Maryland arson suspect also accused in 2 Accomack homicides

ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — A man suspected in an attempted homicide and arson in Pocomoke, Maryland, has also been charged with second-degree murder after a body was found with apparent gunshot wounds in a field in Accomack.

He also faces murder and arson charges in connection to the death of local musician Ed “E.B.” Mears after Mears was found dead when firefighters responded to a house fire in Oak Hall on Dec. 4.

According to the sheriff’s office, the report for the incident came in just before 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, regarding a body in a field behind a home in the 9200 block of Lankford Highway in Oak Hall.

When they got to the scene, deputies found an unresponsive man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been identified as 43-year-old Maurice Lamont Fiddermon, of Temperanceville.

Officials say the body was taken to the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

In an update Thursday, the sheriff’s office said it had arrested 45-year-old Gary Joseph Fleig, of New Church. He is charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen firearm in connection with Fiddermon’s death.

Fleig is being held at the Accomack County Jail with bond denied. The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office said it was assisted by Virginia State Police and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is continuing to identify other suspects, but didn’t give additional information on that specifically.

According to previous news releases from authorities in Worcester County, Maryland, and Accomack County, Fleig was also arrested Tuesday on charges out of Worcester County in connection with an attempted homicide, burglary and arson on Dec. 3.

Two other people were also charged in the Maryland incident: Wendy Dawn Taylor, 46, and Coy Edward Bailey, 54. All three are charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree arson, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, and theft in Worcester County.

No further information has been released in those cases, but authorities say Fleig also killed 62-year-old Ed “E.B.” Mears and set his house on fire. Fleig is charged with murder, arson, burglary, concealing a stolen firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection to Mears’ death.

Fleig is being held without bond.

Fleig lived in a house in New Church Accomack County with Taylor. It didn’t take long for the landlord to remove all the belongings from the house and to have Taylor’s car towed.

Living next door to them is Sonya, who doesn’t want to be identified further.

“She is over here asking for gas. It is scary. You don’t know. You never know,” Sonya said.

That was on or about Monday, Nov. 29 when the couple was looking for gasoline. Sonya says they said they were on empty and needed gas, but now she is not so sure based on what happened in Pocomoke, Maryland.

Last Saturday night around 9:27 p.m., a house was reported on fire and inside beloved local musician, Edward Bruce Mears known as “E.B.” was found dead inside. Looking through the window, you could see blood on a couch and chair.

The very next day on Sunday, Fleig went into the Tobacco Outlet where Sonya was working.

“He comes in and he says, ‘Did you hear what happened with that fire yesterday?’ I said no… But now he’s accused of setting that fire and charged with killing a man…it scares me, this world is mad,” Sonya said.

Then on Monday morning, the day after the encounter at the tobacco store, a body was found in a field not too far away. It was the body of Fiddermon. Fleig is now charged with second-degree murder in connection with that death.

Then at some point, Sonya saw Wendy’s car and saw Fleig.

“He came up to me and he had a black eye. His windshield to his car was smashed up and I asked him what happened, and he said, ‘Well, I hit a deer and that’s how I got a black eye,'” he said.

Sonya wasn’t buying any of that, she said.

“I thought ‘Hmmm something’s not right,’ and that I really had a funny feeling,” she said.

There is also a gunshot in the passenger side door. It looks like someone may have been firing from inside the car, and the hole has been patched from a bullet either going in or going out.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office at 757-787-1131 or 757-824-5666 or tips may be submitted through accomackcountysheriffsoffice.org.