Man charged with the abduction of teacher Eliza Fletcher
Daisy Phillipson
Featured Image Credit: Memphis PD/WHBQ
A man has been charged in connection with the abduction of US teacher Eliza Fletcher who vanished while out jogging this week.
In an update shared on Twitter today (4 September), the Memphis Police Department said that while they had officially charged the suspect, the whereabouts of the missing mum-of-two are still unknown.
The suspect, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston, has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
Officers added: "Eliza Fletcher has not been located at this time. MPD Investigators and officers, along with our local and federal partners, continue searching for Mrs Fletcher."
UPDATE: The individual who was detained has been officially charged in connection with the abduction of Eliza Fletcher. At this point in the investigation, Cleotha Abston, 38, has been charged with Especially Aggravated Kidnapping and Tampering with Evidence.
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) September 4, 2022
Fletcher, 34, who works as a kindergarten teacher, was abducted while out jogging near the University of Memphis on Friday (September 2).
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Memphis police said she was forced into a dark coloured SUV at around 4.30am and are urging anyone with any information to come forward, while her family are offering $50,000 for information leading to her return.
Fletcher was reported missing at around 7.45am after she failed to return home from her run.
Alongside CCTV footage of her from the day she vanished, officers described how she is 5ft 6in with brown hair and green eyes, and was wearing purple shorts and a pink sports bra when she disappeared.
Abston was detained after police found him to be occupying the vehicle of interest in the case.
Despite marking a major moment in finding out what happened to Fletcher, authorities have stressed that the investigation is 'active and ongoing'.
Memphis police added on Twitter: "We continue to ask for assistance from the community. If anyone has any information concerning this investigation, they should call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH."
Hart Robinson, a friend of Fletcher’s, told WREG: “We don’t know what’s going on, but everybody is desperately looking for her and the police here are on it.
"You can see there is a lot of activity, so if you know anything or saw anything early this morning, we just ask that you come forward."
A letter from Albert Throckmorton – the head of St. Mary's Episcopal School where Fletcher works – says: "We join the Fletcher and Wellford families in praying for Liza’s safety.
"We have not told our younger students about Mrs Fletcher. We are supporting the older students as they learn of this news."
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