MEMPHIS, Tenn.—A Tennessee man pleaded not guilty Thursday to raping a woman about a year before he was charged with kidnapping a kindergarten teacher during a pre-dawn run and killing her. A court-appointed public defender representing Cleotha Henderson entered the plea in a Memphis courtroom on charges of aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping, and unlawful…

Eliza Fletcher, a mother of two and a kindergarten teacher, “would be alive today” if her accused killer had been jailed for a prior rape he allegedly committed, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said on Wednesday. Fletcher, 34, was jogging near her home on the University of Memphis campus on Sept. 2 during the early morning hours…

Murders have been rocking Memphis. Cleotha Abston, who formerly served 20 years on a kidnapping sentence, has been charged with murder for abducting and killing 38-year-old Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher. Ezekiel Kelly went on a mass murder spree in the same week. These horrifying homicides are all too common in crime-infested cities like Memphis, and…

The suspect accused of abducting and killing heiress Eliza Fletcher was charged with first-degree murder, a judge ruled Wednesday. Cleotha Abston, 38, was ordered held without bond during a hearing on Wednesday morning. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday, according to reporters inside the courtroom. General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi had…

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—A Tennessee judge revoked bond Wednesday for a man charged with killing a Memphis woman who was abducted during a pre-dawn run near a university campus. Cleotha Abston, who told a Shelby County judge he prefers to be referred to as Cleotha Henderson, will be held without bond on charges including first-degree murder in…

The family of Memphis heiress Eliza Fletcher released a statement Tuesday after police confirmed her body was found. Fletcher, a mother of two and a kindergarten teacher, was allegedly abducted and murdered while jogging on Sept. 2 during the early morning hours. Cleotha Abston, a felon who spent decades behind bars for kidnapping, was arrested…

Memphis police confirmed Tuesday that they found the remains of teacher Eliza “Liza” Fletcher, who was reportedly abducted last week The police department wrote on Twitter that “the deceased victim that was located yesterday in the 1600 block of Victor [street] has been identified as 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher. Other details about the incident were not provided….

Memphis police confirmed Tuesday that they found the remains of teacher Eliza “Liza” Fletcher, who was reportedly abducted last week The police department wrote on Twitter that “the deceased victim that was located yesterday in the 1600 block of Victor [street] has been identified as 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher, a teacher who was also the heiress to…

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Police in Tennessee said Sunday that an arrest has been made in connection with the abduction of a jogger last week. The Memphis Police Department said 38-year-old Cleotha Abston has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the disappearance of Eliza Fletcher of Memphis. A second person was also arrested,…

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—An arrest has been made in the abduction of a jogger in Tennessee, and though she hasn’t been found, police said they believe she suffered serious injuries. The Memphis Police Department said 38-year-old Cleotha Abston has been charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the disappearance of Eliza Fletcher of Memphis….