Tennessee

Tennessee man pleads guilty to killing Eliza Fletcher, a mom of 2 jogging in Memphis

Published

2 days ago

October 29, 2024

Tennessee man pleads guilty to killing Eliza Fletcher, a mom of 2 jogging in Memphis

Cleotha Abston pleaded guilty Monday to abducting and later killing Fletcher during a morning jog on Sept. 2, 2022. The guilty plea allows him to avoid the death penalty.

A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping and killing Memphis mother Eliza Fletcher during her morning jog in 2022.

Cleotha Abston, 40, was able to avoid the death penalty with the guilty plea to first-degree murder and will face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Fletcher, who was 34 at the time of her death, was abducted while out on a run in the early hours of Sept. 2, 2022. Her body was not found until three days later.

“No legal resolution and no sentence can diminish the anguish of Liza’s murder,” Fletcher’s family said in a statement sent to the news media. “We accept the outcome that her murderer has pled guilty to all charges, will wake up in prison for the rest of his life and cannot harm anyone else. We are very grateful for the determination and professionalism of law enforcement and the district attorney’s office.”

When was Abston arrested?

Abston was arrested on Sept. 3, 2022, a day after Fletcher’s abduction launched a multi-day, multi-agency manhunt across Memphis. He was initially charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

Footage from the University of Memphis campus, where Fletcher was taken while on a morning run, showed someone in a dark SUV approach Fletcher and force her into the vehicle after a brief struggle.

First-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of a kidnapping charges were added to Abston’s case a day after Fletcher’s remains were found.

Why did Abston plea guilty?

Abston pleaded guilty to Fletcher’s killing to avoid the death penalty, his attorney, Juni Ganguli, told USA TODAY.

Ganguli and attorney Lauren Pasley both advised Abston to plead guilty due to the mounting evidence against him. Ganguli added that a jury would have likely imposed the death penalty during a sentencing hearing.

“I’ve had other death penalty cases where the prosecution had agreed to sentences of life without parole following the guilt phase of trials,” Ganguli said in his statement. “There was overwhelming publicity and public outcry in this case.”

What was Abston previously convicted of?

Abston was convicted of a 2021 rape over six months before entering the plea on Monday. That rape went unsolved until DNA taken in a rape kit matched Abston.

The trial spanned three days in April, when Abston was indicted for three different counts, aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The jury convicted him of aggravated rape and convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and found him guilty of the lesser charge of aggravated kidnapping.

Who was Eliza Fletcher?

Fletcher was the mother of two children and a teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Before working joining St. Mary’s, she taught Kindergarten at Promise Academy in Nashville and also coached soccer.

In 2006, she graduated from Hutchison School in Memphis, according to the all-girl’s school’s website, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Baylor University. She earned her masters of art in teaching with an emphasis in elementary education at Belmont University, according to a post from St. Mary’s.

She is also remembered as an avid runner, having run completed the St. Jude marathon in Memphis with a time of 3:26:09. She finished 22nd place out of all the women running the St. Jude marathon that year. Her placement allowed her to qualify for the elite Boston Marathon.

George Robertson, the senior pastor at Second Presbyterian Church, said Fletcher was “full of life.” She married Richard Fletcher III at the church in 2014, according to a 2015 report by Memphis Magazine. The couple shared two sons.

“She and her husband Ritchie are both very active and great leaders in our congregation,” Robertson told the Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network. “They have two little boys who have come up to me every week and give me a hug.”

In a statement, her family addressed Abston:

“We have no idea what happened to you to turn you into someone so filled with a desire to hurt people. Whatever it was, it does not excuse or explain what you have done. You have changed our lives forever, and nothing will ever be the same,” they said. “Your actions were evil. There is no other word for it. You murdered Liza, even though she did nothing to deserve it.”

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When is the last day for early voting in Tennessee? What are the totals so far?

Published

15 mins ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

When is the last day for early voting in Tennessee? What are the totals so far?

Today is the last day of early voting. Those who don’t cast a ballot today must wait until Election Day, Nov. 5.

Early and absentee voting numbers are robust this year.

In the first 12 days of voting in 2020, 140,685 early and absentee votes were cast in Knox County. In 12 days in 2024, there were 142,356.

