The Parkersburg Police Division has recognized the particular person and automobile in reference to Gretchen Fleming’s disappearance.
The 27-year-old was final seen within the early morning hours of December 4, 2022, at My Means Lounge & Restaurant in Parkersburg, West Virginia. She was reported lacking to the Parkersburg Police Division by her household on December 12, 2022. Gretchen’s story was Featured Earlier this week on Dateline’s “Lacking in America” on-line sequence.
On Dec. 29, Dateline spoke with Parkersburg Police Chief Matt Burd, who supplied an replace on Gretchen’s case. “We have now an individual of curiosity who we consider has data in reference to this case involving Gretchen,” the chairman stated. “This particular person, we all know was on the My Means Lounge the night Gretchen was there and we have now purpose to consider that Gretchen left with this particular person.” The chairman instructed Dateline that with a purpose to protect the integrity of the case, the authorities didn’t launch the particular person’s identification on the time.
The President urged anybody who was on the My Means Lounge within the early morning hours of December 4, 2022, or frequented the institution, to succeed in out in the event that they believed that they had data that may assist transfer the case ahead. “Our investigators are nonetheless actively sorting by way of all the information,” stated the chairman.
Gretchen’s father, David Fleming, instructed Dateline final week that the neighborhood has been very supportive of their household throughout this tough time, and that he’s most grateful to Detective JM Zimmerman, who he says is “working across the clock” on Gretchen’s case. He assured Dateline that he simply needed to let the Parkersburg police do their jobs to assist discover his daughter.
President Matt Burd reached out to Dateline on December 30, 2022, with extra particulars on the case. He confirmed that the unnamed particular person of curiosity was the final particular person the Parkersburg Police Division may definitively decide was Gretchen the evening she disappeared. In response to the supervisor, video surveillance from the My Means Lounge reveals Gretchen and the particular person in query exiting the institution collectively.
It is potential one thing occurred after their interplay, he careworn, however “so far as our investigation is anxious, that is the final particular person we will put her by way of an acknowledgment – by way of an announcement of his personal.”
The particular person in query instructed the authorities, the chairman stated, that he had provided Gretchen a trip that night. The video from the lounge doesn’t present anybody getting right into a automotive. “His story is that she left earlier than she obtained wherever, after which his story grew to become inconsistent,” stated the chairman. He added that the particular person involved didn’t present the police with any extra data.
Via extra footage obtained across the Parkersburg space, the Parkersburg Police Division has been in a position to establish the automobile they consider drove in the direction of the topic’s residence that evening: a black Nissan Rogue 1. There is no such thing as a license plate on the automobile, however there’s a Pittsburgh body plate. penguin. There may be additionally an “OBX” decal on the higher proper facet of the rear window and a Darth Vader decal on each the left and proper sides of the automobile.
The chairman has shared pictures of the automotive with Dateline and encourages anybody within the space with a video surveillance system, to return again and overview it if they’ll. “Whether or not it is a enterprise or a residence, whether or not it is near the downtown space or not,” he stated, “the police wish to see him.”
The President is particularly requesting that folks overview footage from the early morning hours of December 4 by way of the night hours of December 5, 2022 to see if something resembling the automobile pictured may be seen.
The Chairman additionally confirmed that there’s now a bonus of as much as $15,000 on provide. A $7,500 reward is obtainable to anybody for substantial data resulting in the present bodily location and Gretchen’s return. A separate reward of $7,500 is obtainable for data resulting in the arrest and conviction of anybody concerned in Gretchen’s disappearance and/or bodily hurt. No particular person concerned in or aiding any particular person concerned in a legal act towards Gretchen Fleming shall be entitled to redeem these rewards. If a number of people are entitled to a bonus, the identical bonus will probably be paid professional rata, which suggests the full quantity to be paid on every bonus is $7,500. Parkersburg Police will conform to award any reward. All choices are ultimate and made on the discretion of these facilitating this bonus.
Gretchen is between 5 and 5 toes 2 inches tall and weighs 100-120 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She is now 28 years previous.
Anybody with data relating to Gretchen’s case is requested to contact investigator J.M. Zimmerman at (304)-424-1072, case reference quantity P2207164.