“This morning, May 15th, a Grand jury in Wood County here in West Virginia delivered a four-count indictment on Preston Pierce, 58 years of age, in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming,” Police Chief Matthew Board said during the press conference. “The counts on that indictment are first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a deceased human body, and kidnapping.”

U.S. Marshals apprehended Pierce in Asheville, North Carolina. “Our investigation, from the onset, quickly determined that Mr. Pierce was the last person Gretchen was known to be seen with,” Board said. Pierce became a person of interest in the case. Chief Board described the investigation as “unrelenting.”

“As time went on, the case grew stronger,”​ Board stated at the press conference.

“In September of ‘25, a — a major break happened,”​ the police chief said. “Human remains were located in Wirt County, West Virginia.” Wirt County is more than half an hour from Parkersburg.

Authorities said they do not know how long the remains were in that location. The remains were sent for extensive genetic testing and were identified as belonging to Gretchen. Authorities said they could not talk about a cause of death at this time.

“This is obviously not the outcome that we have all prayed for. This is not what we wanted, but it is my hope that through, you know, bringing Gretchen home and holding Mr. Pierce accountable for his actions, will help them get the peace that they need and- and begin the mourning process,” Chief Board said.

“I want to, from my heart, thank the Fleming family,”​ Board said at the press conference. “The patience that they’ve shown over three and a half years, and their continued support of us and faith in us, um, is more appreciated than I can even put into words.”

“We would not be here if it was not for the hard work of, uh, our detective bureau,” Board said, adding that it was a collaborative effort with multiple agencies and the community.

Preston Pierce is being held in Asheville, awaiting an extradition hearing on June 5 to be sent back to West Virginia, where he will be arraigned. According to NBC affiliate WTAP, no bond hearing has been scheduled. Dateline has reached out to Pierce’s attorney in West Virginia for comment but has not yet heard back.

Authorities did not disclose what evidence they may have. “As this matter is now before the court, no further details will be released at this time in order to preserve the integrity of the judicial process,” the Parkersburg Police Department wrote in a press release. They also stated that, “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Over the past few years, both Gretchen’s grandmother and her father have passed away — without knowing exactly what happened to her. Detective James Zimmerman, the lead investigator on Gretchen’s case, said that this case has changed him, for good. “I think a lot of times in law enforcement we can be kind of robotic, and I think, you know, getting to know this family and having sympathy and empathy with them and— and getting to know them, um, it’s forever changed my — my career and how I approach, uh, cases from now on,” Zimmerman said at the press conference.

The Wood County Women’s Rights Alliance, a nonprofit in West Virginia fighting for equality for women and minorities, is holding a candlelight vigil in Gretchen’s honor at Point Park in Parkersburg tonight, Monday, May 18, at 8 p.m.