Video shows violent kidnapping of missing Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher, criminal complaint alleges

Surveillance video obtained by investigators reveals lacking Memphis trainer Eliza Fletcher was violently kidnapped throughout her morning jog by a person matching the outline of a suspect charged with kidnapping, in line with a felony criticism filed within the case.

An enormous seek for Fletcher is underway and her household has provided a $50,000 reward for data resulting in her whereabouts.

The Memphis Police Division introduced by way of Twitter early Sunday that Cleotha Abston, 38, has been charged with significantly aggravated kidnapping and tampering with proof within the case of the lacking kindergarten trainer.

Police stated they arrested Abston on Saturday night time after he was discovered inside an SUV authorities had been in search of in reference to the kidnapping.

An affidavit of the criticism made public Sunday by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and obtained by ABC affiliate station WATN-TV stated Abston was arrested outdoors the house of a lady to whom the SUV is registered and the place Abston resided, in line with the affidavit.

Abston allegedly tried to flee within the SUV, however a staff of US Marshals had been in a position to shortly take him into custody, the affidavit states.

Earlier on Saturday, police contacted Aston’s brother and one other witness, who each stated the suspect confirmed up at their house round 7.50am on Friday and noticed him cleansing the inside of the SUV, washing his garments in a sink and “performing very surprisingly”. “, in line with the affidavit.

Police, in line with the affidavit, suspect that Fletcher, 34, suffered “severe accidents” in the course of the abduction. Throughout questioning, Abston, who works at a dry cleaner, refused to inform investigators something about Fletcher’s whereabouts, in line with the affidavit.

Abston’s brother, recognized as Mario Abston, 36, who will not be presently suspected of being linked to the kidnapping, was additionally arrested on drug and firearms prices, in line with police.

Police stated Fletcher stays lacking and so they, together with their native and federal companions, proceed to seek for her. The investigation into his abduction is “lively and ongoing”, police stated.

Fletcher was final seen jogging within the Central Avenue and Zach Curlin Avenue space of ​​downtown Memphis, close to the College of Memphis campus in southwest Tennessee, Friday morning round 4:20 a.m. native time, earlier than she was approached by a person and compelled right into a dark-colored GMC Terrain, police stated. The SUV took off, heading west on Central Avenue, police stated.

Fletcher’s husband, Richard Fletcher, reported her lacking round 7 a.m. Friday, telling investigators she by no means returned house after her ordinary 4 a.m. jog, in line with the police affidavit.

A bicycle owner advised investigators he was driving within the Central Avenue space round 6:45 a.m. Friday and located a cellular phone belonging to Eliza Fletcher mendacity on the road with a pair of Champion sandals, in line with the affidavit. The sandals had been examined on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab and allegedly contained Cleotha Abston’s DNA, in line with the affidavit.

Investigators additionally went to the place the bicycle owner discovered Fletcher’s cellphone and sandals, and obtained surveillance video from an organization they consider captured the kidnapping, the affidavit says. . The safety video, in line with the affidavit, confirmed the black GMC Terrain initially driving by Fletcher as she jogged, then stopping in a car parking zone in entrance of her and ready for her to move.

“A person exited the black GMC Terrain, ran aggressively in the direction of the sufferer, then pressured sufferer Eliza Fletcher into the passenger facet of the car. Throughout this abduction, there seems to have been a wrestle,” reads the affidavit.

Citing the video, investigators stated the SUV sat in a car parking zone with the sufferer inside for about 4 minutes earlier than driving off, in line with the affidavit.

The video additionally captured the identical SUV within the space of ​​the kidnapping round 24 minutes earlier than the kidnapping, in line with the affidavit.

Fletcher was sporting a pink jogging prime and purple operating shorts on the time of his abduction. She has brown hair and inexperienced eyes, weighs 137 kilos and is 5ft 6in tall, in line with police.

After confirming Abston’s DNA on sandals left on the scene of the kidnapping, investigators discovered the SUV was registered to a lady Abston was residing with. Investigators additionally discovered that Abston labored at a dry cleaners and obtained his cellular phone quantity from his boss, in line with the affidavit.

Investigators decided via cellphone evaluation that he was within the neighborhood of the kidnapping when it occurred, in line with the affidavit.

Whereas investigating Abston’s whereabouts earlier than and after the kidnapping, police obtained safety video from a neighborhood movie show that confirmed Abston there on Thursday sporting a pair of Champion sandals, in line with the affidavit.

St. Mary’s Episcopal College in Memphis stated in a social media assertion that Fletcher is a “beloved” trainer from kindergarten via prep college for women.

Fletcher’s household launched a video assertion by way of the Memphis Police Division on Saturday, pleading for his secure return.

“We need to begin by thanking everybody for his or her prayers and outpouring of assist,” Fletcher’s uncle, Mike Keeney, stated within the video as he was surrounded by members of the family, together with dad and mom, Fletcher’s brother and husband.

“Liza has touched the hearts of many individuals and it reveals,” he added.

The household urged anybody with details about the case to contact authorities. They’re providing a $50,000 reward for data that results in Fletcher’s secure return.

“Greater than something, we need to see Liza get house safely,” Keeney stated. “We consider somebody is aware of what occurred and can assist.”

Anybody with details about Fletcher’s whereabouts can name the Memphis Police Division at (901) 528-2274 or (901) 545-2677, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or dial 911.

ABC Information’ Alexandra Faul and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.