Insets (from left to right): Gretchen Fleming and Preston Pierce (Parkersburg Police Department). Background: Volunteers search for Fleming in West Virginia (WOWK/YouTube).
A man facing serious charges after allegedly killing a woman he met at a West Virginia bar is now returning to face justice where the tragic events unfolded. Preston Pierce, aged 58, has been formally charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a deceased human body, and kidnapping in connection with the death of 27-year-old Gretchen Fleming.
The Parkersburg Police Department has confirmed Pierce’s extradition back to West Virginia following his arrest in North Carolina. This move marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings related to this case.
Gretchen Fleming’s disappearance dates back to the early hours of December 4, 2022. She was last seen leaving the My Way Lounge, a bar located in downtown Parkersburg, in the company of Pierce. Notably, she left behind her wallet and purse, which raised immediate concerns about her safety.
After failing to make any contact with her family or friends, Fleming was officially reported missing to the Parkersburg Police Department on December 12, 2022. This triggered an extensive search effort involving hundreds of volunteers, all hoping to find answers and bring closure to her loved ones.
For nearly three years, authorities diligently worked to piece together any information that could shed light on Fleming’s disappearance. In a breakthrough development in September 2025, human remains were discovered in a wooded area approximately 20 miles south of Parkersburg in Wirt County, West Virginia. This pivotal discovery has been instrumental in linking Pierce to the case.
For nearly three years, investigators pored over possible leads and searched for evidence to tie Pierce to Fleming”s disappearance. And in September 2025, police found human remains in the woods about 20 miles south of Parkersburg in Wirt County, West Virginia.
The remains were confirmed to be Fleming.
A Wood County, West Virginia, grand jury indicted Pierce on those charges on May 15. He was tracked to the area of Asheville, North Carolina, where authorities — including U.S. marshals — arrested him.
According to regional ABC affiliate WCHS, Pierce is a former police officer who changed his name from Darrell Lott. The Parkersburg Police Department said in January 2023 that Pierce admitted Fleming was in his car around the time she went missing, but then he declined to elaborate.
Pierce is being held by authorities “pending arraignment in Wood County Circuit Court,” police said on Thursday, noting that the date had not yet been scheduled.
