A Tennessee man named Cleotha Abston pleaded guilty on Monday to the kidnapping and murder of a Memphis school teacher, Eliza Fletcher. Abston, 40, entered guilty pleas to first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping in the case. Originally, he was supposed to go to trial in February, and prosecutors had planned to seek the death penalty if he was convicted of first-degree murder. However, after Abston’s guilty pleas, Judge Lee Coffee sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The tragic incident occurred when Fletcher, a 34-year-old kindergarten teacher and mother of two, was taken while she was out on a morning run near the University of Memphis on September 2, 2022. Her body was later discovered near a vacant duplex. The community of Memphis was deeply affected by Fletcher’s death, and many showed their support for her family through various gestures of kindness.
In a statement, Fletcher’s family expressed their ongoing grief, saying they miss her presence every day. They described her as a source of light, happiness, and compassion for all those who knew her. The family, along with numerous others in the community, were moved by her faith, kindness, and generosity.
Abston, also known as Cleotha Henderson, was apprehended after his DNA was found on sandals near the location where Fletcher was last seen. A subsequent autopsy revealed that Fletcher had died from a gunshot wound to the head. Abston had a prior criminal history, and he was sentenced to 80 years in prison on May 17 for a separate rape case that occurred in September 2021. In that incident, he was convicted of raping a woman at gunpoint.
Interestingly, Abston was not charged in the rape case until after he was arrested for Fletcher’s murder due to delays in processing the sexual assault kit. Following Fletcher’s tragic death, the state Legislature passed a law mandating that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provide quarterly reports on the testing times for sexual assault kits to prevent similar delays in the future.
The case of Eliza Fletcher’s kidnapping and murder serves as a stark reminder of the importance of timely justice and support for victims of violent crimes. The community’s response to the tragedy highlights the resilience and compassion of individuals coming together in times of need. As the city continues to honor Fletcher’s memory through running events and other tributes, her legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
