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27-year-old Gretchen Fleming was final seen within the early morning hours of December 4, 2022, on the My Means Lounge & Restaurant in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Dateline spoke with Jake Grim, an outdated buddy of Gretchen’s who has helped the Fleming household arrange vigils. “As quickly because the story got here out, it rattled me,” Jake mentioned. “I am a real crime lover, I really like studying thriller novels, I like to take heed to podcasts after which it occurs to you and it type of adjustments your world.”
Jake informed Dateline that it’s nonetheless unclear what precisely occurred on the night of December 3 and into the early morning hours of December 4. “We have not seen any digicam footage of something. She was at a number of spots. You understand, the final place she was seen to everybody was the My Means,” Jake mentioned. “It was so late within the — , it was midmorning, like 3:00 a.m., , when the — these bars are closing and issues like that.”
Jake mentioned it’s been irritating as a result of there’s no timeline of the night time but. “It looks as if she was going to a number of totally different locations that night time,” he mentioned, however nobody is aware of what she was sporting or how she was getting round.
In keeping with Jake, Gretchen was reported lacking to the Parkersburg Police Division by her household on December 12, 2022. “The investigation, proper from the beginning, misplaced 10 days,” Jake mentioned. He informed Dateline that Gretchen wasn’t reported lacking for over per week as a result of it wasn’t uncommon for her to go a number of days with out getting in contact along with her household. “I am 28 years outdated and I do not discuss to my dad and mom daily, ? So, I imply, it occurs,” he mentioned.
Jake mentioned that regardless that he and Gretchen weren’t as shut as that they had been in highschool, he felt compelled to assist as quickly as he heard she was lacking. “She has this manner about her. When you meet her, you are type of simply infatuated along with her as a result of she’s not like everybody else,” Jake mentioned.
Jake mentioned Gretchen is exclusive, particularly of their small West Virginia city. “Gretchen did not costume something like everyone else. She’s all the time made a press release,” he mentioned. “She’s so inventive. Music is an enormous a part of who she is. She’s performed all these various things. She’s traveled, she’s very properly spoken, she was a author and nonetheless does write.”
Prior to now few weeks, Jake has been making an attempt to assist carry consideration to Gretchen’s story. The latest vigil, which he mentioned he helped arrange, was held on Monday, December 19. Jake informed Dateline that there have been 150 attendees there to help Gretchen’s household. “To be sincere, not solely did the household want it, the group wanted it as properly,” Jake mentioned. “It is devastating to the group, to her household. I imply, it is — it is rattled lots of people.”
On December 12, the Parkersburg Police Division posted about Gretchen’s disappearance on Fb stating, “When you have any data on the present whereabouts of Gretchen Fleming, 27 of Vienna please contact Detective J.M. Zimmerman.” They didn’t launch every other particulars about her disappearance.
Dateline reached out to the Parkersburg Police Division for an replace in Gretchen’s case however has not but heard again. Parkersburg Police Chief Matt Board informed NBC affiliate WTAP, “I’ve not come to the workplace the place there has not been someone right here 24/7, since this was reported, engaged on particularly this to get Gretchen the assistance that she wants.”
The chief confirmed that the Parkersburg Police Division was “in a position to safe varied search warrants” which have been executed “in regard to this case to achieve extra data,” however didn’t increase additional to WTAP.
As questions proceed to swirl, Gretchen’s family members are simply hoping for her protected return.
Gretchen’s father, David Fleming, informed Dateline that the group has been extraordinarily supportive to their household throughout this powerful time. He’s additionally extraordinarily grateful to Det. Zimmerman, who he says is “working across the clock” on Gretchen’s case. He harassed to Dateline that he simply desires to let the Parkersburg Police do their jobs to assist discover his daughter.
Jake agreed. He informed Dateline that he trusts Det. Zimmerman to assist discover Gretchen. “I grew up along with his spouse, who additionally grew up with me and Gretchen. All of us did scholar council collectively,” Jake mentioned. “I simply really feel like issues occur for a motive and I really feel like he is on this case for a motive.” Jake added that he seems like Det. Zimmerman is the “proper particular person for this case.”
“I really do imagine they’re doing every part that they’ll,” Jake mentioned. He mentioned that there are individuals locally who need to arrange search events however they’ve determined to let the police deal with the searches for now. “We have to let the police do their job,” he mentioned. “We do not need to tamper with any future proof.”
David Fleming additionally informed Dateline that the household is asking individuals to not speculate about Gretchen’s disappearance. Gretchen’s buddy Jake Grim informed Dateline that the hypothesis has been tough on everybody. “You like social media and also you hate it,” Jake mentioned. “There’s so many issues which have been spun round and individuals are not realizing her household is studying these items and it breaks my coronary heart as a result of they’re superb individuals.”
Dateline spoke with Gretchen’s father on Friday, December 23 — in the future earlier than Gretchen’s twenty eighth birthday. “We love her. One thing occurred to her. I do not know what to say,” David mentioned. “Tomorrow could be her twenty eighth birthday, which will likely be laborious. She’s a tremendous little woman. I simply need her residence.”
Gretchen’s family members should not giving up hope and say they’ll proceed to arrange vigils till they’re able to carry her residence. “I am simply asking individuals to do what we are able to do, which is simply to be Gretchen’s voice. She would not have a voice proper now,” Jake mentioned. “We simply need the phrase on the market. There needs to be somebody, there needs to be individuals on the market that know issues and it is only a matter of getting them to speak,” Jake mentioned. “It isn’t over, and it will not be over.”
Gretchen is between 5’ and 5’2” tall and weighs 100-120 lbs. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She is now 28 years outdated.
When you have any data please contact Detective J.M. Zimmerman at (304) 424-1072 or the Parkersburg Police Division immediately at (304) 424-8444. Please reference case # P2207164.
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