Body Of Missing Memphis Jogger Eliza Fletcher Found: Police

MEMPHIS, TN — A body found Monday night was identified by police as missing Tennessee teacher Eliza Fletcher, who went missing early Friday morning while jogging in midtown Memphis.

Memphis police said on Twitter that authorities identified Fletcher, 34, a school teacher and granddaughter of a prominent Memphis businessman, after finding a body near Victor Street and East Person Avenue.

The discovery of Fletcher's body came just a day after authorities charged Cleotha Abston, 38, in connection with her disappearance. Abston was arrested Saturday after police detected his DNA on a pair of sandals found near where Eliza Fletcher was last seen, according to an arrest affidavit.

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In addition to counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Abston now faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping, police said.

Fletcher was jogging near the University of Memphis around 4:20 a.m. Friday when an unknown man approached her and forced her into a dark-colored SUV, according to Memphis police.

Fletcher was reported missing when she did not return home from her regular morning run, The Associated Press reported. Her cell phone and water bottle were also discovered in front of a house owned by the university, authorities said.

Fletcher was a teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School and a married mother of two children.

"We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher," St. Mary's staff said in a Facebook post. "Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families."

Fletcher was also the granddaughter and heiress of the late Joseph "Joe" Orgill III, a well-known Memphis hardware businessman and philanthropist.

Fletcher's family had offered a $50,000 reward for anyone who came forward with information that could help investigators.

Fletcher's family was in the courtroom Tuesday morning for Abston's arraignment, his first appearance before a judge on charges of kidnapping, tampering with evidence, theft, identity theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card. Abston was issued a $510,000 bond.

Abston said he could not afford bond and he could not afford a lawyer. General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston.

Abston previously kidnapped a prominent Memphis attorney in 2000, the Commercial Appeal reported. When he was just 16 years old, Abston forced Kemper Durand into the trunk of his own car at gunpoint.

Abston pleaded guilty in 2001 to especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, according to court records. He received a 24-year sentence and was released in November 2020 at age 36.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.