Found Deceased TN - Eliza "Liza" Fletcher Abducted While Jogging Near University of Memphis #2

[steeltowngirl]

In Tennessee, especially aggravated kidnapping requires that at least one of the following be true:
+ Victim under 13
+ Deadly weapon used (or victim would have reasonably believed so)
+ Kidnapping for the purpose of ransom or hostage
+ Serious bodily injury

I have been speculating that a weapon (likely a gun) \was used to get Liza into the attacker’s car. She’s clearly fit and strong, and I presume as a distance runner she’s familiarized herself with safety practices if she regularly trains in the pre-dawn hours. But a weapon is another story. And we know that CA’s brother/cousin/relative was arrested with a gun, so presumably CA had access to guns.

2019 Tennessee Code :: Title 39 - Criminal Offenses :: Chapter 13 - Offenses Against Person :: Part 3 - Kidnapping and False Imprisonment :: § 39-13-305. Especially aggravated kidnapping.

Justia Free Databases of US Laws, Codes & Statutes

law.justia.com

Might LE also have early evidence that he planned to hold EF hostage for ransom? As other posters have stated, it could have been a random abduction, but EF’s family background points to money. Does CA have some connection to this family? What is up with the garden shears? Has he been to the Fletcher home in the past to do work?

jmo

 

[sun16]

I am wondering if Pookie, after doing 20 years, was hooked up with a social program that finds convicted felons gainful employment (hence the mug shot haircut, much changed from his FB pix). Maybe he did yard work for the F family, thus explaining LE taking the the garden shears (for fingerprints?). One such initiative: Programs — LifeLine to Success

An interesting thought!

 

[Stormy415]

I’m wondering could he have been the gardener and knew her routine?

Praying that he talks. I feel so bad for the family, especially her two little boys.

 

[sun16]

On second thought, IMO I do not believe “Pookie” would take a job as a landscaper.

 

[Medstudies]

Im afraid this seems to be a sexual assault.
Surely the perp didn't think a jogger carried a bank card?
Or he somehow knew about the family fortune??
Or there is still another twist.

What a terrible shame.
Instead of appreciating the 2nd chance of life outside prison, he did it again.

But I still hope for a positive outcome.
Naively, I guess.

If he noticed her phone he wouldn’t necessarily need to worry about a bank card.

https://money.usnews.com/banking/articles/use-your-phone-at-the-atm-instead-of-a-card

Maybe not everyone has their bank cards in their e-wallet, but he may have counted on it. Or just a forced Venmo transfer… (which would be stupid, but that’s not really a question up for debate anyway )

 

[Dotta]

If he noticed her phone he wouldn’t necessarily need to worry about a bank card.

Maybe not everyone has their bank cards in their e-wallet, but he may have counted on it. Or just a forced Venmo transfer… (which would be stupid, but that’s not really a question up for debate anyway )

True
But her phone was found smashed in the street at the place of abduction.

Would he have time to make a quick transfer?

I have no idea.

 

[MsBetsy]

I am wondering if Pookie, after doing 20 years, was hooked up with a social program that finds convicted felons gainful employment (hence the mug shot haircut, much changed from his FB pix). Maybe he did yard work for the F family, thus explaining LE taking the the garden shears (for fingerprints?). One such initiative: Programs — LifeLine to Success

That would explain how LE was able to get a warrant so quickly and took the garden sheers and the car. He may have ridden in the vehicle.

Also, the family seemed to know something. They looked shocked and grief stricken from the start, as if they expected the worst. It would be horrible if someone they knew and trusted committed this crime.

 

[Medstudies]

Yep. Pretty much negates robbery as the motive. Or it was the initial motive- and something sent the evil scheme sideways.

Edit: typo

 

[Periwinkl3]

That would explain how LE was able to get a warrant so quickly and took the garden sheers and the car. He may have ridden in the vehicle.

Also, the family seemed to know something. They looked shocked and grief stricken from the start, as if they expected the worst. It would be horrible if someone they knew and trusted committed this crime.

Yes. They would have been able to match his fingerprints on the shears to those in his arrest records.

 

[Charlot123]

View attachment 364007

https://twitter.com/x/status/1566400968245366784

Cleotha Abston charged in Eliza Fletcher abduction in Memphis

UPDATE, TUESDAY: Police identify Eliza Fletcher’s body; Abston charged with murder UPDATE: Cleotha Abston is now facing additional charges of identity theft, theft of property $1000 or less, and fr…

wreg.com

Why was he released in 2020? He got 24 years without parole, should have been 2024. COVID?

 

[Knitty]

MOD NOTE:

The second person arrested at the same time as the POI in this case is OFF TOPIC to this case unless/until law enforcement announces they are involved in THIS case. Timeouts and thread bans will be issued for members who discuss this person.

This thread is dedicated to discussion of Eliza's specific case and facts related directly to her case. It is NOT for the broader, overall discussion of violence against women.

Violence against women is a vast public / social justice issue that is not peculiar to this case. WS has hundreds, if not thousands, of cases that have involved such violence. If you wish to discuss the topic in general, I'm sure you'll find a thread you can contribute to. Just do a 'title' search using the word 'violence' and have a look around. You will find many WS threads and resources related to violence in general.

 

[riolove77]

Why was he released in 2020? COVID?

I think his sentence was done, or if not, it was close enough that he was eligible for the ridiculous covid early releases that many prisons did.

 

[blazelet]

Question for those who follow these cases regularly - what's the likelihood of a perp being arrested and the victim being found alive after the fact? Are there examples of that happening? If so, what were the circumstances in other cases?

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Shelby County Jail Look up:
Inmate Lookup Tool

Cleotha Dewayne Abston “Pookie”
Date: 9/4/2022
Booking: 22112839
Permanent ID: 292718
DOB: 11/27/83
ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING, Code 21265
TAMPERING WITH/FABRICATING EVIDENCE, Code 21137

 

[bestill]

If that is his facebook then he obviously could post from prison. I didn't think that prisoners had access to the internet. JMO

 

[PNW]

Why was he released in 2020? He got 24 years without parole, should have been 2024. COVID?

He had to serve 85% of his time.

 

[Skigirl]

Question for those who follow these cases regularly - what's the likelihood of a perp being arrested and the victim being found alive after the fact? Are there examples of that happening? If so, what were the circumstances in other cases?

My observation is that a stranger abduction that involves keeping the victim alive for more than a couple hours, if that, is very rare (though when it happens, it gets a lot of media attention). Usually, when people are killed by a stranger and there is more than one crime scene (i.e., an abduction in one place followed by a murder in another), the murder takes place very quickly after the abduction, usually without even going to another inside location.

So, in other words, finding the victim alive after the fact is a very rare event; in a case in which the perp is found hours after the fact, and the victim is not in the presence of the perp, the victim is already gone.

I don't have stats or a link, it's just what I've observed in watching lots of cases unfold over the years, so this is MOO.

 

[Gae]

On second thought, IMO I do not believe “Pookie” would take a job as a landscaper.

I agree, but maybe he took jobs like this as a means to scout out potential future theft/robberies?

 

[bestill]

Assuming the car he was driving was his and not stolen since he wasn't charged with that. His digital footprint is going to lead them to Liza. I hope soon for her families sake. JMO

 

[balharbour]

does anyone know if this has been substantiated? ......did they find Eliza's clothing in a dumpster?