Slain Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher remembered in obituary as a 'light to all who knew her'
Eliza Fletcher was jogging in the early morning when she was abducted. Memphis police announce they have located and positively identified Eliza Fletcher's body.
Coverage for this event has ended.
Matt Symons for Fox News Digital
Over a thousand people showed up Friday morning for a walk/run to remember murdered school teacher Eliza Fletcher. People congregated at Memphis’s second Presbyterian church to walk 4 miles in memory of Eliza’s name. Many of the walkers could be seen wearing shirts with the logo “Finish Liza’s Run”. Liza was abducted and murdered last week by Cleotha Henderson. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
The exterior of the Canale Funeral Directors building in Memphis, Tennessee, where Eliza Fletcher's family made arrangements on September 7, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Image captured exclusively by Fox News Digital show Mario Abston, the brother of accused kidnapper and killer Cleotha Henderson, in court on Sept. 8, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Image captured exclusively by Fox News Digital show Mario Abston, the brother of accused kidnapper and killer Cleotha Henderson, in court on Sept. 8, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Eliza Fletcher's father, James Beasley Wellford, along with other family members arrives to the Canale Funeral Directors building in Memphis, Tennessee, September 7, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
The family of slain Memphis teacher Eliza "Liza" Fletcher has announced details of her funeral service days after she was attacked, abducted and killed on her morning jog near the University of Memphis.
"Above all else, Liza’s most cherished role was that of wife and mother," according to the obituary shared by Canale Funderal Directors, where her parents made arrangements Wednesday. "After meeting at Second Presbyterian Church, she married her beloved husband, She loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. Together as a family, they enjoyed outdoor adventures including boating, water sports, hiking, running, and biking. She was deeply admired by her family and friends for her passionate dedication to motherhood."
The teacher and mother of two was remembered as "a born athlete," and as an avid runner, she had qualified for the Boston Marathon. "She channeled her competitive nature into enthusiastic participation in all that she undertook."
Her funeral will be held at Second Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Fox News Digital captured exclusive images of the grieving family outside the Canale Funeral Directors building.
Photo shows a selfie taken by Eliza "Liza" Fletcher (Liza Fletcher/Instagram)
Eliza Fletcher, the Memphis teacher who was violently abducted and murdered while jogging early Friday morning, is remembered in an obituary on Thursday as a "strong believer in the importance of personal growth" who "was not afraid to be vulnerable."
"A born athlete, Liza's passion for sports extended from childhood teams to collegiate competition to excellence in marathons in adulthood," the obituary states. "She found great joy in her morning runs with friends. She channeled her competitive nature into enthusiastic participation in all that she undertook."
Fletcher is described as someone who "modeled the Christian life and trusted in her unwavering faith."
"Liza was a light to all who knew her," the obituary states. "Her contagious smile and laughter could brighten any room. Liza was pure of heart and innocent in ways that made her see the very best in everyone she met. To know her was to love her and to be loved by her."
The page adds: "Her impact is extraordinary, as is witnessed in the prayer groups, vigils held at the homes of friends and family, church and school gatherings, and memorial runs and walks held in her honor. The outpouring of love and grief would have surprised Liza, who never thought or acted as if she were something special – though she certainly was."
A funeral service is scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 10th at 10 a.m. local time, at the Second Presbyterian Church.
"Above all else, Liza's most cherished role was that of wife and mother," the obituary continues. "She loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. Together as a family, they enjoyed outdoor adventures including boating, water sports, hiking, running, and biking. She was deeply admired by her family and friends for her passionate dedication to motherhood.
Fletcher's family has asked that any memorials be made in the form of contributions to the Liza Wellford Fletcher Memorial Fund at St. Mary's Episcopal School, Christ Methodist Day School, and Second Presbyterian Church.
Mugshot photo showing Mario Abston, brother of Cleotha Henderson (Shelby County Sheriff's Office)
Cleotha Henderson's brother, Mario Abston, appeared in court on Thursday around the same time as Cleotha.
Abston's charges were unrelated to his brother's alleged kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher, according to authorities.
The Memphis Police Department said earlier this week that 36-year-old Abston was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture and sell fentanyl, possession with intent to manufacture and sell heroin and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
Records show he is being held on $45,000 bond.
Just hours after Eliza Fletcher's violent abduction, Cleotha Henderson allegedly showed up at his brother’s home, where a woman saw him "cleaning the interior of the GMC Terrain with floor cleaner and … behaving oddly," the affidavit states.
