Episode description

In September of 2022, a well-known Memphis mom, heiress, and kindergarten teacher disappeared during an early morning run. As police scrambled to find a trace of her, disturbing surveillance footage was collected showing her abduction just after 4am. But who was responsible, and why did the crime occur in the first place? This is the story of Eliza Fletcher.

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CASE SOURCES

1. Eliza's Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailymemphian/name/eliza-fletcher-obituary?id=36442652

2. Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/eliza-fletcher-memphis-kidnapping-cleotha-abston-b2160090.html

3. Court TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UddUcSr69Ps

4. Good Morning America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwWRde-B5J0

5. NBC: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/disturbing-details-emerge-death-jogger-eliza-fletcher-suspect-arraigne-rcna46628

6. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/09/07/look-into-cleotha-abstons-lengthy-juvenile-record/

7. ABC 24: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/cleotha-abston-mario-eliza-fletcher-missing-jogger-found-dead-tennessee-death-penaltymissing-jogger-body-found/522-405a9666-5526-4b78-b151-ffba037b8d8a

8. Nancy Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn5dneZGMfY

9. WREG: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/what-we-know-about-kidnapping-suspect-cleotha-abston/

10. Memphis Magazine: https://memphismagazine.com/style/a-memorable-memphis-wedding/

11. WREG: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/eliza-fletchers-family-breaks-silence-after-memphis-teachers-body-found/

12. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2018/03/14/memphis-joseph-joe-orgill-iii-died-dead/425062002/

13. The U.S. Sun: https://www.the-sun.com/news/6163498/eliza-fletcher-posts-true-crime-suspect-cleotha-abston/

14. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/09/05/new-charges-face-cleotha-abston-ahead-first-hearing/

15. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/courts/2023/07/06/shelby-county-seeks-death-penalty-for-cleotha-abston-henderson/70387194007/

16. News 3: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/suspect-charged-in-eliza-fletcher-abduction/

17. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/07/eliza-fletcher-news-murder-charges-cleotha-abston/8009665001/

18. People: https://people.com/crime/eliza-fletcher-cause-death-revealed-after-tenn-teachers-body-found-following-abduction/

19. CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/09/us/memphis-teacher-eliza-fletcher-killed-friday/index.html

20. Local Memphis: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/eliza-fletcher-murder-suspect-cleotha-abston-new-attorneys/522-ea7ada0f-97f7-43cd-b334-0069f114e05f

21. Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11227555/Accused-Memphis-killer-Cleotha-Abstons-mother-insists-railroaded.html#comments

22. Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/court-of-criminal-appeals/2018/w2017-01570-cca-r3-pc.html

23. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/07/17/judge-maintains-decision-alicia-franklin-lawsuit/

24. Local Memphis: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/decision-lawsuit-against-city-of-memphis-eliza-fletcher-alicia-franklin/522-820f89c4-ece7-4947-8a12-a44aa66bf569