The divide looks like this: 135,971 early voters and 6,385 absentee ballots as of Oct. 29.

Knox County early voting totals by party

We don’t know and we never will.

In Tennessee, voters don’t have to declare a party when they register, which means officials can’t track votes by party.

Some states, including Florida, require voters to choose a political party when they register. They can only vote in that party’s primary elections, and that party affiliation follows them to the general election. That’s how we know for sure there are more Republicans voting early in some other states.

Where can I learn about the candidates?

Before you cast your ballot, whether early or on Election Day, the Knox News Voter’s Guide at knoxnews.com lets you check out who the local candidates are and what they say about the issues.

Can I still register to vote in the 2024 election?

No, the voter registration deadline has passed.

How to check if you’re registered to vote in Tennessee

Check tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup to determine whether you are already registered.

How do I register for an absentee ballot in Tennessee?

That deadlines has passed as well.

Where is early voting in Knox County?

The early voting ends today. During that time, registered voters can go to any early voting location on any day or time it is open.

Here are Knox County early voting locations:

Carter Senior Center, 9040 Asheville Highway
City-County Building, 400 Main St.
Downtown West, 1645 Downtown West Blvd., Unit 40
Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points, 2410 Martin Luther King Ave. (next to Love Kitchen)
Gibbs Ruritan Club, 7827 Tazewell Pike
Halls Recreation Center, 6933 Recreation Lane
Karns Senior Center, 8042 Oak Ridge Highway
Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane
Meridian Baptist Church, 6513 Chapman Highway
University of Tennessee (Baker School), 1640 Cumberland Ave.
Village Green Shopping Center (Old Stein Mart), 11437 Kingston Pike in Farragut

What are early voting hours?

Hours vary depending on the day and place you vote.

Early voting hours for Carter Senior Center, City-County Building, Downtown West, Eternal Life Harvest Center at Five Points, Gibbs Ruritan Club, Halls Recreation Center, Knoxville Expo Center, New Harvest Park and Village Green Shopping Center:

Early voting hours for Meridian Baptist:

Early voting hours for Karns Senior Center:

Early voting hours for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville:

When is Election Day?

Election Day is Nov. 5.

Polls will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. If you arrive at your polling site before 8 p.m. and have to wait in line past that time, you may still vote if you stay in line.

Where do I vote on Election Day?

On Nov. 5, you must vote at your registered polling place. Check your address at the Voting location search button at kgis.org.

Some polling locations may have changed since the 2022 election due to redistricting, so voters are advised to double check if they decide to wait to vote on Election Day.

Do I have to show an ID to vote?

Yes, you do.

These forms of identification are acceptable, even if they are expired:

Tennessee driver’s license with your photo
Passport
Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee government
Military photo ID
Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg

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Tennessee

Tennessee vs. Kentucky Prediction, Odds, Picks – November 2, 2024

Published

8 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee vs. Kentucky Prediction, Odds, Picks – November 2, 2024

Data Skrive

Two of the nation’s toughest passing defenses meet when the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (6-1) bring college football’s 22nd-ranked pass defense into a matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats (3-5), who have the No. 20 passing defense, on Saturday, November 2, 2024. The Volunteers are massive, 16.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 45.5.

Last time out, the Volunteers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide, with 24-17 being the final score. Facing the Auburn Tigers in their last game, the Wildcats lost 24-10.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

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Tennessee vs. Kentucky Game Information & Odds

When: Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7:45 p.m. ET
Location: Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: SEC Network
Live Box Score on FOX Sports

More College Football Predictions

Ole Miss vs. Arkansas Predictions
Auburn vs. Vanderbilt Predictions

Tennessee vs Kentucky Betting Information updated as of October 30, 2024, 8:47 p.m. ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
Tennessee	-16.5 (-111)	-840	+557	45.5	-109	-111

Tennessee vs. Kentucky Prediction

Pick ATS:
Tennessee (-16.5)
Pick OU: Under (45.5)
Prediction: Tennessee 31, Kentucky 13

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

Learn more about the Tennessee Volunteers vs. the Kentucky Wildcats game on FOX Sports!