Mario Abston also told police he saw Henderson cleaning the inside of his car, and both witnesses saw him "washing his clothes in the sink of the house," the document further states.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz is reporting from Memphis, Tennessee.
Judge Louis J. Montesi Jr., rules that Jennifer Case can proceed as Henderson's public defender, despite Case's concern that there was a conflict of interest.
The conflict, she unsuccessfully argues, was that her office had represented Henderson in a criminal matter in the early 2000s.
Case also requests a gag order in the case, noting in making her argument that Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis had called her client a "dangerous predator." Prosecutors argue the public should continue to be informed about this case.
Henderson will be back in court on September 19. Henderson will remain held without bond in the meantime.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz is reporting from inside the courtroom.
Cleotha Henderson in court on September 8, 2022. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
Much like the previous days, Henderson is wearing a dark face mask, a green jail-issued jumpsuit and a white undershirt. He was not handcuffed.
He remains silent and slouched and, at times, leans against the railing that separates him from the rest of the courtroom.
Fox News senior correspondent Laura Ingle reports on the tragic outcome in the abduction of Memphis mother and teacher Eliza Fletcher and the trial of murder suspect Cleotha Henderson.
Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping and killing young Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher, is due back in court on Thursday at 9 a.m. local time, 10 a.m. ET.
Abston, 38, already appeared in a Shelby County, Tennessee, court on Wednesday. Judge Louis Montesi ordered Abston held without bond and revoked his previous bond of $510,000.
Memphis moms are on edge after two mothers were abducted last week, including deceased kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher and an unidentified mother who was kidnaped from a Target in broad daylight and released just a day before Fletcher disappeared.
And their fears are not unique to Memphis; these stories have put mothers on high alert across the nation.
The Memphis Mom Collective will 4 a.m. at 2nd Presbyterian in Memphis to honor the memory of Eliza Fletcher.
The group is asking participants to bring a candle and "Be Liza's Lights."
Memphis murder suspect Cleotha Henderson served roughly 20 years of a 24-year sentence in state prison after the May 2000 abduction and robbery of the attorney Kemper Durand – but he was never granted parole, according to authorities and court records.
Henderson's sentencing documents noted that the court ordered him to serve "100%" of his 24-year sentence due to his violent criminal past under the Sentence Reform Act of 1989. His juvenile rap sheet already included five charges of aggravated assault, a rape charge after he turned 14, and the gunpoint kidnapping of Durand when he was 16.
Liza Fletcher in an undated selfie (Liza Fletcher/Instagram)
Memphis has ranked among the most violent cities in the United States for years, and the Eliza Fletcher abduction and murder case is shining a light on the city's crime woes.
Fletcher, a kindergarten teacher and mother of two, was kidnaped last week while running near the University of Memphis, forced into a van, and murdered in a seemingly random act. The suspected perpetrator, Cleotha Abston Henderson, served about 20 years of a 24-year sentence for kidnapping another victim at gunpoint before he was released in 2020.
"To lose someone so young and vital is a tragedy, but to have it result from a senseless act of violence is unimaginable," Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy said in a Tuesday tweet. "…Any murder is a tragedy. Any murder in our jurisdiction is high priority. All deserve our care and best efforts. This one has triggered an extraordinary outpouring of public concern which motivates this message."
Left: Eliza Fletcher in a photo released by Memphis Police. Right: Cleotha Abston appears in court for his arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. (Memphis Police Department, Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)
Pat Diaz, a retired homicide detective, told Fox News Digital he felt investigators did a “great job” handling the search and arrest of Cleotha Abston. He also pointed to “aggravating factors” related to the case.
“Definitely, this is a death penalty case,” said Diaz, who served in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for 26 years. “The abduction, the sexual battery – his past criminal history, remember he abducted [Durand], put him in the trunk of the car.”
“The only mitigating factor…they're gonna say that he had a terrible upbringing. He was involved in crime since age 11,” said Diaz, who is now a private investigator.
He lauded the work of local and federal law enforcement officers involved in the search for Fletcher and her killer.
Tennessee policy allows for executions, though such measures are rarely carried out.
Murder suspect Cleotha Henderson appears in court at Shelby County Criminal Justice Center in Memphis, Tennessee, Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
FIRST ON FOX -- Cleotha Henderson, the 38-year-old murder suspect, received a medical evaluation on Wednesday after his morning court appearance, a Shelby County jail employee told Fox News Digital. A sheriff's office spokesperson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for information regarding the evaluation.
