The “heartbroken” family of murdered Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher have issued a statement saying they are devastated by her “senseless loss”.
“Liza was such a joy to so many – her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church Congregation and everyone who knew her,” the statement, shared by Newstalk 989, read.
Ms Fletcher, 34-year-old mother of two and granddaughter of billionaire Joseph Orgill III, was snatched while out jogging near the University of Memphis campus and forced into an SUV at 4am on Friday.
Her body was recovered on Monday, four days after her abduction from a vacant duplex after a series of searches over the Labour Day weekend.
Police have charged Cleotha Abston with the kidnapping and killing of the business heiress. He was jailed on Saturday in connection with her abduction after police detected his DNA on a pair of sandals found near where Fletcher had last been seen.
“We are grateful beyond measure to local, state and federal law enforcement for their tireless efforts to find Liza and to bring justice to the person responsible for this horrible crime,” the family statement said.
Key points
- Body identified as belonging to Eliza Fletcher
- Cleotha Abston charged with first degree murder
- Cleotha Abston appears in court on kidnapping charges
- Eliza Fletcher’s family break silence on ‘senseless’ killing
- Police reveal new details on how they located Eliza Fletcher’s body
Tucker Carlson blames suspect’s early release for Fletcher’s killing
08:19 , Namita Singh
Tucker Carlson slammed the authorities for the early release of Cleotha Abston, the man charged with the killing of Eliza Fletcher, as he highlighted what he claimed was a lax law and order situation in Memphis.
“Cleotha Abston was a predator,” began Carlson in his Fox News show. “In 2000, he was convicted of kidnapping a local attorney at gunpoint downtown and forcing him into the trunk of his own car,” he said.
“…But like most life long criminals, Cleotha Abston was never full punished for what he did.
“He was released years before the end of his prison sentence. Nor was he in any way sense reformed by his experience behind bars,” Carlson said.
“Abston was well known in his apartment complex as of last week for his sexual aggression and his perversity. He terrified his neighbours, but no one from any part of the justice system seems to have intervened.”
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston on Saturday, 2 September 2022 (AP)
Remembering Memphis as “one of the richest, best organised cities in the country” about 100 years ago, Carlson said, it was now the “most dangerous city in the United States”.
“Last year, it recorded a total of 342 murders. Now, how many is that? Well, by comparison, San Antonio, Texas, which has more than twice the population, recorded fewer than half as many murders,” he said as he attacked Joe Biden voters for allegedly dismissing the crime on racial grounds.
“In the hours after Eliza Fletcher’s disappearance, Biden voters on social media seemed to dismiss the crime on racial grounds. ‘Why are we paying so much attention to the kidnapping of an attractive, privileged White woman? That’s racist’,” he said.
“Others seem to blame Fletcher for the atrocity committed against her. ‘Why was she jogging at that hour, anyway? In Memphis? Come on.’“An American citizen should be able to live or walk anywhere in America without being raped or murdered for it, period. That is the baseline requirement for civilisation. It’s called order,” he added.
Lengthy criminal record of Cleotha Abston
07:15 , Namita Singh
Cleotha Abston, the suspect charged with the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher, had been on the wrong side of the law since he was 11 years of age, reported CBS affiliated WREG News.
Though he had a “good relationship with his family”, Abston had a rough childhood, say court documents, adding that he was first arrested for theft in 1995.
In the subsequent years, he was arrested for several felony offences including burglary, theft, aggravated assault, violation of curfew, truancy, rape and evading arrest, reported the outlet.
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston appears in Judge Louis Montesi courtroom for his arraignment on Tuesday, 6 September 2022 in Memphis (AP)
According to his file, he had no suicidal gestures, medical problems or mental illness but was listed as “100 per cent violent”.
Abston was only 16 at the time when he pleaded guilty for kidnapping in 2000 and ended up serving two decades in prison.
His victim said he was “extremely lucky he was able to escape” that night as he feared he “would have been killed” had he not slipped.
