David Fleming, Gretchen Fleming’s father, announces Thursday at the front of Parkersburg High School that the award for information leading to the whereabouts of his daughter is now $100,000. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The father of missing Parkersburg native Gretchen Fleming announced Thursday at a press conference on the Parkersburg High School front lawn that the award for any information leading to the whereabouts of his daughter is now $100,000.

“Due to the overwhelming kindness of local businesses owners here in this community, they would like to donate another $35,000 towards the award,” David Fleming said. “That’s going to be raising the award to $100,000 for anybody that has any information, knows something, a snidbit, heard something, please come forward.”

PHS Principal Kenny DeMoss said Thursday’s event was to bring Gretchen home.

“That’s what we’re here for,” DeMoss said. “That’s what we want to do, that’s what we need to do.”

Fleming said the family will never stop looking for answers and that they will bring Gretchen home.

Gretchen Fleming

“We will seek justice against anybody involved in her disappearance to the fullest extent of the law,” Fleming said.

Fleming thanked everyone in the community for their love, support and prayers, and asked that they allow the police to do their jobs in the search for Gretchen.

“They have a reason to be silent. And I know the community wants answers, and wants information, but they cannot give that to you because this is an active investigation,” Fleming said. “We have to let them do their work, until we find the answers we deserve.”

T-shirts designed by Gretchen’s sister, Emma Fleming, were available to purchase with the proceeds going towards the reward for information about Gretchen’s whereabouts. Louise Fleming, Gretchen and Emma Fleming’s grandmother, read a letter written by Emma about her designs for the shirts.

“She called me last night and said, ‘Nana, I need to say something about the shirt that I made. I need to let the people know why I designed it the way I did,'” Louise Fleming said.

Louise Fleming, Gretchen Fleming’s grandmother, reads a letter Thursday written by Gretchen’s sister, Emma Fleming, about the design of the t-shirts she created. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Louise Fleming said Emma wrote that the idea behind the shirt was to capture Gretchen for who she truly is. Emma said in the letter that she added a microphone and musical notes because Gretchen has a fabulous voice, and loved to write songs and sing. Emma wrote that Gretchen could always be found with a book in hand and wearing her signature Doc Marten shoes.

“So, my idea was to take these things and put them all together,” Louise Fleming read. “Because that’s what Gretchen brought when she entered the room. She brought life. She brought passion, she brought joy, and she always knew how to make you smile.”

Louise Fleming went on to read that Emma wrote many see Gretchen has just a face on a poster, but that she is more than that to many others.

“To me, she’s my sister, my best friend, my inspiration,” Louise Fleming read. “So, when you think about Gretchen, I ask that you think about her in this way, as a real human, with friends and family, and unfinished goals and aspirations.”

DeMoss said t-shirts would be available to order online using a QR code from the PHS webpage.

Gretchen Fleming

People with information about the case are encouraged to contact lead Detective James Zimmerman at 304-424-1072 or the Parkersburg Police Department at 304-424-8444.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsnandsentinel.com