Henderson was ordered held without bond during his Wednesday morning hearing on the most serious charges against him, including first-degree murder.
Henderson is due back in court on Thursday morning. He asked Judge Louis Montesi on Wednesday to use his paternal surname, Henderson, in court proceedings.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz is reporting from Memphis, Tennessee.
Eliza Fletcher, a Memphis kindergarten teacher and 34-year-old mother known as Liza to her loved ones, was abducted Friday while she was out for an early morning run.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) held a press conference Tuesday to address the suspect, who has now been charged with first degree murder, and the status of the case.
Click here to see a timeline of events surrounding her disappearance.
Murder suspect Cleotha Abston appears in court at Shelby County Criminal Justice Center in Memphis Tennessee, Wednesday, September 7, 2022. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping and killing young Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher, was back in court on Wednesday, when he was ordered held without bond related to the most serious charges.
Abston, 38, appeared in a Tennessee court for a 10 a.m. ET arraignment on charges of first-degree murder, premeditated murder and murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
He wore a green-colored, jail-issued jumpsuit, a white undershirt, a face mask and handcuffs, with his hands behind his back. He largely looked straight ahead with squared shoulders throughout the appearance. His attorney could be seen speaking with him at length before Wednesday's arraignment began.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz reported from inside the courtroom.
Cleotha Abston speaking to his attorney in court on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 (Michael Ruiz for Fox News Digital)
Abston, 38, appeared in a Tennessee court for a morning arraignment on charges of first-degree murder, premeditated murder and murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
He wore a green-colored, jail-issued jumpsuit, a white undershirt, a face mask and handcuffs, with his hands behind his back. He largely stared straight ahead with squared shoulders throughout the appearance.
His attorney could be seen speaking with him at length before Wednesday's arraignment began.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz is reporting from inside the courtroom.
Former Assistant District Attorney Philip Holloway breaks down the Eliza Fletcher case and how the trial will likely play out.
Fox News correspondent Laura Ingle reports the latest on the case of 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher, whose body was discovered in Memphis, Tennessee.
Fox Nation host Nancy Grace argues police have apprehended the correct suspect based on evidence provided and his previous convictions.
Fox Nation's Nancy Grace compares the details of Eliza Fletcher's case and the suspect's previous victim.
Cleotha Abston appears before a judge in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)
The Memphis felon accused of kidnapping and killing a local mother of two is due back in court Wednesday morning on more charges in connection with the Labor Day Weekend attack.
Cleotha Abston-Henderson, 38, is accused of abducting 34-year-old teacher Eliza Fletcher from her early morning jog near the University of Memphis on Friday, Sept. 2.
Mario Abston, the brother of suspect Cleotha Abston charged with the murder of Eliza Fletcher, is expected to make a court appearance Thursday on gun and drug related charges after investigators conducted a search warrant at his apartment on S. Orleans St. in Memphis on Saturday.
The affidavit charges Mario Abston with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, delivery or sell heroin and fentanyl.
Investigators conducted a search warrant at the home of Mario Abston on Saturday where they recovered a semi-automatic handgun loaded with 18 rounds of live ammunition, a scale and substances packaged in plastic later determined to be 2.3 grams of heroin and 27 grams of fentanyl, the affidavit says.
The affidavit notes that Mario Abston was convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon on June 26, 2007. Fox News Digital learned that in 2017, he was also charged with domestic violence for allegedly punching a girlfriend in the face as she sat in her car, but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence even though police photographed her injuries.
He also had a slew of other drug dealing charges. In one case, a convenience store owner called police on him for loitering, and he was accused of dealing outside.
Cleotha Abston, who has been charged with murder in the death of Eliza Fletcher, was seen cleaning his vehicle in surveillance video obtained by WREG.
A new surveillance video shows kidnapping and murder suspect Cleotha Abston cleaning the vehicle believed to be used in the abduction of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher.
The video obtained by WREG appears to show Abston entering the Longview Garden apartments, where his brother lives, around 7:57 a.m. Friday morning.
After briefly entering the apartment complex, the video appears to show Abston returning to the complex’s parking lot and hovering near the passenger side of the vehicle for more than an hour.
A witness said they saw Abston extensively clean the vehicle, court documents said.
