Man pleads guilty to kidnapping, murder of heiress Eliza Fletcher
Cleotha Abston avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to kidnapping and murdering middle school teacher Eliza Fletcher. More
October 28, 2024
Cleotha Abston
Cleotha Abston, also known as Cleotha Henderson, pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher in Memphis on Sept. 2, 2022.
Change of venue denied in rape trial of suspect in Eliza Fletcher killing
The April rape trial of Cleotha Abston will take place before the murder trial in the Eliza Fletcher case. More
January 5, 2024
Prosecutors seek death penalty for man accused of killing Eliza Fletcher
Cleotha Abston is accused of kidnapping and killing Eliza Fletcher during an early-morning run, whose body was found days later. More
July 6, 2023
Man charged in Tennessee jogger’s death pleads not guilty
At his arraignment on Friday, Cleotha Henderson pleaded not guilty to all charges related to Eliza Fletcher’s death. More
February 6, 2023
Untested rape kits plagued Memphis long before jogger case
The new lawsuit brought by the woman who says she was raped in that attack says Memphis police could have prevented Eliza Fletcher’s death if they had investigated the 2021 rape more vigorously. More
October 3, 2022
Autopsy says Tennessee teacher died of gunshot wound to head
Autopsy shows Tennessee kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher, who was kidnapped during a pre-dawn run, died from a gunshot wound to the head. More
September 29, 2022
Man accused in jogger’s death faces charges in earlier case
The indictment came days after Cleotha Henderson’s arrest in the death of Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two and a kindergarten teacher. More
September 12, 2022
Thousands of runners rally around US to ‘Finish Eliza’s Run’
Thousands of people in cities across the U.S. finished Eliza Fletcher's run Friday morning, a week after she was kidnapped and killed. More
September 9, 2022
Slain jogger recalled as ‘bright light’ with ‘zest for life’
The killing of wife, mother, and kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher shocked the Memphis community and led to a flood of support for her and her family. More
September 8, 2022
Man charged with killing Memphis jogger held without bond
A Tennessee judge revoked bond Wednesday for a man charged with killing a Memphis woman who was abducted during a pre-dawn run near a university campus. More
September 7, 2022
Memphis police ID body of abducted jogger Eliza Fletcher
Eliza Fletcher, a schoolteacher, is the granddaughter of the late Joseph Orgill III, a Memphis hardware businessman and philanthropist. More
September 5, 2022