Suspect charged with kidnapping missing Memphis teacher has served time for a previous kidnapping charge, court records show

Cleotha Abston, 38, pleaded responsible in November 2001 to the cost of notably aggravated kidnapping. He was launched in November 2020, in keeping with court docket data.

The Shelby County District Legal professional’s Workplace advised WREG Abston he was convicted of kidnapping a neighborhood lawyer in 2000.

Abston is at the moment dealing with the identical cost of notably aggravated kidnapping and tampering with proof within the kidnapping of Eliza “Liza” Fletcher.

Three extra prices have been added for Abston since his arrest on Saturday, in keeping with Shelby County Jail Information. These prices embody identification theft, theft of property of $1,000 or much less, and fraudulent use/unlawful possession of a credit score or debit card of $1,000 or much less, in keeping with data.

The newly filed prices in opposition to Abston are unrelated to the Fletcher kidnapping, in keeping with an affidavit obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ. The brand new prices relate to a theft report filed Thursday by a lady who reported somebody was utilizing her CashApp card and Wisley card at gasoline stations with out her information.

CNN has contacted the Shelby County District Legal professional and Memphis police relating to the extra prices.

Missing teacher Eliza "Lisa" Fletcher

Fletcher, 34, a mom of two, was jogging round 4 a.m. Friday when a black GMC Terrain SUV drove previous her, in keeping with surveillance footage obtained from the incident. A person was then seen getting out of the automobile and “aggressively ran” in direction of Fletcher and compelled her into the passenger aspect of the SUV. As soon as the 2 people had been contained in the SUV, the automobile remained in a parking zone for roughly 4 minutes earlier than driving off, in keeping with footage cited in an affidavit obtained by CNN.

The affidavit mentioned police had discovered “bodily proof that she suffered severe accidents”.

Abston was arrested Saturday after police discovered the GMC Terrain in a parking zone close to his residence, in keeping with the affidavit. The automobile had the identical distinctive harm and partial license plate identification seen in surveillance footage of Fletcher’s abduction.

Abston tried to flee after US Marshals positioned him close by, in keeping with the affidavit.

The suspect is being held on the Shelby County jail on $500,000 bail and is due in court docket on Tuesday, jail data present. We do not know if he has a lawyer.

DNA recovered from a pair of sandals discovered close to the place authorities consider Fletcher was kidnapped helped investigators establish and arrest Abston, in keeping with the affidavit.

Surveillance footage captured at a neighborhood theater the day earlier than Fletcher disappeared confirmed Abston sporting what authorities consider to be the identical pair of Champion slide sandals discovered on the crime scene, in keeping with the affidavit.

Further surveillance footage, coupled with statements from Abston’s employer, confirmed that the automobile in query is owned by a lady related to Abston’s house tackle.

Cleotha Abston

Cellphone data additionally place Abston on the website on the time of Fletcher’s abduction on Friday morning, in keeping with the affidavit.

Fletcher’s broken telephone was discovered close to the scene the place she was kidnapped, CrimeStoppers govt director Buddy Chapman mentioned, in keeping with a press launch obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ.

In response to the affidavit, a witness mentioned he noticed Abston at his brother’s home after the kidnapping. The witness and his brother mentioned Abston behaved surprisingly as he cleaned the inside of his SUV and washed his garments within the sink.

Images launched by police present Fletcher operating within the neighborhood close to the College of Memphis. She was final seen sporting a pink jogging prime and purple operating shorts, police mentioned in an alert.

Fletcher is white, 5-foot-6, has brown hair and inexperienced eyes, police mentioned. She weighs 137 kilos.

His household is providing a $50,000 reward via CrimeStoppers for info resulting in an arrest within the case, WHBQ reported.

“We look ahead to Eliza’s secure return and hope this award will assist police seize those that dedicated this crime,” her household mentioned in a press release shared by Chapman.

In a put up on Twitter, St. Mary’s Episcopal School mentioned Fletcher is a kindergarten trainer.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a tweet he assists the Memphis police within the investigation.


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