The recorded incident took place about three hours after Fletcher was taken during an early morning jog near the University of Memphis. Police found her body in an abandoned house Monday evening, located several blocks from the apartment complex.
Cleotha Abston-Henderson, the 38-year-old Memphis, Tennessee, man accused in the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher, a teacher and mother of two, was only 16 when he began a 20-year prison term for kidnapping another victim at gunpoint.
Abston’s criminal past began when he was even younger, with charges that included aggravated assault and rape. He told investigators that he dropped out of school after ninth grade, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, but they found no evidence that he’d attended hist stated high school at all.
The rear of a vacant duplex apartment in Memphis where Eliza Fletcher's body was found.
Tire tracks approaching an abandoned house at 1666 Victor St. in Memphis emitting an “odor of decay” helped investigators find the body of Eliza Fletcher Monday evening.
Authorities said Tuesday they discovered Fletcher’s remains around 5:07 p.m. in the “rear of a vacant duplex apartment” near where she was abducted last Friday.
The man accused of abducting and murdering Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher is not divulging information related to his alleged crimes, despite that he faces several murder-related charges for the young mother’s death, according to officials and records.
Officials revealed earlier in the day on Tuesday that they "have not gotten very much information" from the suspect, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston-Henderson.
As of Tuesday, Abston-Henderson had been charged with first-degree murder, premeditated murder and murder in perpetration of kidnappings, in addition to other counts that include aggravated kidnapping and tampering with/fabricating evidence.
Footage obtained by Matt Symon for Fox News Digital shows the abandoned property in Memphis, Tennessee, where the body of missing teacher Eliza Fletcher was found on Monday.
Police van outside the house where the body of Eliza Fletcher was found (Michael Ruiz for Fox News Digital)
Ted Williams, a former homicide detective-turned renowned attorney, weighed in on the tragic case involving the murder of young mother and kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher.
Officials revealed earlier in the day on Tuesday that they “have not gotten very much information" from the suspect, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston-Henderson.
Williams told Fox News Digital on Tuesday he suspects that investigators “won’t get him to talk – he will not talk.”
“He’s closed in his constitutional right, and that is the right to remain silent,” the Fox News contributor told Fox News Digital.
Williams noted that there is no known “offer on the table” and Abston-Henderson potentially faces the death penalty.
“It is highly unlikely that they are going to get him to talk at all,” he said. “That is not something that is unusual, so unless the authorities are willing to offer him something and apply his cooperation or they will not get him to talk there.”
Williams described how authorities are “in a strong position,” given that they have been able to place Abston-Henderson at the scene of the abduction through DNA and other evidence. They also know that he was reported to have been scrubbing a portion of his vehicle and cleaning his clothes.
“They don’t really need him,” he went on. “There are just so many other things that tie Abston-Henderson to that scene that there is no need to make a deal with him.”
He added that investigators have to be “very careful how they go about getting the information from Abston-Henderson … because once he tells them he doesn’t want to talk, that he doesn’t want to say anything, even after they advise him of his constitutional right, anything that they get from him after such a conversation could very well be inexcusable in a court of law.”
What questions would you, as a homicide investigator, want to ask the murder suspect?
"The surveillance cameras were able to pick this guy up 24 minutes before she jogged in that area. So, the question that really begs for an answer is: Had he been stalking her or did he know that this is the area in which she was gonna be jogging because he had seen her there before? Why was he in that area at that time?”
“It’s a question mark that any good investigator would want to know: What led him to that area at that time where Eliza Fletcher was jogging? Was this something that was random? Had he been stalking her? Had he seen her run through that area before? The other big question is, why was he, meaning Abston-Henderson, why was Abston-Henderson in that area at the time that Eliza Fletcher was jogging through that neighborhood.”
Police at the crime scene in the case of Eliza Fletcher (Michael Ruiz for Fox News Digital)
Memphis police and several other law enforcement agencies found "tire marks" and smelled an "odor of decay" during their search for the body of Eliza Fletcher on Monday evening.
A new affidavit released on Monday states that a law enforcement officer found the tire marks on the high grass and an odor of decay at 1666 Victor Street in Memphis, Tenn., which then led them to a rear driveway, where a body later identified as Eliza Fletcher was found.
Read more here.
Former D.C. homicide detective Ted Williams discusses the details of Eliza Fletcher's abduction following a Memphis police press briefing.
