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Tennessee man accused in Eliza Fletcher slaying convicted in 2021 rape of different woman

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The Tennessee man accused of kidnapping and killing a Memphis teacher in 2022 was found guilty on Friday of kidnapping and raping a different woman a year prior.

Cleotha Abston, 40, was convicted by a Memphis jury on three counts of aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to The Daily Memphian via The Associated Press. 

The crime took place on Sept. 21, 2021, after the woman agreed to meet Abston at his apartment after connecting with him on a dating website. She reported that he held her at gunpoint, covered her face with a T-shirt and walked her outside to a vehicle where he raped her in the backseat.

The victim reportedly testified on Tuesday that she complied because she “didn’t want to die.”  

ELIZA FLETCHER MURDER SUSPECT CLEOTHA ABSTON’S VIOLENT HISTORY OF RAPE, ASSAULT AND KIDNAPPING EXPLAINED

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FILE – Cleotha Abston appears in court for his arraignment on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee, after being charged with the kidnapping and murder of jogger Eliza Fletcher. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP)

Abston, who is charged in the murder of 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher after allegedly kidnapping her during her morning run on Sept. 2, 2022, was not charged in the 2021 rape case until he was charged in Fletcher’s death because of a delay in processing the first woman’s sexual assault kit.

The victim in the 2021 case sued the city of Memphis on allegations that its police department did not investigate her case properly, but the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge, the AP reported.

Memphis police car

The victim in the 2021 rape case against Cleotha Abston, Eliza Fletcher’s alleged killer, sued the city of Memphis after claiming Memphis police did not investigate her report properly. The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge. (Fox News Digital)

The Tennessee legislature passed a law after Fletcher’s death requiring that the state Bureau of Investigation issue quarterly reports on sexual assault kit testing times.

TENNESSEE WOMAN ELIZA FLETCHER DIED FROM GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD: AUTOPSY

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Prior to Abston’s trial for the 2021 rape, his lawyer, Juni Ganguli, filed a change of venue motion asking that jurors from the Nashville area hear the case instead of jurors from Memphis because of heavy media coverage, prompting concerns Abston wouldn’t receive a fair trial.

Eliza Fletcher with family and posing for a selfie

Abston is accused of kidnapping and killing Eliza Fletcher, 34, in September 2022. Fletcher was a kindergarten teacher, wife and mother of two, and an avid runner. (Canale Funeral Directors; Liza Fletcher/Instagram)

Shelby County Judge Lee Coffee denied the request in January.

Abston has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and killing Fletcher, who was a kindergarten teacher, a wife and mother of two, and an avid runner.

A trial date has not yet been set.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Southeast

Georgia man fatally shoots ex-wife before shooting her new husband, himself at shopping plaza: Police

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A Georgia man allegedly shot and killed a woman, believed to be his ex-wife, before shooting her new husband and himself at a shopping plaza Saturday night, according to police.

A heavy police presence was observed at the Merchants Walk Plaza in Lilburn, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Lilburn Police said in a news release that the suspect, 62, entered the Tana Food Mart along Lawrenceville Highway with a pistol.

The suspect then shot and killed a 57-year-old woman and shot another 62-year-old man in the leg at around 6 p.m. The two victims reportedly worked at the store.

NEW EVIDENCE IN GEORGIA COUPLE’S KILLING REELED IN WHILE MAGNET FISHING IN CREEK

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A Georgia man allegedly shot and killed a woman, believed to be his ex-wife, before shooting her new husband and himself at a shopping plaza Saturday night. (Lilburn Police Department)

After shooting the couple, police said the suspect shot himself in the head.

The suspect and the male victim were transported to Northside Gwinnett Hospital for treatment.

Police said the suspect was listed in critical condition. The male victim was in stable condition.

GOV. BRIAN KEMP SIGNING A BILL TO MAKE SQUATTING A CRIME IN GEORGIA: ‘THIS IS INSANITY’

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Lilburn Police Department

After shooting the couple, police said the suspect shot himself in the head. (Lilburn Police Department)

None of the three people involved in the incident have been publicly identified by police, pending notification of family members.

Investigators said the shooting was a domestic violence incident. The woman is believed to be the ex-wife of the suspect, police said, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Police said preliminary information indicates the three were in an argument before the suspect allegedly shot the couple and himself, according to WXIA-TV.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Florida woman stabs man in wild Wawa rampage, before threatening employees and smashing computers: police

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A Florida woman went on a wild rampage at a Wawa location and allegedly stabbed a man with a large knife before committing other crimes, police said.

Christina Marie Crane, 37, was charged with attempted felony murder, criminal mischief and aggravated assault, according to FOX 13 Tampa. She was also charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The Pinellas Park Police Department told FOX 13 that the incident took place at a Wawa on Gandy Boulevard at around 10 p.m. Friday night.

Authorities believe that the suspect was under the influence at the time and in a state of “excited delirium” when she entered the store.

FLORIDA TEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY POINTING LASER AT SHERIFF’S HELICOPTER: ‘HE’S BLINDING OUR PILOT’

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Christina Marie Crane, 37, was charged with attempted felony murder and criminal mischief, among other charges. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department)

Crane allegedly took a fixed blade knife from the deli and stabbed a man with it, causing him to bleed. He suffered a minor abrasion in his left hand.

After leaving the Wawa, authorities said the suspect went inside an office and raised the knife over a female employee’s head. She reportedly told the office worker, “I will kill you.”

