PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — The Wood County man charged with the 2022 disappearance and murder of Gretchen Fleming has new attorneys.
Preston Pierce, 58, was arrested in May in Buncombe County, N.C. He was indicted by a Wood County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a human body, and kidnapping.
Fleming disappeared 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 eight days later by her family.
Judge Jason Wharton appointed Ohio attorney Michael Eachus as Pierce’s attorney Tuesday. Joshua Daley will serve as co-counsel.
The next status hearing is set for next month. It’s scheduled for August 28 at 9 a.m.
There are efforts to keep the discovery process private as well. Wharton asked the prosecution and the defense both to exchange information while keeping it confidential.
Wharton will also make a decision on a motion by the defense about what clothes Pierce can wear in court. The defense is requesting for Pierce to wear street clothes, as opposed to jail clothes, during pretrial hearings.
Wharton said he’ll make a decision on the matter by the next hearing.