Gretchen Fleming Disappears: Who is Preston D. Pierce? 5 things to know about Wood County, W.Va. man charged with murder

Preston D. Pierce: 5 Things You Need to Know

1. Pierce was arrested Friday in Asheville, North Carolina. He is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Center and will be extradited to West Virginia.
2. Pierce, 58, is a former police officer whose real name is Darrell Lott. The FBI and law enforcement searched numerous properties associated with this individual.
3. According to jail records, Pierce is described as a white male, weighing 190 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall. He is being held at the main jail with no bail set as Pierce awaits extradition.
4. Records show Pierce has scars, marks and tattoos on his body, including a scar on his left hip, a scar on his left elbow, a Pittsburgh Steelers tattoo on his left calf and a blue scorpion tattoo on his back. He also has a Celtic cross tattoo on his left chest.
5. Pierce was identified as a person of interest in the case but was never charged. In January 2023, he told police that Fleming was in his car when he disappeared but made no further comment. He is now charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, hiding a body and kidnapping.

Pierce is in pre-trial status, according to the jail Record. The police chief told the Fleming family: “I sincerely thank the Fleming family. This has been an arduous process. The confidence they have shown throughout this process, not just the investigation but the tragedy that occurred on the periphery of this incident. The patience they have shown and the support they have shown and the belief they have placed in us over three and a half years is something I cannot express my gratitude for.”