Eliza Fletcher abduction: Memphis judge sets bond for man charged in relation to kidnapping

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis judge has set the bond for the 38-year-old man who is charged in relation to the abduction of Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two who was pulled into a car during an early morning run.

Cleotha Abston had his bond set at $500,000 on Sunday, meaning he’d need to post $50,000 in order to be released from jail. He is being charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering.

He was taken into custody by law enforcement officers on Saturday after he was spotted by U.S. Marshals at 10:45 a.m.

An affidavit for Cleotha Abston states that two witnesses, including Abston’s brother, Mario, told police that they saw the suspect cleaning the interior of a GMC Terrain, which was named a “vehicle of interest” by police.

ELIZA FLETCHER ABDUCTION: SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY CLEANED ‘VEHICLE OF INTEREST’ PRIOR TO ARREST, POLICE SAY

The two also stated that they saw Cleotha Abston cleaning “washing his clothes in the sink of the house,” adding that he was acting “strange,” according to the affidavit.

Eliza Fletcher went missing on Friday morning at 4:30 a.m. at the 3800 Block of Central Ave. in Memphis, Tennessee and was forcefully taken into a GMC Terrain, according to police, who say that there was a struggle.

Video surveillance in the area of the abduction allegedly shows the GMC Terrain “passing and then waiting for the victim to run by,” before Cleotha Abston ran “aggressively toward the victim.” 

She was reported missing at around 7:45 a.m. on Friday when police received two calls, one from Fletcher’s husband, Richard Fletcher III, and one from the University of Memphis.

ABDUCTED ELIZA FLETCHER: MEMPHIS POLICE SAY ‘VEHICLE OF INTEREST’ LOCATED, MALE DETAINED, ELIZA STILL MISSING

Court documents state that the GMC Terrain was in a nearby parking lot with the victim inside for four minutes before driving off. Police were able to match Cleotha Abston to the crime by using DNA evidence that was collected from a pair of Champion slides sandals that were left in the area of the crime scene.

Police also say that Eliza Fletcher “suffered serious injury” and “left evidence, e.g., blood, in the vehicle that the Defendant cleaned.”

Cleotha Abston is due to appear in court on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Law enforcement officials were seen throughout Memphis on Sunday, and conducted searches at “various” locations, according to a Memphis Police Department spokesperson.

People with information in relation to the abduction are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.