Eliza Fletcher

7 Stories

Man Pleads Guilty to Crime That Horrified Memphis

Cleotha Abston kidnapped, murdered kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher in 2022

(Newser) - A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping a Memphis school teacher while she was on an early morning run and then killing her. Cleotha Abston entered guilty pleas to first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping in the abduction and death of Eliza Fletcher. Abston, 40, had been set to...

Eliza Fletcher's Cause of Death Is Revealed
Judge Sets
Trial in Memphis
Teacher's Slaying
updated
Jun 17, 2024 5:50 PM CDT

Judge Sets Trial in Memphis Teacher's Slaying

Eliza Fletcher was abducted while on a morning run

(Newser) - A trial was scheduled Monday for a man charged in the kidnapping and killing of Eliza Fletcher, a schoolteacher attacked while on an early morning run in Memphis in 2022. Cleotha Abston, who also has gone by Cleotha Henderson, will be tried Feb. 10 for first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping,...

Woman: I Was Raped by Man Accused of Killing Eliza Fletcher

Alicia Franklin says police didn't do enough to get Cleotha Abston Henderson off the streets

(Newser) - Alicia Franklin says she met Cleotha Abston Henderson on a dating app last year, and when they met last September for what was supposed to be a date, he raped her at gunpoint. In a lawsuit she recently filed against the city of Memphis, Franklin accuses police of failing to...

Affidavit: Witness Watched Suspect Clean Car for Hour

Cleotha Abston has his bond revoked in Wednesday hearing

(Newser) - The man suspected of murdering Eliza Fletcher was ordered held on a $510,000 bond Tuesday; on Wednesday, that bond was revoked. Cleotha Abston is accused of forcing Fletcher into a black GMC Terrain's passenger seat while she was out on her typical early-morning run Friday. Local station WREG...

DA: Eliza Fletcher's Murder 'Isolated Attack by a Stranger'

He addresses 'baseless speculation'

(Newser) - A body found in Memphis, Tennessee Monday was identified Tuesday as that of kidnapped teacher Eliza Fletcher—and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy addressed what he called "baseless" rumors about the case. Fletcher's family has "been fully cooperative throughout the entire process, and in contrast to...

Man Charged With Kidnapping Eliza Fletcher Has Kidnapped Before
Police Identify Body
as Missing Teacher
UPDATED
Sep 6, 2022 9:16 AM CDT

Police Identify Body as Missing Teacher

Eliza Fletcher was abducted in Memphis last week

(Newser) - Update: Memphis police have confirmed the worst: A body found on Monday—days after the abduction of 34-year-old teacher Eliza Fletcher—is indeed that of Fletcher. Charges against suspect Cleotha Abston now include first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping. Our story from Monday follows:

Eliza Fletcher Still Missing, but an Arrest Is Made

Cleotha Abston charged with kidnapping in connection with case

(Newser) - Eliza Fletcher, the 34-year-old teacher who was forced into a vehicle while she was jogging near the University of Memphis campus just before 4:30am Friday, remains missing, but an arrest has been made in the case. Memphis Police tweeted late Saturday afternoon that they had located a vehicle of...

7 Stories