In September of 2022, a well-known Memphis mom, heiress, and kindergarten teacher disappeared during an early morning run. As police scrambled to find a trace of her, disturbing surveillance footage was collected showing her abduction just after 4am. But who was responsible, and why did the crime occur in the first place? This is the story of Eliza Fletcher.BONUS EPISODESApple Subscriptions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-west-true-crime/id1448151398Patreon: patreon.com/goingwestpodcast

CASE SOURCES1. Eliza's Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailymemphian/name/eliza-fletcher-obituary?id=364426522. Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/eliza-fletcher-memphis-kidnapping-cleotha-abston-b2160090.html3. Court TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UddUcSr69Ps4. Good Morning America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwWRde-B5J05. NBC: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/disturbing-details-emerge-death-jogger-eliza-fletcher-suspect-arraigne-rcna466286. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/09/07/look-into-cleotha-abstons-lengthy-juvenile-record/7. ABC 24: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/cleotha-abston-mario-eliza-fletcher-missing-jogger-found-dead-tennessee-death-penaltymissing-jogger-body-found/522-405a9666-5526-4b78-b151-ffba037b8d8a8. Nancy Grace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn5dneZGMfY9. WREG: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/what-we-know-about-kidnapping-suspect-cleotha-abston/10. Memphis Magazine: https://memphismagazine.com/style/a-memorable-memphis-wedding/11. WREG: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/eliza-fletchers-family-breaks-silence-after-memphis-teachers-body-found/12. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2018/03/14/memphis-joseph-joe-orgill-iii-died-dead/425062002/13. The U.S. Sun: https://www.the-sun.com/news/6163498/eliza-fletcher-posts-true-crime-suspect-cleotha-abston/14. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/09/05/new-charges-face-cleotha-abston-ahead-first-hearing/15. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/courts/2023/07/06/shelby-county-seeks-death-penalty-for-cleotha-abston-henderson/70387194007/16. News 3: https://wreg.com/news/eliza-fletcher/suspect-charged-in-eliza-fletcher-abduction/17. Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2022/09/07/eliza-fletcher-news-murder-charges-cleotha-abston/8009665001/18. People: https://people.com/crime/eliza-fletcher-cause-death-revealed-after-tenn-teachers-body-found-following-abduction/19. CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/09/us/memphis-teacher-eliza-fletcher-killed-friday/index.html20. Local Memphis: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/eliza-fletcher-murder-suspect-cleotha-abston-new-attorneys/522-ea7ada0f-97f7-43cd-b334-0069f114e05f21. Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11227555/Accused-Memphis-killer-Cleotha-Abstons-mother-insists-railroaded.html#comments22. Justia: https://law.justia.com/cases/tennessee/court-of-criminal-appeals/2018/w2017-01570-cca-r3-pc.html23. Action News 5: https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/07/17/judge-maintains-decision-alicia-franklin-lawsuit/24. Local Memphis: https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/decision-lawsuit-against-city-of-memphis-eliza-fletcher-alicia-franklin/522-820f89c4-ece7-4947-8a12-a44aa66bf569Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices