A body discovered near the abduction site of a missing Tennessee jogger was confirmed as Eliza Fletcher, the Memphis Police Department said Tuesday.
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) September 6, 2022
Additional charges of first-degree murder and first-degree murder in the perpetration of kidnapping were added against the suspect, Cleotha Abston. Abston was already facing charges of especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, and he appeared in court Tuesday morning.
SUSPECT IN ELIZA FLETCHER CASE TO APPEAR IN COURT AFTER POLICE FIND UNIDENTIFIED BODY
Abston allegedly kidnapped Fletcher during an early morning jog near the University of Memphis on Friday. Surveillance footage showed Fletcher, 34, had engaged in a struggle before the kidnapper threw her into an SUV, the affidavit seen by NBC News indicated. The struggle resulted in the kidnapper losing his sandals and Fletcher’s phone.
Police were led to Abston after his DNA was discovered on the pair of sandals that was left near the scene. Abston served about 20 years of jail time for a previous kidnapping of a lawyer, but he was released in 2020.
Fletcher was the granddaughter of hardware magnate Joseph “Joe” Orgill III, whose family business is described by the company’s website as “the world’s largest independent hardlines distributor with annual sales of $3 billion.” Her husband was Richard “Richie” Fletcher III, and they have two children.
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Abston’s brother was also detained Sunday. However, his charge was unrelated to Fletcher’s kidnapping, police said.
No cause of death has been released.
