Preston Pierce Trial Pushed to 2027 | Charleston News

The trial for Preston Pierce, the former officer accused in the 2022 kidnapping and murder of Gretchen Fleming, is now set to stretch into next year after a judge granted more time for prosecutors and defense to review years of evidence. Last seen with Fleming before she vanished from a Parkersburg bar, her remains were found in Wirt County in 2025 — and the case has since become a grueling, multi-year investigation. With no trial date yet set and lawyers estimating they won’t be ready by September, the family of the victim, who’s waited over three-and-a-half years for justice, braces for a potentially 2027 timeline. Pierce, facing multiple charges including first-degree murder and felony murder, has pleaded not guilty. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f768d4b607cdc7e6