<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/liza-fletcher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eliza Fletcher</a>, the Memphis mother-of-two who was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by Cleotha Abston-Henderson, died after being shot in the back of the head and sustaining blunt force trauma to her head, according to a newly released autopsy report.
The Christian kindergarten teacher had a gunshot wound in the back of her head, blunt-force injuries to her right leg, and jaw fractures, according to an autopsy completed by forensic pathologist Danielle Harrell, D.O., at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center in Memphis.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElizaFletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElizaFletcher</a>’s autopsy has been released: 
➡️ Cause of death gunshot wound &amp; injuries to the head 
➡️ Bruises on her right thigh 
➡️ Advanced state of decomposition <a href="https://t.co/IL7pjD20VA">https://t.co/IL7pjD20VA</a> <a href="https://t.co/rLvsnlMxHz">pic.twitter.com/rLvsnlMxHz</a>
&mdash; Bria Jones (@BriaJonesTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/BriaJonesTV/status/1575594379359956992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Abston — who prosecutors charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnappings, especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence — has a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/horrifying-criminal-record-of-eliza-fletchers-alleged-murderer-revealed-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long and violent criminal history</a>.
“The thing about these sexual predators, it seems it doesn’t matter how much time they do,” John Kelly, a criminal profiler and psychotherapist who has interviewed multiple serial killers, told Fox News. “When they get out, they’re back on the hunt.”
Abston’s criminal history began when he was a teenager and includes convictions for aggravated assault, rape, and kidnapping.
Abston served 20 years in prison for kidnapping a lawyer at gunpoint when he was 16 years old, and forcing the lawyer to withdraw cash at multiple ATMs. He also “committed a juvenile delinquent act of rape against an unnamed suspect when he was 14,” Fox News added.
Fletcher, whose abduction was captured on surveillance footage, was out for a dawn jog on September 2 when the suspect allegedly grabbed her and forced her into a dark SUV.
Fletcher taught at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis. She was the granddaughter of the late hardware wholesale tycoon Joseph Orgill III, founder of the privately-held Orgill Inc. The company has annual sales of more than $3 billion.
Her body was found about seven miles from the crime scene, where police found her water bottle and smashed cell phone.
Abston’s DNA was reportedly found on a pair of shoes known as “slides” left at the crime scene near the University of Memphis. His GMC Terrain also matched the vehicle seen in surveillance video. Abston was seen cleaning the interior of the vehicle and washing his clothes in a sink shortly after Fletcher’s abduction, according to witnesses, one of whom is Abston’s brother.
Law enforcement&#8217;s search reportedly focused on an area not far from Abston’s brother’s home and a dumpster police towed away for evidence.
A neighbor of Abston’s told the Daily Mail that Abston once asked her for sex and also propositioned other women in the apartment complex in which he lived.
“When women were around, he would sit in the truck and stare,” she said. “He was a weird pervert.”

