Cleotha Abston, a Tennessee man, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing Eliza Fletcher, a Memphis mother, while she was out on a jog in 2022. Abston was able to avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty to first-degree murder and will now face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Fletcher’s family expressed gratitude for the closure provided by Abston’s guilty plea, knowing that he will be behind bars for the rest of his life.
Abston was arrested a day after Fletcher’s abduction in September 2022, following a multi-day manhunt involving multiple agencies in Memphis. Surveillance footage from the University of Memphis campus showed Fletcher being forced into a dark SUV before her disappearance. Abston was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of a kidnapping following the discovery of Fletcher’s remains.
Abston’s attorneys advised him to enter a guilty plea due to overwhelming evidence against him and the likelihood of facing the death penalty if the case went to trial. He had previously been convicted of a rape in 2021, identified through a DNA match from a rape kit. Fletcher was a beloved teacher and mother of two, known for her dedication to running and finishing the St. Jude marathon. Her family expressed the trauma caused by Abston’s actions, emphasizing that nothing can undo the devastation he inflicted.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com