Previous kidnapping victim of Cleotha Abston believed he was going to be killed
06:45 , Bevan Hurley
A man kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Cleotha Abston believed that he would have killed him if he had the chance – two decades before the suspect allegedly abducted and murdered Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher.
Memphis attorney Kemper Durand said in a 2003 victim impact statement that he was “lucky” to escape from Abston, now 38, during the violent kidnapping back in 2000.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Kidnap victim believed Cleotha Abston would kill him – before Eliza Fletcher’s murder
Abston informs court he cannot afford $510,000 bond and attorney
06:15 , Namita Singh
Cleotha Abston, a convicted kidnapper charged with the kidnapping and first-degree murder of Tennessee heiress Eliza Fletcher, informed the court that he cannot afford a $510,000 bond or an attorney.
Prosecutors have sought more time to adjust the bond after Abston’s charges were upgraded from kidnapping to include first-degree murder.
According to the police, the sandals they recovered near Fletcher’s water bottle and cell phone after her abduction had DNA which matched that of Abston.
He was also seen wearing them the night before her abduction, it said.The arrest affidavit from the police also claimed that his cell phone was found in the same area where Fletcher was abducted.
Court records show that Abston, 38, was previously charged with aggravated kidnapping in June 2000 and served 20 years in prison before being released in 2020.
Video emerges of Eliza Fletcher singing to her students and playing with her dog, as alleged killer is charged
05:15 , Namita Singh
Video has surfaced of Eliza Fletcher, the Tennessee kindergarten teacher who was kidnapped and killed last week, recording a song for her students.
In the clip, Fletcher, a junior teacher at St Mary’s Episcopal school in Memphis, sings “This Little Light of Mine” and tells students about her dog.
The video, which has been viewed more than 530,000 times on Twitter, comes from Fletcher’s YouTube channel.
Read the details in this report from Josh Marcus:
© Provided by The Independent
Video emerges of Eliza Fletcher singing to students, as alleged killer is charged
Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
04:45 , Bevan Hurley
Cleotha Abston, who has been charged with the abduction and murder of heiress Eliza Fletcher, spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery before being released in 2020.
Here’s everything we know about Mr Abston.
© Provided by The Independent
Cleotha Abston: Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Eliza Fletcher
Video footage shows murder suspect Cleotha Abston cleaning SUV after Eliza Fletcher’s murder
04:33 , Namita Singh
Grainy video footage that purportedly shows murder-accused Cleotha Abston cleaning a dark SUV in the hours after Eliza Fletcher was abducted has been obtained by Memphis news network WREG.
WREG says the footage was shot outside the home of Mr Abston’s brother Mario Abston on Friday morning, around the time police were notified that Ms Fletcher was missing.
The 95 second clip shows Mr Abston returning to the apartment at Longview Garden, South Memphis in a GMC Terrain at 7.57am on the morning, the station reports.He parks the vehicle and can then be seen carrying materials to the car from an apartment block.
My colleague Bevan Hurley has more:
© Provided by The Independent
Video footage shows murder suspect Cleotha Abston cleaning SUV after heiress’s murder
Full report: Body is confirmed to be missing Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher
03:45 , Bevan Hurley
Memphis Police made the tragic announcement on Tuesday morning, just hours after human remains were discovered less than a mile from the home of the brother of her alleged killer Cleotha Abston.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
© Provided by The Independent
Body confirmed to be the missing Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher
Eliza Fletcher’s school says it is ‘heartbroken’ over murder of ‘beloved teacher’
02:45 , Bevan Hurley
St Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis issued a statement to say it was “heartbroken” after its teacher Eliza Fletcher’s death was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
“We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher,” the school said on Twitter.
“Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families.”
This morning our faculty and staff started the day in chapel. We lit candles to remember Liza who was a bright light in our community. Liza embodied the song that we sing every week in Early Childhood chapel, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”
— St. Mary’s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) September 6, 2022
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher as body found
01:45 , Bevan Hurley
The desperate search for missing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher reached a tragic conclusion as police discovered a body shortly after a suspect was arrested in her kidnapping.
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 (2 September).
