It was not unusual to see Eliza Fletcher running through the University of Memphis campus. The route was a usual path for the smiling, radiant schoolteacher, known to her friends and family as “Liza”.

Last Friday in the predawn hours, Fletcher’s morning routine went terribly wrong.

And now she is missing. A suspect who police say was tracked down after her abduction is in custody, and the mystery of what happened to the mother of two remains unsettling.

Fletcher’s disappearance has had the city on alert for days. Prayers from fellow church members. Hopeful, optimistic thoughts from the public. Attention from people across the Mid-South. Even drawing stories on the national news — a young mother violently snatched from her early-morning run before a busy day of family and work.

Fletcher was abducted about 4:30 a.m. as she passed Central Avenue and Zach H. Curlin Street on the northeast corner of the the University of Memphis. Her disappearance wasn’t reported until later in the morning when she failed to return from her run.

Fletcher is known as an avid runner, and according to the University of Memphis, she regularly runs past the school on her route. The school is 4.8 miles away from her home in Central Gardens in Midtown. 

Her alleged captor, Cleotha Abston, was detained Saturday, Sept. 3, driving the GMC Terrain SUV, for which authorities had searched since it was spotted on surveillance cameras around the U of M about the time Fletcher was abducted. The following morning, Memphis Police announced Abston was charged with aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in connection with Fletcher’s disappearance. 

Abston’s arrest and subsequent charges came quickly, almost as fast as a television detective show and based on a common connection in those cases. According to an affidavit, Abston was identified based on DNA evidence from Champion slides left at the site of Fletcher’s abduction, as well as a partial license plate reading, a matching description of the GMC Terrain he drove and witness statements, according to police. 

Suspect in Fletcher abduction was acting ‘very strange,’ according to affidavit

There are indications he drove around the campus about 20 minutes before he spotted Fletcher and violently abducted her, according to the arrest documents.

On Monday, authorities filed additional charges against Abston, including theft of property ($1,000 or less), fraudulent use or illegal possession of a credit or debit card ($1,000 or less) and identity theft. Those charges don’t appear related to the Fletcher abduction.

Police said, due to evidence, facts and witness statements, it is likely Fletcher suffered significant bodily injury. As of Monday afternoon, she had not been found.

This is not Abston’s first run-in with the law, and his most recent conviction came in a similar incident.

Abston was convicted in 2001 for kidnapping local attorney, Kemper Durand. 

Durand, who died in 2013, was a member of the same law firm as Michael Keeney, Liza Fletcher’s uncle. According to Tennessee Department of Corrections records, Abston’s sentence in the Durand case ended Nov. 7, 2020. 

Fletcher’s case has been covered by CNN, Newsweek and The New York Times, an indication of the growing interest the disappearance has garnered.

But who is Eliza Fletcher? 

One charged with abduction in Fletcher case; teacher still missing

Fletcher is a white female, 5-foot-6 inches tall, 137 pounds, with blonde hair and green eyes. She is a 34-year-old mother of two young boys, James and Ford, who according to a friend, attend an East Memphis private school.

She enjoys taking her children to The Children’s Museum, the Memphis Zoo, and The Art Project, according to a post from St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where Fletcher has worked as a junior kindergarten teacher since 2015. 

From her Instagram posts, it appears the Fletcher family also enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. Her photos show family trips to Walt Disney World, Shelby Farms, Michigan and Heber Springs.

She also enjoys date nights with her husband, which can be seen in a photo the two took together over dinner at Sweet Grass/Next Door, a local restaurant that no longer exists. 

She married Richard (Richie) Fletcher III eight years ago. He is a dealer manager at Memphis Boat Center, where he has worked since 2021. Previously, he was employed as a project coordinator for Tioga Environmental Consultants, Inc.; a Crossfit coach for Crossfit 901; a maintenance mechanic for Wepfer Marine, Inc.; and a project manager for Memphis Millwork. 

The Fletchers’ wedding, reported by Memphis Magazine in 2015, was held at Second Presbyterian Church, where the bride remains a member. She was described as outdoorsy, athletic, and warm. 

“She is a caring and passionate teacher who is always looking for creative ways to teach to all learners,” a 2021 post from St. Mary’s reads. “Liza is constantly asking herself what her students need and how she can reach them.”

Law enforcement teams comb areas around Pine Hill Park and Memphis Boat Center

The post also notes her smile, which brightens every room she enters. 

Before returning to Memphis, Fletcher taught kindergarten at Promise Academy in Nashville and coached soccer. 

Growing up, she attended Hutchison School, and she graduated in 2006. She was an all-metro athlete in both soccer and track and field. She was also a state champion, winning the 300-meter hurdles at the TSSAA Championships in 2006.

“Hutchison family, we ask that you please join us in praying for the safe return of Liza Wellford Fletcher ‘06,” Hutchison School posted on Facebook after she disappeared. “She was abducted (Friday) morning near the University of Memphis while running. She is a beloved alumna, and we pray for her safety and for her family.”

After high school graduation, Fletcher then attended college at Baylor University, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in exercise and sports science. From there, she went on to Belmont University, where she earned a Master of Art in Teaching with an emphasis in Elementary Education.

Vehicle located, one person detained in Fletcher case; Family releases statement

She is the granddaughter of the late Joe Orgill III, a philanthropist and hardware businessman who ran Orgill Inc., a hardware supply company that currently employs more than 5,500 people. He died in 2018. 

The late Judge Harry Wellford is her paternal grandfather. He was a Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. He died last year. 

Her parents are Adele and Beasley Wellford. 

She often posts on Facebook about running.

One post read, “Long distance runners, what do you think is the best form of cross-training?”

In another post, she asked for solutions to shin splints and stress fractures, common injuries for runners. 

In 2019, she finished a St. Jude marathon within 3:26:09, fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. 

Fletcher regularly posts on Facebook seeking recommendations for television shows, audio books and podcasts. She seems to enjoy true crime podcasts. 

In a Facebook post, she wrote: “Best podcasts to listen to while running. I liked serial, up and vanished and dr death. I enjoy the happy hour and I’ll have another”

MPD records show 100 reported kidnappings per year in Memphis, although actual number is much lower

Fletcher still has not been found. Her family, including her uncle Mike Keeney, sent out a video urging community members to call the police or CrimeStoppers with any information that could lead to her discovery. The family has offered a $50,000 reward to whoever can locate her. 

TBI, FBI join Memphis police to investigate report of missing woman near U of M

“Liza has touched the hearts of many people,” Keeney said. “And it shows. … The family has met with police, and we have shared with them all the information we know. More than anything, we want to see Liza return home safely. … We believe someone knows what happened and can help.”

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