BY NANCY DRURY DUNCAN, Eastern Shore Post —
A forty-eight-year-old New Church man who murdered two people in a December 2021 crime spree that began in Pocomoke City, Md., and continued into Virginia was sentenced to 40 years in the penitentiary with more time suspended.
Earlier this year, Gary Joseph Fleig Sr. pleaded guilty to the 2021 murders of Edward Bruce Mears Jr., of Oak Hall, and Maurice Lamont “Rico” Fiddemon, 44, of Temperanceville, along with a host of other related felonies.
On Dec. 3, 2021, Fleig and his wife went to Mears’ home planning to rob him to get money for drugs.
While inside, Fleig stabbed Mears, took his gun, then shot and killed him.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan said the pair was inside Mears’ home for almost an hour, with Fleig taking time for a shower before leaving with stolen jewelry, coins, and toilet paper.
As the pair left, Fleig set the house on fire. A surveillance video showed the pair going inside the house and later leaving with the stolen items.
The crime was discovered when firefighters were called to the brick, one-story house on U.S. Route 13.
In an interview with police later, Fleig said they went to the house to burglarize it and used charcoal lighter fluid found there to start the fire that burned the house.
On the following day, police were dispatched to a field on U.S. Route 13, where they found the body of Fiddemon lying in a pool of blood with lacerations to his fingers and hands.
The officers suspected Fleig might be involved because when he was taken into custody and transported to the sheriff’s office, he said, “So long, Rico” as they passed the location on the highway where Fiddemon’s body was found.
Fleig later told police that he, his son, and Fiddemon were driving in his car. His son and Fiddemon were arguing and did not get along. Fleig stopped the car and his son and Fiddemon continued to argue, he said.
He shot Fiddemon because he thought he had a gun and did not want his son to get shot, Fleig said.
In addition to the two murders, arson, and robbery, Fleig pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and firearm charges.
He also pleaded guilty to attempting to escape from the Accomack County jail.
In addition, Fleig faces attempted first-degree murder, burglary, and arson charges in Maryland.
At Fleig’s sentencing, Morgan called Fleig “a dangerous and deadly man” who started with property crimes and evolved into a killer.
There was no evidence to suggest Fiddemon ever had a gun. “The people most affected are the families of the victims,” Morgan said.
He asked Judge Lynwood W. Lewis to impose the full, 40-year sentence in the plea agreement “with a lengthy amount of suspended time.”
“He has pleaded guilty,” said Morgan. “Make the defendant pay the price.”
Judge Lewis asked Fleig if he had anything to say before hearing his sentence. Fleig hesitated, shrugged, and said, “I’m sorry.”