(Provided to Fox News Digital)
The family of young Memphis mom and teacher Eliza Fletcher has released the following statement to Fox News Digital:
“We are heartbroken and devastated by this senseless loss. Liza was a such a joy to so many - her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church congregation, and everyone who knew her.
"Now it’s time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her. We appreciate all the expressions of love and concern we have received. We are grateful beyond measure to local, state and federal law enforcement for their tireless efforts to find Liza and to bring justice to the person responsible for this horrible crime.
"We hope that everyone, including media representatives, understand the need for the family to grieve in privacy without outside intrusion during this painful time.”
Authorities have not announced an official cause of death for kindergarten teacher Eliza Fletcher who was attacked while on an early morning jog. Fox News' Charles Watson reports on new charges against suspect Cleotha Abston.
Memphis Police Department/ Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Memphis Police officials announce that they discovered the remains of a body later determined to be Eliza Fletcher at about 5:07 p.m. Monday in the "rear of a vacant duplex apartment" near the area where she was abducted.
Deputy Attorney General Steve Mulroy said officials had "no reason to think this was anything other than an isolated attack by a stranger."
Officials say it's too early to determine the place and method of Fletcher's death. A police department spokesperson would not comment when asked about any significance or connection between Abston-Henderson and the vacant building where Fletcher was found.
Accused killer Cleotha Abston-Henderson appeared before a judge around 10 a.m. ET Tuesday, when prosecutors said they had updated his charges to include first-degree murder, premeditated murder, and murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
He will be arraigned on Wednesday morning on the new charges. Investigators said they "have not gotten very much information" from the suspect.
"Any kind of violence, of course, is unacceptable, but repeat violent offenders deserve a particularly strong response," Mulroy said.
Fletcher's family asks that the public and the media "avoid intrusive questioning and respect their privacy."
Fox News' Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
READ MORE HERE: Eliza Fletcher kidnapping: Memphis heiress killed in suspected 'isolated attack by a stranger,' police say
Cleotha Abston appears before a judge in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has announced that his office will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday in light of the latest developments related to Eliza Fletcher's abduction and murder. He will be joined by representatives from the Memphis Police Department, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Accused killer Cleotha Abston-Henderson appeared before a judge around 10 a.m. ET Tuesday, when prosecutors said they had updated his charges to include murder, premeditated murder, and murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
The judge scheduled a second court date for Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. ET).
Fox News' Adam Sabes reported inside the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing.
Cleotha Abston appears before a judge in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)
Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering young Memphis mom Eliza Fletcher, appeared in court on Tuesday morning.
Abston, 38, wore a green jail-issued jumpsuit, a white undershirt and a face mask as he appeared before the judge.
A court-appointed attorney was enlisted to represent Abston.
During Tuesday's hearing, prosecutors announced additional charges of murder, premeditated murder, and murder in perpetration of kidnapping.
The judge scheduled a second court date for Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. ET).
Fox News' Adam Sabes reported inside the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing.
The body found near the Memphis crime scene late Sunday has been identified as missing teacher and young mother Eliza Fletcher, the Memphis Police Department confirmed.
Fletcher was abducted while she was running near the University of Memphis early Friday morning. Agents with the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Cleotha Abston, 38, on Saturday after matching his DNA to a pair of sandals found near the scene.
Abston was charged Tuesday morning with first-degree murder, in addition to his previous charges, records show. Abston was previously charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with/fabricating evidence. Late Sunday, officials added three more charges against Abston: identity theft, theft of property of $1,000 or less, and illegal possession of a credit or debit card of $1,000 or less, records show.
Bail was previously listed as being set at $500,000, but grew to $510,000 overnight. It was not immediately clear if the bail amount would increase further in light of the new charge.
Police officers outside the home of Mario Abston, Cleotha's brother. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping Memphis mom Eliza Fletcher, has now been charged with first-degree murder, in addition to his previous charges, records show.
Abston was previously charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with/fabricating evidence. Late Sunday, officials added three additional charges against Abston: identity theft, theft of property of $1,000 or less, and illegal possession of a credit or debit card of $1,000 or less, records show.
The murder charge was added on Tuesday morning.
Bail was previously listed as being set at $500,000, but grew to $510,000 overnight. It was not immediately clear if the bail amount would increase further in light of the new charge.
Liza Fletcher and kidnapping suspect Cleotha Abston (Memphis PD/TBI/Shelby County Jail)
Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping and tampering with evidence in connection with the Friday abduction of Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher, will appear in court for a 10 a.m. ET hearing.
