Man charged in abduction of missing Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher, police say

A person has been arrested in reference to the kidnapping of a Memphis girl who by no means returned from her early morning jog, police mentioned.

The Memphis Police Division introduced through Twitter early Sunday that 38-year-old Cleotha Abston has been charged with particularly aggravated kidnapping and tampering with proof.

Police mentioned they detained Abston on Saturday night after he was discovered inside an SUV that authorities have been trying to find in reference to the kidnapping. A public info officer instructed ABC Information that they may not share the place the car of curiosity was positioned at the moment.

A second particular person, recognized as 36-year-old Mario Abston, who’s at the moment not believed to be linked to the kidnapping, was additionally arrested on drug and firearm prices, in response to police.

Police mentioned Eliza Fletcher, 34, stays lacking and that they, together with their native and federal companions, proceed to seek for her. The investigation into her abduction is “energetic and ongoing,” police mentioned.

Fletcher was final seen jogging within the space of Central Avenue and Zach Curlin Road in midtown Memphis, close to the College of Memphis campus in southwest Tennessee, on Friday morning at roughly 4:20 a.m. native time, earlier than she was approached by an unknown particular person and compelled right into a dark-colored GMC Terrain, in response to police. The SUV — which authorities named a car of curiosity — took off, touring westbound on Central Avenue, police mentioned.

Fletcher was sporting a pink jogging prime and purple working shorts on the time of her abduction. She has brown hair and inexperienced eyes, weighs 137 kilos and is 5 ft, 6 inches tall, in response to police.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Faculty in Memphis mentioned in an announcement on social media that Fletcher is a “beloved” junior kindergarten trainer on the all-girls prep college.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation mentioned it’s helping the Memphis Police Division within the seek for Fletcher.

Fletcher’s household launched a video assertion via the Memphis Police Division on Saturday, pleading for her protected return.

“We need to begin by thanking everybody for his or her prayers and outpouring of assist,” Fletcher’s uncle, Mike Keeney, mentioned within the video whereas surrounded by members of their household, together with Fletcher’s mother and father, brother and husband.

“Liza has touched the hearts of many individuals and it reveals,” he added.

The household urged anybody with info on the case to contact authorities. They’re providing a $50,000 reward for info that results in Fletcher’s protected return.

“Greater than something, we need to see Liza returned residence safely,” Keeney mentioned. “We imagine somebody is aware of what occurred and can assist.”

Anybody with info on Fletcher’s whereabouts is requested to name the Memphis Police Division at both 901-528-2274 or 901-545-2677, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or to dial 911.

ABC Information’ Alexandra Faul and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.