Man charged over kidnapping of Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher
Investigators searching for missing Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher have found a “deceased” person after carrying out a search at a wooded area near the home of suspect Cleotha Abston.
Memphis Police have not yet identified the body.
Ms Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother-of-two, was last seen at around 4am on Friday when she was violently abducted while jogging near the University of Memphis campus, police say.
Police charged Abston, 38, with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence on Sunday and is being held on $500,000 bond. He was expected to appear in court on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, officers from the Memphis Police Department were spotted on all-terrain vehicles searching a wooded area in south Memphis, about two miles from Abston’s home, according to WREG3.
Investigators have searched Martin Luther King Riverside park and Pine Hill Park for Ms Fletcher.
Abston is refusing to tell police anything about the abduction, according to an affidavit.
Police say two witnesses saw him washing his clothes in a sink and cleaning the floor of his SUV in the hours after the abduction.
They traced Abston after finding DNA on a pair of slider sandals that were left at the scene of the struggle.
Ms Fletcher, the granddaughter of the founder of the Memphis hardware business Orgill, remains missing four days on from her disappearance. Her family has offered $50,000 for her return.
Eliza Fletcher: Police find body in search for missing Memphis teacher
Police searching for missing Memphis teacher and heiress Eliza Fletcher had found a body.
The Memphis Police Department said on Monday that officers had found a corpse around 5.07pm local time, though it stressed that “the identity of this person and the cause of death [are] unconfirmed at this time“.
Eliza Fletcher: Police find body in search for missing Memphis teacher
Police searching for missing Memphis teacher and heiress Eliza Fletcher had found a body.
Graeme Massie6 September 2022 01:58
Memphis police say they found ‘deceased party’
“At 5.07 pm, officers in the 1600 block of Victor located a deceased party. The identity of this person and the cause of death is unconfirmed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.,” tweeted MPD.
Graeme Massie6 September 2022 01:53
Police say body found in Eliza Fletcher case
Memphis police say a body has been found near a property where suspect Cleotha Abston cleaned out a car seized by police.
Graeme Massie6 September 2022 01:50
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
The desperate search to find missing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher has now entered its fourth day – as a 38-year-old man charged with her kidnapping is reportedly refusing to reveal her whereabouts to authorities.
Eliza Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother-of-two, was snatched while on an early morning jog near the University of Memphis campus on Friday.
On Saturday, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston was arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
He was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence on Sunday and is being held on $500,000 bond.
No motive has been given and there are no clues as to Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
Eliza Fletcher: Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher
Three days after she was snatched and bundled into a car in Memphis, the mother-of-two’s whereabouts remain unknown
Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 01:30
ICYMI: Family of missing Eliza Fletcher make emotional appeal for her safe return
The family of Eliza Fletcher made an emotional appeal to the public for help locating missing heiress and mother of two on Saturday.
Ms Fletcher’s distraught husband Richard Fletcher, parents, brother, and uncle spoke to reporters while announcing a $50,000 reward for information leading to her return.
“We believe someone knows what happened and can help,” uncle Mike Keeney said.
“More than anything we want to see Liza returned home safely.”
Ms Fletcher, 34, is the granddaughter of billionaire hardware businessman Joseph Orgill III, who founded Orgill Inc.
Suspect Cleotha Abston has been charged with kidnapping and evidence tampering, but has refused to say anything about the disappearance to police, according to an affidavit.
Family of Eliza Fletcher offered a $50,000 reward for her safe return
(Memphis Police Department)
Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 00:45
Suspect in Eliza Fletcher kidnapping left sandals at scene of abduction
The suspect accused of abducting a 34-year-old teacher in Tennessee was identified with the help of DNA from sandals found nearby.
Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two and the granddaughter to billionaire Joseph Orgill III, was abducted during a 4am jog in her neighbourhood near the University of Memphis campus on Friday.
The Memphis police have arrested 38-year-old Cleotha “Pookie” Abston and charged him with “aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence”.
According to an affidavit, a pair of Champion slide sandals that were recovered near the spot of Ms Fletcher’s disappearance were laced with the suspect’s DNA. Her phone was also found with the sandals.
Read on for the full story.
Suspect in kidnap of heiress Eliza Fletcher ‘left sandals at scene of abduction’
Fletcher was abducted near her home in Memphis
Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 00:02
Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
The man charged with kidnapping Eliza Fletcher is a violent felon who spent 20 years in prison for abduction and robbery, arrest records show.
Cleotha “Pookie” Abston, 38, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Memphis police said in a tweet early on Sunday morning.
Read more on Abston’s lengthy criminal records below.
Cleotha Abston: Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Eliza Fletcher
Suspect in missing heiress case was spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery before being released in 2020, according to authorities
Bevan Hurley5 September 2022 23:02
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
The desperate search to find missing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher has now entered its fourth day – as a 38-year-old man charged with her kidnapping is reportedly refusing to reveal her whereabouts to authorities.
Eliza Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother-of-two, was snatched while on an early morning jog near the University of Memphis campus on Friday.
On Saturday, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston was arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
He was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence on Sunday and is being held on $500,000 bond.
No motive has been given and there are no clues as to Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
Eliza Fletcher: Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher
Three days after she was snatched and bundled into a car in Memphis, the mother-of-two’s whereabouts remain unknown
Bevan Hurley5 September 2022 22:30
Friends of Eliza Fletcher join search
Friends of Eliza Fletcher have joined a large-scale police search for the missing mother of two, according to reports.
Reporter Brittani Moncrease tweeted a photo showing civilians joining in the search for Ms Fletcher, who vanished after being abducted while out jogging early on Friday morning.
Police have charged Cleotha Abston, 38, with kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
Police say he is refusing to tell them any information about Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts.
Bevan Hurley5 September 2022 21:50
Kidnapping suspect Cleotha Abston facing new theft charges as police search continues
A man charged with kidnapping Eliza Fletcher is facing three new theft charges, as police continue to search for the missing heiress.
Cleotha Abston, 38, was charged with identity theft, theft of property under $1,000 and fraudulent use of a credit card by Memphis police on Monday.
Abston, 38, was arrested on Saturday and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in relation to Ms Fletcher’s disappearance, Memphis police said in a tweet early on Sunday morning.
Abston has refused to give police any information about Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts, according to a police affidavit.
Eliza Fletcher kidnapping suspect facing new theft charges as police search continues
Cleotha Abston is refusing to assist police find Eliza Fletcher, who was last seen being violently forced into an SUV on Friday morning
Bevan Hurley5 September 2022 21:11
