Arrest Made In Disappearance Of Memphis Teacher Who Went Missing While Jogging

Memphis Police have arrested a 38-year-old man and charged him with kidnapping teacher Eliza Fletcher, who has still not been found.

Cleotha “Pookie” Abston has spent a lot of time in prison and was arrested a day after investigators revealed they had located a “vehicle of interest” in the abduction of Fletcher, 34, a married mom of two boys.

Fletcher’s grandfather was a wealthy philanthropist, The Daily Beast reported.

Fletcher was jogging near the University of Memphis around 4:30 am Friday when assailants abducted her into a Black SUV and drove off.

Abston, 38, was charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence and is held at the Shelby County Jail.

He has a lengthy criminal history. In 2001, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping a local attorney and forcing him to withdraw money from an ATM and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Memphis Flyer reported. State prison records confirm he was released in 2020.

Police said they arrested a second person, said to be a relative of Abston, but they do not believe he is connected to Fletcher’s abduction.

Mario Abston, 36, was hit with gun and drug charges.

“Eliza Fletcher has not been located at this time. MPD Investigators and officers, along with our local and federal partners, continue searching for Mrs. Fletcher,” Memphis cops said.

Fletcher’s family has offered a $50,000 reward for her safe return. Her grandfather ran Orgill, the hardware supply giant started by his family that is now worth over $3.2 billion.