Tennessee prosecutors are seeking the death penalty Cleotha Abston, also known as Cleotha Henderson. He is charged with kidnapping and killing Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher.  

Fletcher vanished while out on her morning run. Neighborhood video captured images of Fletcher being forced into an SUV. The kindergarten teacher's body was found days later near a vacant house less than a mile from the kidnapping site.

Officers combing the area noticed footprints, tire tracks and “an odor of decay.” A pair of purple Lululemon running shorts matching what Fletcher was last seen wearing, was found in a nearby trash can. 

Abston, 39, is also charged with the rape of a woman in September 2021, but he was not arrested until after Fletcher’s killing because the state crime lab hadn’t gotten around to processing the sexual assault kit.

Abston has pled not guilty. 

Joining Nancy Grace today:

• Matthew Mangino – Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Author: “The Executioner’s Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States;" Twitter: @MatthewTMangino
• Caryn L. Stark – Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych/FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice
• Lisa M. Dadio - Former Police Lieutenant with the New Haven Police Department; Annie Le Lead Detective; Senior Lecturer, Director of the Center for Advanced Policing and Graduate Program Coordinator Investigations program, University of New Haven 
• Rachel D. Fischer – Registered Nurse; Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE); Expert Witness; Private Investigator; Author: “Taking Back the Pen;” Forensic Nursing Consulting and Education LLC
• Dr. Kristen Mittelman - Chief Development Officer, Othram Inc.; Twitter: @OthramTech 
• Dave Mack - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter 

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