BREAKING: Police say the body of a Tennessee woman who was abducted while jogging in Memphis has been identified.
The body found in Memphis on Monday has been identified as missing billionaire heiress Eliza Fletcher, who police believe was abducted while she was out jogging. Police have added additional charges against the suspect, Cleotha Abston, including first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
Memphis police said on Twitter that investigators identified the body of Eliza Fletcher, 34, a school teacher and granddaughter of a prominent Memphis businessman. Relatives of Fletcher and more than 20 media members were in the courtroom Tuesday morning for the arraignment, which was Abston’s 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.
Fletcher is the granddaughter of the late Joseph Orgill III, a Memphis hardware businessman and philanthropist. The family has released a video statement asking for help in finding Fletcher and offered a $50,000 reward for information in the case.
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Memphis police: arrest made in jogger’s disappearancePolice in Tennessee say an arrest has been made in the disappearance of a woman who was abducted while jogging. The Memphis Police Department said Sunday that 38-year-old Cleotha Abston has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the disappearance of Eliza Fletcher of Memphis. The 34-year-old Fletcher was forced into a vehicle while she was jogging near the University of Memphis campus early Friday. Police are still searching for her and say the investigation is ongoing.
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Eliza Fletcher abduction: Police search near Memphis home where suspect was seen washing clothes, cleaning carLaw enforcement was searching an area on Sunday near where kidnapping suspect Cleotha Abston could be seen washing clothes and cleaning his car after the abduction.
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Police confirm body found at crime scene in South MemphisTHIS JUST IN: Authorities confirmed a body was found in South Memphis, but no confirmation of the crime scene being related to Eliza Fletcher’s disappearance.
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Police confirm body found at crime scene in South MemphisAuthorities confirmed a body was found in South Memphis, but no confirmation of the crime scene being related to Eliza Fletcher’s disappearance.
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Eliza Fletcher missing: Cleotha Abston charged with kidnapping in connection to case, Memphis police sayCleotha Abston was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
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Memphis police: Arrest made in jogger's disappearanceA second person was also arrested, but police said that suspect was “currently not believed to be connected” to Fletcher’s abduction early Friday.
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