Eliza Fletcher

Cause Of Death Revealed For Murdered Kindergarten Teacher Eliza Fletcher

Crime

Liza Fletcher

Memphis

Murder

Tennessee

The man charged with murdering <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/liza-fletcher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eliza Fletcher</a> is now facing additional charges of kidnapping and rape from a separate incident.
Cleotha Henderson, the 38-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/arrest-in-kidnapping-of-kindergarten-teacher-heiress-to-billion-dollar-fortune" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspected</a> of murdering the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/memphis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memphis</a> mother of two, is facing “unrelated” charges of aggravated kidnapping and rape, a Memphis police official <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/eliza-fletcher-murder-suspect-slapped-unrelated-kidnapping-rape-charges">confirmed</a> to Fox News.
Henderson was indicted for the new charges on Thursday afternoon, which involve a reported sexual assault on September 21, 2021. In that case, a sexual assault kit was then given to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation two days after the alleged incident.
&#8220;An official CODIS [national DNA database] hit was not received until after the unfortunate event that occurred on September 2, 2022,&#8221; a police spokesman <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-charged-death-eliza-fletcher-032511581.html">told</a> the Commercial Appeal, a Memphis based newspaper. &#8220;Probable cause to make a physical arrest of any suspect did not exist until after the CODIS hit had been received.&#8221;
Memphis police did not give any additional information on the new charges. Henderson also faces a first degree murder charge and especially aggravated kidnapping charge relating to the Fletcher kidnapping and murder.
Henderson has an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/horrifying-criminal-record-of-eliza-fletchers-alleged-murderer-revealed-report">extensive criminial history</a> stretching back to when he was a teenager, and includes convictions for aggravated assault, rape, and kidnapping.
He served 20 years in prison for kidnapping a lawyer at gunpoint when he was 16 years old and forcing the lawyer to withdraw cash at multiple ATMs. Henderson also “committed a juvenile delinquent act of rape against an unnamed suspect when he was 14,” Fox News added.
Fletcher, whose abduction was captured on surveillance footage, was out for a dawn jog on Friday when the suspect allegedly grabbed her and forced her into a dark SUV. A married mother of two, Fletcher taught at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis.
She was the granddaughter of the late hardware wholesale tycoon Joseph Orgill III, founder of the privately-held Orgill Inc. The company has annual sales of more than $3 billion.
Her body was found about seven miles from the crime scene, where police on Friday found her water bottle and smashed cell phone.
Fletcher’s murder and kidnapping left many <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/family-of-heiress-teacher-eliza-fletcher-breaks-silence-after-body-confirmation">devastated</a> in the Memphis community.
“We are heartbroken and devastated by this senseless loss,” the family said in a statement. “Liza was such a joy to so many — her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church congregation, and everyone who knew her.”
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report.

Memphis Man Livestreams Random Shootings

Man Accused Of Murdering Eliza Fletcher Charged In Additional Sexual Assault Case From Last Year

Violent Crime

Thousands of people are planning to run the early-morning 8.2 mile route that the late Liza Fletcher left unfinished when the Memphis kindergarten teacher was abducted last Friday and later found murdered. The run to honor Fletcher will start at 4:20 a.m, on Friday, roughly the same time Fletcher started her route the day she was abducted.
One of the organizers of the run, Danielle Heineman, reacted to the claim some have made that Fletcher, a married mother of two young boys,  should not have been running alone in the wee hours of the morning.
“Why isn’t she running on a treadmill? Why isn’t she running after work? Women can’t do that,” she said. “We have jobs, we have families to take care of, and we have other commitments. Yet we have a right to be runners also.”
“I think it’s important for us to stand up, for the women in this community to stand up for ourselves. &#8230; We all just feel like we can’t run alone, and we should not feel that way,” she continued.
Fletcher’s abduction was captured on surveillance footage. Cleotha Abston, 38, an ex-con who served time for kidnapping, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-busted-in-hardware-heiress-disappearance-was-weird-pervert-who-did-time-for-kidnapping">was arrested Saturday</a> as a prime suspect.
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/4048968448662454/?ref=newsfeed">Facebook site</a> for the run to honor Fletcher stated, “We created this run as way to honor Liza and cope with our own feelings. This run is 8.2 miles taking a path she would regularly run.”
“Our goal is to stand up for the women in the Mid-South and emphasize that women should be able to safely run any time of day. Our run is not sanctioned by the family and is not a fundraiser. We are not accepting any donations nor should you donate to anyone on the morning of the run,” the site added.
The site offered guidelines for the runners, including, “Wear Bright Colors and a bright light if you have it,” “Do not come alone,” and “Respect the neighborhoods we run through as people will be sleeping.”
Video of Fletcher, the late beloved Memphis kindergarten teacher who was also the heiress to a billion-dollar hardware fortune, singing to her class during the COVID pandemic, surfaced this week, showing how much was lost when her body was found on Tuesday.
“Hey, girls, it’s Ms. Fletcher,” the young teacher told the camera as she got down on the floor. “So before we go, I wanted to remind you of something we do at St. Mary’s that’s so special and that I miss a lot. So I want to see if you can join in with me. We’re going to sing ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ okay? Ready?”
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God bless her soul. Video showing Eliza Fletcher singing to students at St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal School. Clearly she was a very kind and loving soul <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lizafletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lizafletcher</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElizaFletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElizaFletcher</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Memphis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Memphis</a> <a href="https://t.co/eTZ9QQZ0s8">pic.twitter.com/eTZ9QQZ0s8</a>
&mdash; That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfanityNewz/status/1566980436638711808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Young woman tying athletic shoelace

