Key takeaways:
- Cleotha Abston has been charged with snatching Eliza Fletcher from a street near the University of Memphis and forcing her into an SUV.
- The Shelby County District Attorney has filed notice that prosecutors will seek the death penalty if Abston is convicted of first-degree murder.
- The case has been met with shock and outrage from the community, and the trial is expected to be a long and difficult process.
A Memphis, Tennessee man, Cleotha Abston, has been charged with snatching Eliza Fletcher from a street near the University of Memphis on September 2nd and forcing her into an SUV. Abston has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping.
On Thursday, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy filed notice with the court that prosecutors will seek the death penalty if Abston is convicted of first-degree murder. Judge Lee Coffee confirmed the filing.
Mulroy stated that according to state law, cases that are considered heinous, atrocious and cruel are eligible for the death penalty. Fletcher was a school teacher who was out for an early morning run when she was kidnapped and killed.
The trial is set to begin on November 18th. Abston is currently being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Abston if he is found guilty of the charges.
The case has been met with shock and outrage from the community, and many are hoping for justice for Fletcher and her family. The trial is expected to be a long and difficult process, but the prosecution is determined to seek the death penalty for Abston if he is found guilty.
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