Gretchen Fleming’s grandmother shares emotional update on the search for missing granddaughter who went missing overnight

THE heartbroken grandmother of a missing woman shared an emotional update on the community’s search.

Gretchen Fleming, 28, left the My Way Lounge in Parkersburg, West Virginia with an elderly man on December 4 and has not been seen or heard from since.

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Hundreds of volunteers gathered Saturday to search for the woman, led by police working on the case.

“Due to the large area we will be covering, we felt it would be beneficial to assist as many people as possible in the search,” said Detective JM Zimmerman.

Authorities directed several people to travel to Mountwood Park to sign up for the search.

Officials said they were prepared to honor a maximum of 300 people, but Gretchen’s grandmother, Louise Fleming, said about 500 people were in attendance.

“There are no words adequate to express our family’s heartfelt thanks,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“The love, prayers and condolences expressed through your actions bring joy to our hearts. We love our state and our wonderful community!

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Our climbers are something else! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

PERSON OF INTEREST

The man Gretchen was seen driving away with is believed to be an interesting person after he told police Gretchen was in his car that night.

However, the man, who is in his 50s, has not been named as a formal suspect and investigators have kept his identity under wraps, Eyewitness News reports.

However, police have since obtained search warrants for the man’s car, home, electronics and other homes he may rent or own.

According to Eyewitness News, he is a former multi-department law enforcement officer in West Virginia.

He is said to have had a law enforcement career that spanned about 12 years and ended with a stint with the Belington Police Department in Barbour County.

The person of interest has not been charged with any crime related to Gretchen’s case.

Gretchen was 27 when she disappeared and turned 28 on Christmas Eve.

And in a heartbreaking plea, her father, David Fleming, told WTAP: “She’s an amazing little girl. She is very independent. You know she’s my little girl.

“Everyone who came into view with her loved her.

“She was unique and personable and had a great personality and she’s just a great kid.”

He added: “I hope for the best. And I love my little girl. I just want her to be home.”

Several search warrants have since been executed in connection with the investigation, but remain sealed in court.

Police are also asking all residents in the area to review home surveillance footage for a vehicle that has been linked to Fleming’s disappearance.

They believe the vehicle may have been traveling through the Parkersburg area between the early hours of December 4 and noon on December 5.

Fleming had recently taken a job at a nearby H&M and was living in a nearby house with her grandmother.

She is about 5 feet tall, 2 inches tall and has brown eyes and brown hair.

Police are asking anyone with additional information regarding her whereabouts to call Detective JM Zimmerman at 304-424-1072.

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