New lead in missing Gretchen Fleming case as ex-cop’s home raided two years after she vanished from bar with mystery man

The old residence of an ex-cop who was last spotted with a missing woman who disappeared almost two years ago was raided by the FBI.

On December 4, 2022, Gretchen Fleming, 28, was last saw with Preston Pierce exiting a pub in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Eight days later, her relatives reported her missing.

Pierce, formerly known as Darrell Lott, was recognized as a person of interest in Fleming’s disappearance by Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board a year later.

Pierce, who is currently 55, has served in several West Virginia police departments.

In the case, he has never been charged.

Officers were observed on Wednesday searching the home where Pierce once resided in Parkersburg, West Virginia, about 78 miles north of Charleston, about two years after Fleming disappeared.

In a statement, FBI Public Affairs Specialist Bradford Arick said, “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are carrying out court-authorized activity at an address in Parkersburg.”

“The public is not in danger. There is currently no additional comment due to the continuing nature of the investigation.

The search is related to Fleming’s disappearance, the Board said in a statement.

“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,” the Board stated.

“Our organization is still committed to using every resource and investigative technique at our disposal in order to achieve our mission to find Gretchen Fleming justice and provide the Fleming family with answers.

“The search warrant conducted today is part of that effort.”

He said, “While we are at times forced to be vague in our public communications regarding this case, we continue to work vigorously behind the scenes and continue to update and inform the family every step of the way.”

Police acknowledge that the situation has been a “unfathomable nightmare” for Fleming’s family as the two-year anniversary of her abduction draws near, Board continued, thanking them for their support.

Board stated that the Parkersburg Police Department is dedicated to making every effort to give them the answers they so richly deserve.

When Fleming vanished, she was living with her grandparents.

While looking for the missing woman, investigators discovered her phone and purse.

Police have previously searched Pierce’s previous residence.

Along with his home, automobile, electronics, and other properties he could own or rent, they issued a search warrant at the residence in January 2023.

Because the case was still pending, police held off on naming Pierce in public for almost a year.

According to authorities, Pierce told investigators early on that Fleming was in his vehicle the night she vanished from the My Way Lounge and Restaurant in downtown Parkersburg.

Then he refused to talk to authorities any more.

The reward for information that leads to Fleming’s location is still $100,000.

Parkersburg Police have been contacted by The U.S. Sun for comment.

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