The following day, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston, a convicted kidnapper who was released from prison in 2020 after serving 19 years, was arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
On Monday afternoon, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) announced it had found a body later confirmed to be Ms Fletcher. Abston was subsequently hit with new murder charges.
Here’s everything we know about the case.
© Provided by The Independent
Eliza Fletcher: Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher
Eliza Fletcher’s family break silence on ‘senseless’ killing of Memphis heiress
Wednesday 7 September 2022 00:45 , Bevan Hurley
“Now it’s time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her,” family of Eliza Fletcher said in a statement.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Eliza Fletcher’s family break silence on ‘senseless’ killing of Memphis heiress
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher as body found
Wednesday 7 September 2022 00:15 , Bevan Hurley
The desperate search for missing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher reached a tragic conclusion as police discovered a body shortly after a suspect was arrested in her kidnapping.
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 (2 September).
The following day, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston, a convicted kidnapper who was released from prison in 2020 after serving 19 years, was arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
On Monday afternoon, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) announced it had found a body later confirmed to be Ms Fletcher. Abston was subsequently hit with new murder charges.
Here’s everything we know about the case.
© Provided by The Independent
Eliza Fletcher: Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher
Police reveal new details on how they located Eliza Fletcher’s body
Tuesday 6 September 2022 23:45 , Bevan Hurley
Police have asked that murder suspect Cleotha Abston be held without bond, according to an amended police affidavit filed on Tuesday.
The court filing also contains new details about how law enforcement located Eliza Fletcher’s body.
According to the affidavit, officers from Memphis Police Department, and federal and state partners searching for Ms Fletcher noticed vehicle tracks in tall grass leading to a vacant apartment at at 1666 Victor St at 5.07pm on Monday.
A search and rescue officer smelled an “odour of decay” and spotted a set of footprints in the rear driveway of the premises. He then saw an “unresponsive female” lying on the ground.
The person, who matched a description of Ms Fletcher, was pronounced dead by the medical examiner shortly afterwards, according to the court document.
Police found a pair of purple Lululemon running shorts that were consistent with a pair Ms Fletcher was wearing when she disappeared discarded in a trash bag nearby.
Surveillance footage showed Mr Abston’s black GMC Terrain nearby between 5.48am and 5.52am, the affidavit states.
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston appears for his arraignment on Tuesday morning (AP)
Eliza Fletcher’s school says it is ‘heartbroken’ over murder of ‘beloved teacher’
Tuesday 6 September 2022 23:15 , Bevan Hurley
St Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis issued a statement to say it was “heartbroken” after its teacher Eliza Fletcher’s death was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
“We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher,” the school said on Twitter.
“Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families.”
This morning our faculty and staff started the day in chapel. We lit candles to remember Liza who was a bright light in our community. Liza embodied the song that we sing every week in Early Childhood chapel, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”
— St. Mary’s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) September 6, 2022
Previous kidnapping victim of Cleotha Abston believed he was going to be killed
Tuesday 6 September 2022 22:45 , Bevan Hurley
A man kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Cleotha Abston believed that he would have killed him if he had the chance – two decades before the suspect allegedly abducted and murdered Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher.
Memphis attorney Kemper Durand said in a 2003 victim impact statement that he was “lucky” to escape from Abston, now 38, during the violent kidnapping back in 2000.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Kidnap victim believed Cleotha Abston would kill him – before Eliza Fletcher’s murder
Video appears to show Eliza Fletcher suspect cleaning car after abduction
Tuesday 6 September 2022 22:30 , Bevan Hurley
Grainy footage that purportedly shows Cleotha Abston cleaning a dark SUV after the abduction of Eliza Fletcher has been obtained by local news network WREG.
Police say Mr Abston cleaned the GMC Terrain allegedly used in the abduction and washed clothing in a sink after abducting Ms Fletcher on Friday morning.
WREG says the footage was shot at Mr Abston’s brothers apartment at shows him return to the apartment at around 7.57am on the morning.