FORMER GOP CONGRESSMAN CRASHES INTO FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL VEHICLE IN ALLEGED ROAD RAGE INCIDENT: REPORT

Pinellas Park Wawa exteriors

The stabbing incident took place at a Wawa on Gandy Blvd in Pinellas Park, Florida. (Google Maps)

Crane is also accused of swinging the knife that nearly struck another female office worker. She also reportedly smashed computer monitors in the office, causing what amounted to over $1,000 worth of property damage.

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Pinellas Park Police Department exteriors

Pinellas Park Police Department is actively investigating the situation. (Google Maps)

Fox News Digital reached out to Pinellas Park Police Department for more information about the case, but no new details were available.

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New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024 under way; Rolling Stones to headline next week

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It looks like the third time is the charm as the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival prepares, again, for The Rolling Stones to perform.

The festival, which spans two weekends, opened Thursday with dozens of acts playing daily on 14 stages spread throughout the historic Fair Grounds race course. The Stones play next Thursday, May 2, tickets for which have long been sold out.

In 2019, festival organizers thought they had landed the legendary rock band, but the appearance was canceled because lead singer Mick Jagger had heart surgery. They tried again in 2021, but a surge in COVID-19 cases ultimately forced the fest to cancel.

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Now, says festival producer Quint Davis, “It’s gonna be special.”

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This will be the first time the Stones play Jazz Fest.

Opening day acts include rock bands Widespread Panic and The Beach Boys, reggae artist Stephen Marley and jazz vocalist John Boutte.

“The talent is great, the weather is projected to be good and people’s expectations are going to be met,” Davis said.

Blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the 80s were forecast for opening day Thursday. Long lines of people were seen patiently waiting to buy big cups of iced tea, lemonade and coffee. Umbrellas, big hats and sunglasses were the accessories of the day.

Similar weather was expected for the rest of the first weekend, which runs through Sunday and showcases performances by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jon Batiste, country megastar Chris Stapleton, R&B singer Fantasia, rock band Heart, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw and The Cute Guys, jazz pianist Patrice Rushen, and blues and folk artist Ruthie Foster.

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FILE – Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs during a celebration for the release of their new album “Hackney Diamonds,” Oct. 19, 2023, in New York. The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival, which spans two weekends, was set to open Thursday, April 25, 2024, with dozens of acts big and small playing daily on 14 stages spread throughout the historic Fair Grounds race course. The Stones play next Thursday, May 2, and tickets for that day of music have long been sold out. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Walter Agnew of Round Lake, New York, said attending the festival had been on his bucket list since he retired from working at a chemical plant in 2020.

“COVID canceled my trip then but I finally made it here for the 2022 festival — and I came last year. This will be my third in a row,” he said.

Agnew said he’s looking forward to Stapleton’s performance on Saturday and Heart’s on Sunday — and of course The Rolling Stones next week but “you really can’t go wrong by any of the acts.”

“I’m just amazed at how they’re able to put all this entertainment together in one spot,” he said. “Of course it’s going to be good.”

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Ginger Schell, of New Orleans, is a regular Jazz Fest attendee. Asked why she continues to return, Schell said laughing, “It’s everything. It’s the music. It’s the food. It’s the music!”

She said she and her family won’t be able to see next week’s performance by The Stones, noting the tickets were out of her budget.

“But we generally don’t come for any one act in particular,” she said. “We just park our gear in a spot in front of the festival stage and wander throughout the grounds and look forward to being surprised.”

Anticipation for the Stones’ performance is palpable, Davis said.

“All I’m hearing is ‘How can I get a ticket?’” he said of fans trying to see the marquee performance. “Unfortunately for some, that day sold out in like a day-and-a-half after tickets went on sale. I think people have just waited so long for this.”

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The Rolling Stones in October released ” Hackney Diamonds,” their first album of original material since 2005 and their first without drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021. Though he hasn’t seen a set list, Davis said fans can expect to hear a mix of greatest hits and new releases. No special guests are expected to perform with the Rolling Stones, but Davis said “never say never.”

“Just expect euphoria,” he said laughing. “I think maybe we’re going to need some ambulances on site because people are going to spontaneously combust from the excitement. And, they’re playing in a daylight event. They’re gonna be able to make eye contact with the audience. That’s going to create a really special bond.”

Acts on the festival’s 14 stages usually play simultaneously beginning when gates open at 11 a.m. and continuing until the music ends at 7 p.m. But the other stages will shut down next week when the Stones take the stage.

“We didn’t want to have 13 empty stages and no people in front of them when the Stones start singing favorites like ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash,’” Davis said. “Everyone who bought a ticket for that day primarily bought one to see The Stones.”

Davis said tickets for the festival’s other days remain available and can be purchased online through their website.

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Much of Jazz Fest celebrates the Indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana but the music encompasses nearly every style imaginable: blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, contemporary and traditional jazz, country, bluegrass and everything in between.

Colombia’s rhythms, from music to dance and food, also will be highlighted this year as part of the festival’s cultural exchange. Close to 200 Colombian artists are scheduled to participate, including headliners Bomba Estéreo on Saturday, ChocQuibTown’s lead singer Goyo in a guest appearance with local band ÌFÉ on Sunday, and salsa legends Grupo Niche closing the celebration on May 5.

And don’t forget the food. During the festival, food available on site includes crawfish bread, pecan catfish meuniere and catfish almondine, cochon de lait and turducken po-boys, boudin, crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, crawfish Monica and shrimp and grits.

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