Tennessee vs. Kentucky Betting Insights

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the tilt is Volunteers 31, Wildcats 14.
The Volunteers have an 89.4% chance to claim victory in this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability. The Wildcats hold a 15.2% implied probability.
Tennessee has put together a 4-2-0 ATS record so far this year.
Kentucky has put together a 4-4-0 record against the spread this year.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky: Head-to-Head

In their last three head-to-head meetings, Tennessee has won against Kentucky three times.
The Volunteers carry a 3-0 record ATS in those games, while the two teams have gone over the total on two occasions.
Kentucky has been outpaced by 47 points in its last three tilts versus Tennessee.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky: 2024 Stats Comparison

	Tennessee	Kentucky
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	39.6 (25)	19.1 (118)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	11.6 (1)	19.9 (31)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	10 (54)	11 (67)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	11 (56)	9 (81)

Tennessee 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Dylan Sampson	RB	840 YDS / 17 TD / 120 YPG / 5.8 YPC 10 REC / 88 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 12.6 REC YPG
Nico Iamaleava	QB	1,411 YDS (63.3%) / 8 TD / 4 INT 179 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 25.6 RUSH YPG
DeSean Bishop	RB	366 YDS / 3 TD / 52.3 YPG / 6.9 YPC
Dont’e Thornton	WR	12 REC / 365 YDS / 3 TD / 52.1 YPG
James Pearce Jr.	DL	12 TKL / 3 TFL / 3.5 SACK
Will Brooks	DB	19 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Joshua Josephs	DL	14 TKL / 3 TFL
Jermod McCoy	DB	18 TKL / 0 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD

Kentucky 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Demie Sumo	RB	419 YDS / 4 TD / 59.9 YPG / 4.6 YPC 12 REC / 108 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 15.4 REC YPG
Brock Vandagriff	QB	1,236 YDS (57.1%) / 6 TD / 5 INT 108 RUSH YDS / 0 RUSH TD / 13.5 RUSH YPG
Dane Key	WR	39 REC / 587 YDS / 2 TD / 73.4 YPG
Barion Brown	WR	23 REC / 278 YDS / 3 TD / 34.8 YPG
Jamon Dumas-Johnson	LB	16 TKL / 3 TFL / 2.5 SACK / 1 INT
J.J. Weaver	LB	8 TKL / 4 TFL / 4 SACK
D’Eryk Jackson	LB	16 TKL / 4 TFL / 1 SACK / 1 INT
Zion Childress	DB	17 TKL / 2 TFL / 1 SACK

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Titans Identify ‘Important Days’ for Will Levis’ Return

Published

15 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Press Room

Titans Identify ‘Important Days’ for Will Levis’ Return

The Tennessee Titans are hoping to get second-year quarterback Will Levis back on the field in Week 9 after suffering a shoulder injury that’s knocked him out for the past two games.

Levis hurt his shoulder back in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins, and even though he briefly returned for the team’s Week 6 game with the Indianapolis Colts, he has been sidelined for the past two weeks trying to heal.

Titans coach Brian Callahan gave an update regarding Levis’ status ahead of Week 9 against the New England Patriots.

“We’ll try to get a feel for where he’s at after some rest, see how he feels throwing the ball, see how it looks,” Callahan said via team reporter Jim Wyatt. “The more important part for Will right now is going to be not just today, but Thursday, Friday, days consecutive, throwing to see how that goes. If he’s feeling good and feeling up to it, we’ll ramp (his throwing) up and see where he’s at.”

Levis’ injury is a tricky one because there isn’t really much of a solution other than rest. Surgery would likely cost him the season, but it isn’t serious enough to warrant that. Healing for the injury requires patience, which the Titans don’t have too much of.

This season is all about Levis and seeing if he’s capable of being the franchise’s quarterback moving forward. While he hasn’t been successful yet this season, the sample size still isn’t large enough to fully determine if the Titans should keep him or move on. That’s why Tennessee needs him as healthy as possible for the second half of the year.

The Titans are likely going to have a pretty high draft pick after starting 1-6, which could mean some high-profile quarterback prospects could be available. That’s why the Titans need to know exactly what they have in Levis before potentially making another franchise-altering decision.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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