He has been charged with murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston appears for his arraignment on Tuesday morning (AP)
Eliza Fletcher’s family break silence on ‘senseless’ killing of Memphis heiress
Tuesday 6 September 2022 21:35 , Bevan Hurley
“Now it’s time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her,” family of Eliza Fletcher said in a statement.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Eliza Fletcher’s family break silence on ‘senseless’ killing of Memphis heiress
University of Memphis offers ‘deepest sympathies’ over Eliza Fletcher’s death
Tuesday 6 September 2022 21:16 , Bevan Hurley
Eliza Fletcher was abducted near the University of Memphis on Friday morning.
— University of Memphis (@uofmemphis) September 6, 2022
Eliza Fletcher’s school says it is ‘heartbroken’ over murder of ‘beloved teacher’
Tuesday 6 September 2022 20:41 , Bevan Hurley
St Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis issued a statement to say it was “heartbroken” after its teacher Eliza Fletcher’s death was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
“We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher,” the school said on Twitter.
“Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families.”
This morning our faculty and staff started the day in chapel. We lit candles to remember Liza who was a bright light in our community. Liza embodied the song that we sing every week in Early Childhood chapel, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”
— St. Mary’s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) September 6, 2022
Previous kidnapping victim of Cleotha Abston believed he was going to be killed
Tuesday 6 September 2022 20:30 , Bevan Hurley
A man kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Cleotha Abston believed that he would have killed him if he had the chance – two decades before the suspect allegedly abducted and murdered Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher.
Memphis attorney Kemper Durand said in a 2003 victim impact statement that he was “lucky” to escape from Abston, now 38, during the violent kidnapping back in 2000.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Kidnap victim believed Cleotha Abston would kill him – before Eliza Fletcher’s murder
Police reveal new details on how they located Eliza Fletcher’s body
Tuesday 6 September 2022 19:58 , Bevan Hurley
Police have asked that murder suspect Cleotha Abston be held without bond, according to an amended police affidavit filed on Tuesday.
The court filing also contains new details about how law enforcement located Eliza Fletcher’s body.
According to the affidavit, officers from Memphis Police Department, and federal and state partners searching for Ms Fletcher noticed vehicle tracks in tall grass leading to a vacant apartment at at 1666 Victor St at 5.07pm on Monday.
A search and rescue officer smelled an “odour of decay” and spotted a set of footprints in the rear driveway of the premises. He then saw an “unresponsive female” lying on the ground.
The person, who matched a description of Ms Fletcher, was pronounced dead by the medical examiner shortly afterwards, according to the court document.
Police found a pair of purple Lululemon running shorts that were consistent with a pair Ms Fletcher was wearing when she disappeared discarded in a trash bag nearby.
Surveillance footage showed Mr Abston’s black GMC Terrain nearby between 5.48am and 5.52am, the affidavit states.
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston has been charged with the abduction and murder of Eliza Fletcher (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)
Full report: Body is confirmed to be missing Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher
Tuesday 6 September 2022 19:55 , Bevan Hurley
Memphis Police made the tragic announcement on Tuesday morning, just hours after human remains were discovered less than a mile from the home of the brother of her alleged killer Cleotha Abston.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
© Provided by The Independent
Body confirmed to be the missing Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher
Previous kidnapping victim of Cleotha Abston believed he was going to be killed
Tuesday 6 September 2022 18:55 , Bevan Hurley
A man kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Cleotha Abston believed that he would have killed him if he had the chance – two decades before the suspect allegedly abducted and murdered Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher.
Memphis attorney Kemper Durand said in a 2003 victim impact statement that he was “lucky” to escape from Abston, now 38, during the violent kidnapping back in 2000.
Rachel Sharp has the full story.
© Provided by The Independent
Kidnap victim believed Cleotha Abston would kill him – before Eliza Fletcher’s murder
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher as body found
Tuesday 6 September 2022 18:30 , Bevan Hurley
The desperate search for missing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher reached a tragic conclusion as police discovered a body shortly after a suspect was arrested in her kidnapping.
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 (2 September).
The following day, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston, a convicted kidnapper who was released from prison in 2020 after serving 19 years, was arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
On Monday afternoon, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) announced it had found a body later confirmed to be Ms Fletcher. Abston was subsequently hit with new murder charges.
