Staff Report —
Virginia State Police and the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office announced via press releases the arrest of Gary Joseph Fleig Sr., of the 29000 block of Green Hill Road, New Church, in connection with the homicides of Edward Bruce Mears Jr., of New Church, and Maurice Lamont Fiddermon, of Temperanceville.
On Dec. 4, at approximately 9:27 p.m., State Police were requested by the New Church Fire Department to respond to a residential structure fire at the 6000 block of Lankford Highway. The New Church Fire Department responded to the structure fire and soon discovered the resident, 62-year-old Edward Bruce Mears Jr., to be deceased inside the structure.
On Dec. 6, at approximately 7:58 a.m., the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a body in a field behind a residence in the 9200 block of Lankford Highway in Oak Hall. Upon deputies’ arrival on the scene, they discovered unresponsive male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on the scene. The body was identified as Maurice Lamont Fiddermon, 43, from Temperanceville.
In connection with the Mears homicide, Fleig is charged with:
- First-degree murder
- Second-degree murder.
- Arson of an occupied dwelling.
- Burglary.
- Concealing a stolen firearm.
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Efforts are still being undertaken by the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation to identify and locate other possible suspects involved in the ongoing investigation. State Police ask that anyone with possible information and/or who witnessed suspicious behavior in the area of Lankford Highway in Oak Hall, or in the vicinity of the area prior to or after the incident, contact the Virginia State Police at 757-424-6800 or at [email protected].
In connection with the Fiddermon homicide, Fleig is charged with:
- Second-degree murder.
- Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
- Possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Possession of a stolen firearm.
The investigation is continuing to identify other suspects.
Anyone with information on the Fiddermon homicide or any other incident is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office at 757-787-1131 or 757-824-5666, or tips may be submitted at www.accomackcountysheriffsoffice.org.
Fleig is currently incarcerated in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Chesapeake Field Office, the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, and Worcester County (Maryland) Bureau of Investigation collaborated on the two cases.
