Eliza Fletcher: Suspect stalked missing heiress for 24 minutes before abduction, police say

Cleotha Abston’s SUV was seen on surveillance footage 24 minutes before heiress was abducted

The suspect charged with the kidnapping missing heiress Eliza Fletcher was seen stalking her in his SUV 24 minutes before she was abducted, police say.

Cleotha “Pookie” Abston has been charged with kidnapping Ms Fletcher, 34, while she was jogging near the intersection of Central Avenue and Zach H. Curlin Street in Memphis at around 4.20am on Friday.

According to a police affidavit, Abston’s GMS Terrain was seen on surveillance footage in the area 24 minutes before the kidnapping.

Footage then shows a man exit the dark-coloured SUV and aggressively force Ms Fletcher into the passenger side of the vehicle.

After a violent struggle, the car remained parked for about four minutes before driving away from the scene.

According to an affidavit, a pair of Champion slide sandals that were recovered near the spot of Ms Fletcher’s disappearance were had traces of the suspect’s DNA. Her phone was also found with the sandals.

Authorities said the evidence suggests Ms Fletcher “suffered serious injury” due to the violent nature of the crime and “left evidence” such as “blood in the vehicle that the defendant cleaned”.

US Marshals found the SUV in a parking lot close to Abston’s home and it had the same damage and partial licence plate identification seen in the surveillance footage of the abduction, according to an affidavit.

Cleotha ‘Pookie’ Abston has been charged with abduction and tampering with evidence (Shelby County Sheriff's Office via AP)

When officers found Abston nearby, he tried to flee the scene, the affidavit states.

He has refused to answer questions on the abduction, police say.

Abston, 38, was seen “behaving oddly” by a witness at his brother’s house after the Friday morning abduction, according to the affidavit from Memphis police.

A witness and the suspect’s brother Marion Abston said that they saw Abston, 38, cleaning the interior of a a black 2013 GMC Terrain with floor cleaner.

The vehicle was picked up by surveillance cameras in the area where Ms Fletcher was abducted from, the affidavit states.

Two witnesses also told police they saw Abston “washing his clothes in the sink of the house”.

He has also been charged with evidence tampering.

According to the affidavit, statements from Abston’s employer confirmed the vehicle used in the kidnapping is owned by a woman associated with his address.

Police also said they traced Abston’s cellphone records and found it was in the vicinity when Ms Fletcher was abducted.

Abston is reportedly refusing to cooperate with police or offer any information about Ms Fletcher’s whereabouts, according to the police affidavit.