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Parkersburg authorities release more information on ‘person of interest’ in Fleming disappearance

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg Police released additional information about the person of interest in the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming.

“We have spoken to him, but at this point, he is not communicating with the Parkersburg Police Department,” Police Chief Matthew Board said Friday.

Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows the 28-year-old Vienna woman leaving the My Way Lounge at Fifth and Juliana streets in Parkersburg with the person of interest, whose name is not being released because he has not been charged with a crime, Board said.

“In the infancy of the investigation, the person of interest stated Gretchen had gotten into his vehicle but had exited prior to going to his residence,” he said.

Dec. 4 is the last time Fleming is known to have been seen. She was reported missing by her family on Dec. 12.

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

Search warrants were executed two weeks ago on the person of interest’s residence, car and electronic devices, as well as “a secondary location,” Board said.

The chief said police also have Fleming’s purse and phone, but declined to say at this point where they were recovered.

“They were left at a location, and she had not attempted to pick them up between the 4th and the 12th when she was reported missing,” he said.

Board said the community has provided a lot of information to investigators, who have been limited in what they can release about the case. But it remains an active investigation.

Police on Friday released an image of the person of interest’s car, a Nissan Rogue. Board asked people who may have seen the vehicle on the evening of Dec. 3 through Dec. 4 and 5 or think they have other information to contact lead Detective James Zimmerman at 304-424-1072 or the Police Department at 304-424-8444.

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

Board said the person of interest is the last person investigators know to have seen her, but that does not mean he was the last person to actually see her, which is why Board is being careful about what information is released as police seek to continue filling out the case’s timeline.

Fleming’s family is offering a reward of up to $15,000 in the case. Half of that, $7,500, is being offered for substantial information leading to the current physical location and return of Fleming. A separate reward of $7,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance and/or physical harm to her. A GoFundMe page has been started to help assist in finding Fleming.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Gretchen Fleming

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

The Parkersburg Police Department is seeking additional information on this Nissan Rogue in connection with the disappearance of Gretchen Fleming, whether by eyewitnesses or camera surveillance. The vehicle is owned by an unnamed person of interest in the case and police are seeking more information on its movements from Dec. 3-5. (Photo Provided)

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