Here’s everything we know about the case.
© Provided by The Independent
Eliza Fletcher: Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher
Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
Tuesday 6 September 2022 17:55 , Bevan Hurley
Cleotha “Pookie” Abston has been charged with kidnapping and killing Memphis teacher and business heiress Eliza Fletcher, whose body was recovered four days after her abduction.
Ms Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother of two and granddaughter of billionaire Joseph Orgill III, was snatched while out jogging near the University of Memphis campus and forced into an SUV at 4am on Friday.
Abston, a 38-year-old convicted kidnapper released from prison in 2020 after serving 19 years, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Memphis police said.
© Provided by The Independent
Cleotha Abston: Everything we know about suspect in kidnapping of Eliza Fletcher
Cleotha Abston to be arraigned on murder charges on Wednesday morning
Tuesday 6 September 2022 17:24 , Bevan Hurley
The man charged with the abduction and murder of Memphis mother of two Eliza Fletcher will be back in court on Wednesday morning.
Cleotha Abston, 38, appeared in the Shelby County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning where he was arraigned on charges of kidnapping the 34-year-old heiress, who was abducted while out jogging in Memphis on Friday morning.
Ms Fletcher’s body was found in a vacant duplex in the south of the city on Monday night, and on Tuesday morning police confirmed the body was hers and charged Abston with two counts of first degree murder.
A judge said he was not aware that Abston had been charged with additional counts of murder on Tuesday morning, and would not accept “hearsay” evidence.
Abston is being held on $510,000 bond and has been appointed a public defender.
© Provided by The Independent Cleotha Abston appears for arraignment in the kidnapping of Eliza Fletcher (WREG / YouTube)
Cleotha Abston charged with murder after body of missing heiress Eliza Fletcher is found
Tuesday 6 September 2022 17:05 , Bevan Hurley
Convicted kidnapper Cleotha Abston has been charged with the murder of Eliza Fletcher, after the missing Memphis business heiress’s body was discovered less than one mile from his brother’s home.
Dressed in prison garb and wearing a facemask, the 38-year-old made his first appearance in court in kidnapping charges on Tuesday morning.
Rachel Sharp has the details.
© Provided by The Independent
Cleotha Abston charged with murder after body of missing heiress Eliza Fletcher found
Steven Mulroy, Shelby County District Attorney, gives an update from Fletcher family
Tuesday 6 September 2022 16:48 , Bevan Hurley
Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy told the press conference that he had delivered the grim news to the family of Eliza Fletcher on Tuesday morning that a body found on Monday night belonged to the missing heiress.
He said the family had been completely cooperative, and addressed the “baseless” rumours that it was anything other than a random attack.
“In contrast to whatever baseless speculation you might have seen, we have no reason to think this was anything other than an isolated attack by a stranger,” Mr Mulroy said.
He said the family would be putting out a statement at some point, and asked that they be given privacy to grieve.
Police chief Davis added that Cleotha Abston was still not cooperating with police. She said it was too early to say if anyone else would be charged, or provide a cause of death.
© Provided by The Independent Eliza Fletcher, who was abducted and murdered while jogging in Memphis on Friday, with husband Richard Fletcher (Eliza Fletcher / Instagram)
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis says a ‘dangerous predator’ has been taken off the streets
Tuesday 6 September 2022 16:41 , Bevan Hurley
Memphis Police Department chief Cerelyn Davis is speaking at a press conference about the investigation into the murder of Eliza Fletcher.
She expressed her sympathies with Ms Fletcher’s family and friends who had been impacted by the “heinous and tragic” crime, and said a “dangerous predator” had been taken off the streets.
She said the four day investigation had been “intensive”.
Several federal agencies were involved, including the FBI, the ATF, the US Marshals and others.
Memphis police hold press conference on Eliza Fletcher murder
Tuesday 6 September 2022 16:33 , Bevan Hurley
Police in Memphis are holding a press conference to update the public on the investigation into the abduction and murder of Eliza Fletcher.