Investigators searching for missing Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher say they found a body after searching a wooded area near suspect Cleotha Ampston’s home. Memphis police have yet to identify the remains. Ms. Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother of two, was last seen around 4 a.m. Friday when she was violently abducted while jogging near the University of Memphis campus, police say. Police charged Abston, 38, with aggravated kidnapping and forgery on Sunday and is being held on $500,000 bail. He was expected to appear in court Tuesday morning. On Monday, officers from the Memphis Police Department were spotted in all-terrain vehicles searching a wooded area in south Memphis, about two miles from Abston’s home, WREG3 reported. Police say they identified Abston as a suspect after finding DNA on a pair of slider sandals found at the scene of the fight. Mrs Fletcher, the granddaughter of the billionaire founder of Memphis hardware business Orgill, is still missing four days after she disappeared. Her family has offered $50,000 for her return.
The heiress remains missing as the suspect refuses to speak to the police
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Everything we know about the suspect in the kidnapping of teacher Eliza Fletcher in Memphis
The man accused of kidnapping Eliza Fletcher is a violent criminal who spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery, according to arrest records. Cleotha “Pookie” Abston, 38, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Memphis police said in a tweet early Sunday morning. Read more about Abston’s lengthy criminal record below.
Cleotha Abston: Everything we know about Eliza Fletcher’s kidnapping suspect
Suspect in missing heir case spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery before being released in 2020, authorities say Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 07:30 1662442200
According to police, the suspect had been stalking the missing heiress for 24 minutes before the abduction
The suspect accused of kidnapping missing heiress Eliza Fletcher was seen chasing her in his SUV 24 minutes before she was abducted, police say. Cleotha “Pookie” Abston is accused of abducting Ms. Fletcher, 34, while she was jogging near the intersection of Central Avenue and Zach H. Curlin Street in Memphis around 4:20 a.m. of Friday. According to a police affidavit, Abston’s GMS Terrain was seen on surveillance footage in the area 24 minutes before the abduction. The video then shows a man get out of the dark colored SUV and aggressively push Ms. Fletcher into the passenger side of the vehicle.
Suspect stalked Eliza Fletcher for 24 minutes before kidnapping, police say
Cleotha Abston’s SUV appeared on surveillance video 24 minutes before the heiress was kidnapped Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 06:30 1662438600
Everything we know about the kidnapping of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher
The desperate search to find missing Memphis teacher and business heir Eliza Fletcher has now entered its fourth day – as a 38-year-old man accused of kidnapping her refuses to reveal her whereabouts to authorities. Eliza Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother of two, was seized while on an early morning jog near the University of Memphis campus on Friday. On Saturday, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston was arrested on suspicion of her kidnapping. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence on Sunday and is being held on $500,000 bail. No motive has been given and there is no evidence of Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts. Rachel Sharp has the full story.
Eliza Fletcher: Everything We Know About The Memphis Teacher Kidnapping
Three days after she was abducted and bundled into a car in Memphis, the mother-of-two’s whereabouts remain unknown Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 05:30 1662436979
Relative of suspect claims Abston ‘100%’ kidnapped heir
Nathaniel Isaac, 69 – suspect Cleotha Abston’s uncle – claimed he is “100 per cent certain he had something to do with her abduction”. In an interview, Mr Isaac criticized his nephew and highlighted his criminal record. He said: “All my king’s family is eccentric. It always was. I don’t like them because they are crazy. It is the truth. Go check the police records on the Abstons. You will find that they are all perpetrators of something. My wife’s son was locked up. Mario is now under arrest for drugs and a gun. And Cleo, I’m 100 percent sure she had something to do with her kidnapping. Can I prove it? No.” Meanwhile, police are still searching for missing Eliza Fletcher. And Mr Abston is due to appear in court today. Maroosha Muzaffar6 September 2022 05:02 1662435043
Kidnapping suspect Cleotha Abston faces new theft charges as police probe continues
A man accused of kidnapping Eliza Fletcher is facing three new theft charges as police continue to search for the missing heiress. Cleotha Abston, 38, was charged with identity theft, theft of property under $1,000 and fraudulent use of a credit card by Memphis police on Monday. Abston, 38, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in connection with Ms. Fletcher’s disappearance, Memphis police said in a tweet early Sunday morning. Abston refused to give police any information about Ms. Fletcher’s whereabouts, according to a police affidavit.
Eliza Fletcher kidnap suspect faces new theft charges as police probe continues
Cleotha Abston refuses to help police find Eliza Fletcher, who was last seen forced into an SUV Friday morning Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 04:30 1662435042
Police find body in search for missing Memphis teacher and heiress
Police searching for missing teacher and heiress Eliza Fletcher in Memphis say they have found a body. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) said Monday that officers found a body around 5:07 p.m. local time, though it stressed that “the identity of this individual and the cause of death [are] unconfirmed at this time.” Read the full Io Dodds story here:
Eliza Fletcher: Police find body in search of missing Memphis teacher
Identity has not yet been ascertained Maroosha Muzaffar6 September 2022 04:30 1662431443
Everything we know about the suspect in the kidnapping of teacher Eliza Fletcher in Memphis
The man accused of kidnapping Eliza Fletcher is a violent criminal who spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery, according to arrest records. Cleotha “Pookie” Abston, 38, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Memphis police said in a tweet early Sunday morning. Read more about Abston’s lengthy criminal record below.
Cleotha Abston: Everything we know about Eliza Fletcher’s kidnapping suspect
Suspect in missing heir case spent 20 years in prison for kidnapping and robbery before being released in 2020, authorities say Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 03:30 1662427843
According to police, the suspect had been stalking the missing heiress for 24 minutes before the abduction
The suspect accused of kidnapping missing heiress Eliza Fletcher was seen chasing her in his SUV 24 minutes before she was abducted, police say. Cleotha “Pookie” Abston is accused of abducting Ms. Fletcher, 34, while she was jogging near the intersection of Central Avenue and Zach H. Curlin Street in Memphis around 4:20 a.m. of Friday. According to a police affidavit, Abston’s GMS Terrain was seen on surveillance footage in the area 24 minutes before the abduction. The video then shows a man get out of the dark colored SUV and aggressively push Ms. Fletcher into the passenger side of the vehicle.
Suspect stalked Eliza Fletcher for 24 minutes before kidnapping, police say
Cleotha Abston’s SUV appeared on surveillance video 24 minutes before the heiress was kidnapped Bevan Hurley6 September 2022 02:30 1662425886
Eliza Fletcher: Police find body in search of missing Memphis teacher
Police searching for missing teacher and heiress Eliza Fletcher in Memphis had found a body. The Memphis Police Department said Monday that officers found a body around 5:07 p.m. local time, though he stressed that “the identity of this person and the cause of death [are] unconfirmed at this time.”
Eliza Fletcher: Police find body in search of missing Memphis teacher
Police searching for missing teacher and heiress Eliza Fletcher in Memphis had found a body. Graeme Massie6 September 2022 01:58 1662425594
Memphis police say they found ‘deceased’
“At 5:07 p.m., officers in the 1600 block of Victor located a deceased person. This person’s identity and cause of death have not been confirmed at this time. The investigation is ongoing,” MPD tweeted. Graeme Massie6 September 2022 01:53
