different relatives who did not realize she was gone. The investigation has since continued with the Parkersburg Police Department vowing to not let the case go cold.
Investigators say Fleming was last seen leaving the May Way Lounge in Parkersburg in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2022. (Parkersburg Police Department)
Investigators found Fleming’s purse and phone in the weeks after her disappearance but had been unable to find evidence to lead them to a suspect.
FBI and local law enforcement searched multiple properties belonging to Pierce, a former cop who changed his name from Darrell Lott. The man had been identified as a person of interest in the case, but was never charged.
Parkersburg police said in January 2023 Pierce told them Fleming was in his car around the time she went missing but then declined to comment further.
Investigators search properties belonging to Preston Pierce. (WCHS)
Board thanked the Fleming family on Friday for their patience during the yearslong investigation.
“From my heart, I want to thank the Fleming family,” the police chief said. “It’s an arduous process. The faith they have shown throughout the course of this, not just the investigation but the tragedies that have happened on the periphery of this. The patience they’ve shown over three-and-a-half years and their support of us and faith in us is more appreciative than I can put into words.”
Records say Pierce is scheduled for a court appearance on May 18.
