MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A man from Tennessee has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a Memphis school teacher during her early morning jog. Cleotha Abston, 40, admitted to first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping in connection with the abduction and death of Eliza Fletcher.

Originally due to stand trial in February, Abston was facing the possibility of the death penalty had he been found guilty of first-degree murder. However, following his guilty pleas, Judge Lee Coffee has sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The tragic incident occurred on September 2, 2022, when Fletcher, a 34-year-old kindergarten teacher and mother of two, was abducted from a street near the University of Memphis in the early hours of the morning. Her body was discovered several days later near an abandoned duplex, shocking the local community and prompting widespread support for her family.

In remembrance of Fletcher, many runners in Memphis and other cities organized early morning running events just one week after her kidnapping. This heartfelt tribute has turned into an annual tradition in Memphis, honoring her memory every year on the anniversary of her abduction.

Fletcher’s family expressed their deep grief in a statement, saying they “miss the bright light of Liza’s life every day.” They described her as a person who brought joy and comfort to everyone around her, including her husband, children, parents, brother, friends, students, and fellow teachers, noting her faith, kindness, and compassion.

Abston, who has previously been known by the name Cleotha Henderson, was apprehended after police matched his DNA to sandals discovered near the site of Fletcher’s last known whereabouts. An autopsy later confirmed that Fletcher had died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Juni Ganguli, Abston’s attorney, mentioned that there had been ongoing discussions to reach a resolution in the case, stressing the importance of settling matters rather than moving forward with a trial that could be unsuccessful.

Prior to the charges related to Fletcher’s death, Abston was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the 2021 rape of a woman at gunpoint. His conviction for that crime was secured in April 2022, about a year after he was charged with Fletcher’s murder. Abston’s criminal record dates back to the 1990s, and he was not charged in the earlier rape incident until more than a year later due to delays in processing the sexual assault evidence. In response to Fletcher’s murder, new legislation was enacted requiring regular reports on the testing times for sexual assault kits in Tennessee.