MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis judge has set bail for the 38-year-old man accused of kidnapping Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two who was dragged into a car during an early morning jog. Cleotha Abston had his bond set at $500,000 Sunday, meaning he would have to post $50,000 to be released from jail. Accused of especially aggravated kidnapping and falsification. He was arrested by law enforcement officers on Saturday after being spotted by US Marshals at 10:45 am. An affidavit for Cleotha Abston says two witnesses, including Abston’s brother Mario, told police they saw the suspect cleaning the inside of a GMC Terrain, which police called a “vehicle of interest.” ELIZA FLETCHER KIDNAPPING: Suspect CLEANS ‘VEHICLE OF INTEREST’ BEFORE ARREST, POLICE SAY Liza Fletcher on Kidnapping Suspect Cleotha Abston (Memphis PD/TBI/Shelby County Jail) The two also said they saw Cleotha Abston cleaning up “washing his clothes in the house sink,” adding that she was acting “strange,” according to the affidavit. Eliza Fletcher went missing Friday morning at 4:30 am. in the 3800 Block of Central Ave. in Memphis, Tennessee, and was forced into a GMC Terrain, according to police, who say there was a struggle. A spokesperson for the Memphis Police Department told Fox News Digital that they located the dark-colored GMC Terrain, which was earlier named as a vehicle of interest, and added that the male occupant of the car “has been taken into custody for further investigation.” (Memphis Police Department) Video surveillance in the area of the abduction reportedly shows the GMC Terrain “passing and then waiting for the victim to run,” before Cleotha Abston ran “aggressively toward the victim.” She was reported missing around 7:45 a.m. Friday when police received two calls, one from Fletcher’s husband, Richard Fletcher III, and one from the University of Memphis. ELIZA FLETCHER MISSED: MEMPHIS POLICE SAY ‘VEHICLE OF INTEREST’ LOCATED, MAN IN HOLD, ELIZA STILL MISSING Court documents state the GMC Terrain was in a nearby parking lot with the victim inside for four minutes before driving away. Police were able to match Cleotha Abston to the crime using DNA evidence collected from a pair of Champion slides that had been left in the area of the crime scene. Police also say Eliza Fletcher “suffered serious injury” and “left evidence, e.g. blood, in the vehicle that the defendant cleaned.” The photo provided by the Memphis Police Department shows Eliza Fletcher running. (Memphis Police Department) Cleotha Abston is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 9:00 a.m CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Law enforcement officials were seen throughout Memphis on Sunday and were conducting searches at “several” locations, according to a Memphis police spokesman. People with information on related to kidnapping are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.
