BLOOD IN THE VEHICLE: Affidavit Reveals Grim Details

Disturbing new details are emerging in the ”violent” abduction of  Eliza Fletcher.

A copy of the affidavit obtained by KWAM reveals the runner’s last moments caught on camera were violent.

“As the abduction was violent with, as captured on video, the suspect waiting for, then rushing toward the victim, then forcing the victim into the vehicle, where she was confined and removed and continues to be missing, it is believed and supported by the facts and physical evidence that she suffered serious injury. Further, it is probable and apparent from witness statements that these injuries left evidence, e.g. blood, in the vehicle that the Defendant cleaned.

NOW: The dumpster outside the home investigators say #CleothaAbston went to hours after abducting #ElizaFletcher is being towed away.

Per the affidavit, Abston came to his brother’s apartment to wash his clothes in the sink & clean the interior of his SUV. @3onyourside pic.twitter.com/4UT2Y3f09y

— Bria Jones (@BriaJonesTV) September 4, 2022

On Friday, September 02, 2022, at approximately 7:00 A.M, Memphis Police officers responded to a missing person in the 1500 block of Carr Avenue. Richard Fletcher advised that his wife, Eliza Fletcher, went for her regular run around 4:00 A.M and had not returned home.

She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, purple shorts and running shoes. At approximately, 6:45 A.M, citizen Miles Fortas rode his bike on Central Avenue near Zach H. Curlin Street and found the victim’s cellphone as well as a pair of Champion slides sandals laying in the street in the same area. Fortas turned these items over to a family member of the victim who, in turn, turned them over to investigators.

Thereafter, investigators located video surveillance near 3876 Central Avenue thatshowed a black GMC Terrain passing and then waiting for the victim to run by. A male exited the black GMC Terrain, ran aggressively toward the victim, and then force the victim Eliza Fletcher into the passenger’s side of the vehicle. During this abduction, there appeared to be a struggle.

The Champion slides sandals were found in this area. The vehicle then sat in theparking lot with the victim inside for approximately four minutes before it drove off. The vehicle had noticeable damage to the back-passenger taillight area. Additionally, approximately twenty-four minutes before the abduction surveillance footage captured the same vehicle in the area and captured a partial plate of On Friday, September 2, 2022, the Champion slides sandals were sent to TB1 for DNA testing.

Thereafter, investigators developed Cleotha Abston (Henderson) as a person of interest in the investigation. DNA found on the shoes matched DNA for CleothaAbston (Henderson) in the CODIS database. This led investigators to seek to confirm the whereabouts of Cleotha Abston (Henderson) before, during, and after the abduction. Investigators were able to recover surveillance footage of Cleotha Abston (Henderson) wearing the same Champion slides sandals a day before the abduction. This footage was obtained from the 1080 North Germantown Parkway (Malco Theatre) and was collected by. Sergeant Dobbins. Cleotha Abston (Henderson) was found to reside in the 5700 block of Waterstone Oak Way. This location has active utilities in the name of Gwendolyn Brown.

Researching law enforcement databases revealed that Gwendolyn Brown has a black 2013 GMC Terrain with license plate BDX 7952 (2GKALMEK9D6261285) that is registered to her. Investigators also located a police report dated 09/01/2022, (2209000449ME) that listed the address in the 5700 block of Watersione Oak Way for Cleotha Abston (Henderson). Sergeant Payne and Sergeant Barrett then interviewed the owner of Majesty’s Cleaning Service, Marilyn Pickens, who verified that she employed Cleotha Abston (Henderson), that he drives the GMC Terrain, and that his telephone number was 901-825-2028. Investigators obtainedcellular phone records for 901-825-2028, and analysis determined that the cellular device associated with the number 901-825-2028, was near 3876 Central Avenue during the time Eliza

Fletcher was seen being forced into the black GMC Terrain. On September 3, 2022, at approximately 10:45 A.M., the 2013 GMC Terrain with license plate BDX 7952(2GKALMEK9D6261285) was located by members of the U.S Marshals Service-Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force. The vehicle was backed into a parking spot in the parking lot area in the 5700 block of Waterstone Oak Way and was confumed to be the vehicle by the license plate number and by the noticeable damage to the rear passenger-side taillight. This damage was captured in the video of the abduction and the partial plate identification on surveillance footage. Further, members of the U.S Marshals Service-Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force observed a male subject matching the physical description of CleothaAbston (Henderson) standing in the doorway in the 5700 block of Waterstone Oak Way.

Officers then detained Cleotha Abston (Henderson) at this location while he occupied the GMC Terrain. When officers stopped Cleotha Abston (Henderson), he attempted to flee but was taken into custody. Investigators interviewed Shantel Anthony and she stated that after the abduction at approximately 0750 hours she saw Cleotha Abston (Henderson) at the home of Mario Abston, in the 1700 block of S Orleans Street. This is not the house that Cleotha Abston(Henderson) lives. She stated that she saw Cleotha Abston (Henderson) cleaning the interior of the GMC Terrain with floor cleaner and stated that he was behaving oddly. This was later confirmed by Mario Abston, Cleotha Abston’s (Henderson’s) brother, who stated that he too saw Cleotha Abston (Henderson) cleaning the interior of the car with floor cleaner. Shantel

Anthony and Mario Abston saw Cleotha Abston (Henderson) washing his clothes in the sink of the house. He stated that it appeared Cleotha Abston (Henderson) was acting very strange. Cleotha Abston (Henderson) declined to provide investigators with the location of the victim.

As the abduction was violent with, as captured on video, the suspect waiting for, then rushing toward the victim, then forcing the victim into the vehicle, where she was confined and removed and continues to be missing, it is believed and supported by the facts

Police say they have formally charged Cleotha Abston, 38, with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Abston had been picked up by police on Saturday.

A second individual, currently not believed to be connected to Fletcher’s abduction, was also arrested during this investigation. Mario Abston, 36, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture and Sell Fentanyl, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Manufacture and Sell Heroin, and Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.