PARKERSBURG, W.Va. –A man charged in the disappearance and murder of Gretchen Fleming waived his extradition hearing in North Carolina.
According to court documents, Preston Pierce, 58, had submitted a waiver of extradition on Thursday, May 28. His original extradition hearing was scheduled for June 5.
Pierce was arrested on May 15 in the Asheville, N.C. area by the United States Marshals Service, the West Virginia CUFFED Task Force and the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
He was indicted on four charges including first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a deceased human body and kidnapping in connection with the December 2022 disappearance of Fleming.
Fleming, who lived in Vienna, disappeared three and half years ago in 2022. She was last seen leaving My Way Lounge & Restaurant in downtown Parkersburg during the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2022. She was reported missing by her family on Dec. 12.
Pierce will now be brought back to Parkersburg to face the charges.