Eliza Fletcher Still Missing After Police Charge Suspect

Police in Tennessee have charged a man in the kidnapping of a jogger who went missing during a run near the University of Memphis.

Eliza Fletcher, 34, went missing on Friday around 4:30 a.m. local time when she was forced into a dark-colored SUV. Her husband, Richard Fletcher, contacted the police at 7:45 a.m. when she failed to return home from her jog.

On Sunday, the Memphis Police Department announced that Cleotha Abston, 38, was charged with “especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence.”

Police said that Fletcher “has not been located at this time.”

Police charged Abston after linking his DNA to a pair of Champion slide sandals found at the scene of the kidnapping. Fletcher’s cellphone was also recovered from the same area.

Video surveillance from the abduction captured Fletcher being forced into a black GMC Terrain, according to court documents.

“During this abduction, there appeared to be a struggle,” the record stated. “The Champion slides sandals were found in this area. The vehicle then sat in the parking lot with the victim inside for approximately four minutes before it drove off.”

Abston, who was in the vehicle used to kidnap Fletcher when he was detained, “declined to provide investigators with the location of the victim.”

“It is believed and supported by the facts and physical evidence that she suffered serious injury,” the document revealed.

“Further, it is probable and apparent from witness statements that these injuries left evidence, e.g., blood, in the vehicle that the defendant cleaned.”

Abston is scheduled to have a video arraignment on Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time. Abston’s brother, Mario Abston, 36, was arrested in an unrelated crime of drug and weapons possession.

Investigators said they will continue to search for Fletcher. Police said the case remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Fletcher, who is a mother of two and teacher, is the granddaughter of late billionaire Joseph Orgill III.

Orgill was the head of hardware distributor Orgill Inc., which reported revenue of $3.2 billion in 2021.