The Memphis Police department announced on Monday that the body of a “deceased party” had been located in the area where Tennessee teacher Eliza Fletcher was kidnapped last week. While the identity of the body and the cause of death wasn’t immediately confirmed, it’s believed to be Fletcher that was found.
Memphis Police Department
- A suspect was charged on Sunday. Cleotha Abston was arrested on Saturday and charged on Sunday with especially aggravated kidnapping, though his motive is still unclear. It was revealed following his arrest that he served 20 years in prison for a separate kidnapping incident and had only been released sometime in the past two years. That abduction took place when Abston was only 16 years old.
- Police had Fletcher’s abduction on video. Surveillance video showed Abston running “aggressively toward the victim, and then [forcing] the victim Eliza Fletcher into the passenger’s side of the vehicle.” They added that “there appeared to be a struggle.” Following Abston’s arrest, police said their investigation led them to believe that Fletcher’s abduction was “violent” and that she “suffered serious injury.” Their statement added: “Further, it is probable and apparent from witness statements that these injuries left evidence of blood in the car the defendant cleaned.”
- The body believed to be Fletcher’s was found near where she was grabbed. It was less than a mile from where several witnesses told authorities they noticed Abston cleaning the GMC Terrain he used to kidnap Fletcher. Abston’s brother told authorities that the 38-year-old was “acting very strange” when they saw him.
- Neighbors described Abston as a “creep” and a “pervert.” They claim he constantly tried to pay women for sex, indicating that his abduction of Fletcher could have been sexually motivated. However, that’s only conjecture at this point and has not been insinuated by police.
