Darkcast Network, indie pods with a dark side.

Hey everyone, it's Kona. We don't have a new episode this week, unfortunately, but we do have

huge news in a case that we covered back in the beginning of 2024. Gretchen Fleming was just

weeks away from her 28th birthday when she went

missing after a night out in her hometown of Parkersburg, West Virginia. She was last seen

leaving a bar with a man who was later identified as 55-year-old Preston Pierce. Pierce is not who

she arrived with, and there's no indication that the two had ever met before that night.

Gretchen also left her purse and her cell phone behind.

Despite the fact that Parkersburg police quickly identified Pierce as the last person she was seen with

and the fact that he admitted to her being in his car that night, he quickly stopped cooperating

and police weren't able to make an arrest. But that all changed on May 15, 26.

On that day, Preston Pierce, who's now 58, was indicted by a grand jury in Wood County on

charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, concealment of a dead body,

and kidnapping. Preston Pierce has left West Virginia and was down in Asheville, North Carolina,

where he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals. He is now sitting in a North Carolina jail awaiting

extradition. He had a brief hearing on May 18th.

Here's some audio from that hearing.

They have up to 90 days to issue a governor's warrant.

The state of West Virginia, which is Wood County, has filed a fugitive warrant demanding

that you return to their state.

They have up to 90 days to issue a governor's warrant to take you return to their stay. They have up to 90 days to issue a governor's

warrant to take you back to their state, or you can waive extradition and return to their stay

...