Abston was previously charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with/fabricating evidence. Late Sunday, officials added three additional charges against Abston: identity theft, theft of property of $1,000 or less, and illegal possession of a credit or debit card of $1,000 or less, records show.
Bail was previously listed as being set at $500,000, but grew to $510,000 overnight.
Eliza Fletcher smiling in a photo with her two children
Eliza Fletcher, a 34-year-old Memphis mother of two who went by Liza, was snatched during an early morning jog Friday.
Investigators say that as the junior kindergarten teacher ran down a stretch of Central Avenue near the University of Memphis, she was "abducted and forced into a mid-sized, dark-colored SUV" at around 4:30 a.m.
Memphis Police tell Fox News Digital they received two calls around 7:45 a.m., one from Fletcher's husband Richard Fletcher III and one of the University.
They found some of her belongings at the scene and were told that a male approached Fletcher and forced her into a dark SUV after a struggle.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation later identified the vehicle as a GMC Terrain.She regularly jogged in the area, authorities said.
Fletcher is an avid runner who has qualified for the Boston Marathon.
A Memphis Magazine wedding announcement reveals Fletcher married her husband Richard on March 8, 2014 at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens on Park Avenue.
She is described as "outdoorsy, athletic and warm."
He has marked their anniversary on Instagram each year since, including with a series of selfies this year.
"[Eight] years in the making with this smoking hot babe," he wrote. "Wouldn’t want it any other way. Even if the stomach bug is running through our family!"
Fletcher’s parents declined to comment, and no one picked up the phone at the home she shares with her husband and two children.
Read more: Who is Eliza Fletcher? Memphis teacher abducted during morning jog
Eliza Fletcher running on the morning she was kidnapped in Memphis
Eliza Fletcher, a Memphis kindergarten teacher and 34-year-old mother known as Liza to her loved ones, was abducted Friday while she was out for an early morning run.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is still searching for Fletcher and a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her whereabouts.
Here's a timeline of events surrounding her disappearance:
Sept. 2 at 4 a.m.
Fletcher, an avid runner who has qualified for the Boston Marathon, goes for a run around 4 a.m. She takes her usual route near the University of Memphis, according to authorities.
While running down a stretch of Central Avenue around 4:20 a.m., she is "abducted and forced into" a dark-colored GMC Terrain.
According to an affidavit, investigators reviewed video surveillance from near 3876 Central Ave., which showed the GMC Terrain "passing and then waiting for the victim to run by."
Police say that a surveillance camera captured the same car in the area of the abduction 24 minutes before Eliza Fletcher was taken.
A male, later identified as Cleotha Abston, 38, then "ran aggressively" toward Fletcher and forced her into the passenger side of the SUV, court documents say.Police also said that there "appeared to be a struggle" when Fletcher was pulled into the car.
Court documents state that the GMC Terrain sat in a nearby parking lot for four minutes with Eliza Fletcher inside before driving off.
Sept. 2 at 6:45 a.m.
Court documents state that a resident was riding his bike on Central Avenue and "found the victim's cellphone as well as a pair of Champion slides sandals laying in the street in the same area."
The resident gave these items to one of Eliza Fletcher's family members, who then turned them over to the police.
The Champion slides sandals were sent to a lab for DNA testing by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Sept. 2 at 7:45 a.m.
MPD receive two phone calls — one from Fletcher's husband, Richard Fletcher III, who reported her missing after she did not come home from her run — and one from the University of Memphis.
Police find some of Fletcher's belongings at the scene on Central Avenue. They are also told that a male approached Fletcher and forced her into a dark SUV after a struggle.
Read more: Eliza Fletcher abduction: Timeline of the Memphis teacher's disappearance
Eliza Fletcher smiling in a split image with mug of suspect Cleotha Abston
Authorities say they have found a body near where Eliza Fletcher was abducted while jogging in Memphis last week.
The Memphis Police Department said officers in the 1600 block of Victor Street located a "deceased party" just after 5 p.m.
The identity of the body and the cause of death have not been confirmed at this point. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
Fox News observed between 15 and 20 police cars, including a mobile command center, on East Person Avenue and Victor Street. A helicopter was also spotted flying overhead. Police would not confirm if the heavy police presence was related to the Fletcher investigation.
Read more: Eliza Fletcher abduction: Body found near area of crime scene investigation
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