New leads emerge in search for missing Pasco woman

EHPRATA - The search for Irene Fleming, a 31-year-old woman from Pasco who has been missing since Sunday, Feb. 25, has garnered new leads, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Despite concerted efforts, Fleming remains missing, but recent developments have provided investigators with additional avenues to explore.

Irene Fleming was last in contact with her family on the day she went missing, informing them she was in Wenatchee. Initially reported missing to the Wenatchee Police, the investigation quickly linked her last known location to a residence in the 4900-block of Road U-Southwest, Grant County, prompting collaboration between the two law enforcement agencies. Surveillance footage from the home confirmed that Fleming left the premises on foot and alone, around 4 to 5 p.m., without her vehicle.

The case received a boost from the public's involvement, leading to a potential sighting of Fleming. A witness at an East Wenatchee business reported an encounter with a woman self-identifying as "Irene" on Wednesday, Feb. 29. This sighting, along with another report of a woman matching Fleming’s description near Costco on Saturday, March 2, has energized the search efforts.

Despite these leads, efforts to obtain a search warrant for Fleming’s phone records have been stymied by the requirement for more concrete evidence, a stance confirmed by consultations with the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and a Grant County Superior Court judge.

The investigation has encompassed extensive searches near the last known location of Fleming, utilizing both foot patrols and drones, yet no evidence of her current whereabouts has been discovered. Law enforcement agencies in the Wenatchee area have been alerted and are disseminating information about Fleming's disappearance through social media to aid in the search.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to locating Fleming and is appealing to the public for any information that may aid their investigation. Anyone who knows Fleming’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at 509-762-1160 or via email at crimetips@grantcountywa.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and the community's assistance is invaluable in these efforts to ensure Fleming's safe return.