Thousands To Finish Liza Fletcher’s Run To Honor Her On Friday

The family of Memphis kindergarten teacher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-the-world-lost-heart-wrenching-video-of-liza-fletcher-singing-to-her-students-revealed">Eliza Fletcher</a> released a statement Tuesday, hours after it was confirmed the 34-year-old&#8217;s body had been found.
Fletcher, a mother of two and the heiress to a billion-dollar hardware fortune, was allegedly stalked and murdered while out for an early morning run on Friday.
“We are heartbroken and devastated by this senseless loss,” the family said in a statement. “Liza was such a joy to so many — her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church congregation, and everyone who knew her.”
Fletcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-the-world-lost-heart-wrenching-video-of-liza-fletcher-singing-to-her-students-revealed">taught</a> at St. Mary&#8217;s Episcopal School in Memphis. A video of the young mother singing &#8220;This Little Light of Mine&#8221; to her class during the COVID pandemic went viral after the teacher went missing, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-the-world-lost-heart-wrenching-video-of-liza-fletcher-singing-to-her-students-revealed">The Daily Wire</a> noted.
“Now it’s time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her,” the family continued.
“We appreciate all the expressions of love and concern we have received,” the statement closed. “We are grateful beyond measure to local, state and federal law enforcement for their tireless efforts to find Liza and to bring justice to the person responsible for this horrible crime.”
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Statement from the family of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElizaFletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElizaFletcher</a> <a href="https://t.co/QduWVQfzW0">pic.twitter.com/QduWVQfzW0</a>
&mdash; Sydney Gray (@Sydney_GTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sydney_GTV/status/1567175252467130369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Fletcher&#8217;s body was recovered late Monday near Victor Street and Person Avenue, about seven miles from the crime scene, where police found her water bottle and smashed cell phone, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-busted-in-hardware-heiress-disappearance-was-weird-pervert-who-did-time-for-kidnapping">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
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<a href="https://t.co/NfSh7ja20n">pic.twitter.com/NfSh7ja20n</a>
&mdash; Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEM_PoliceDept/status/1565711246158139398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-busted-in-hardware-heiress-disappearance-was-weird-pervert-who-did-time-for-kidnapping">Cleotha Abston</a>, a 38-year-old ex-con who has served time for kidnapping, was arrested over the weekend in connection to Fletcher&#8217;s abduction.
Abston’s DNA was reportedly found on a pair of shoes known as “slides” left at the crime scene, near the University of Memphis. His GMC Terrain also matched the vehicle seen in surveillance video, and Abston was seen cleaning the interior of the vehicle and washing his clothes in a sink shortly after Fletcher’s abduction, according to witnesses, one of whom is Abston’s brother.
<div id="attachment_433106" style="width: 526px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-433106" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-433106 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Abston-516x576.jpg" alt="" width="516" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/Abston-516x576.jpg 516w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/Abston-269x300.jpg 269w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/Abston-768x857.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/Abston.jpg 930w" sizes="(max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px" />Memphis Police department</div>
St. Mary&#8217;s Episcopal School on Tuesday said in a statement released on Twitter that their community is &#8220;heartbroken&#8221; over the loss.
&#8220;We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher,&#8221; the school said. &#8220;Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families.&#8221;
&#8220;This morning our faculty and staff started the day in chapel,&#8221; the statement added. &#8220;We lit candles to remember Liza who was a bright light in our community. Liza embodied the song that we sing every week in Early Childhood chapel, &#8216;This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.'&#8221;
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We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher. Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families. <a href="https://t.co/41cePIFgos">pic.twitter.com/41cePIFgos</a>
&mdash; St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) <a href="https://twitter.com/StMarysMemphis/status/1567178641657790468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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We continue to draw strength from our all-school read, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy. “‘We don’t know about tomorrow,’ said the horse, ‘all we need to know is that we love each other.’”⁠
&mdash; St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) <a href="https://twitter.com/StMarysMemphis/status/1567179622814556160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Greg Wilson contributed to this report 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-the-world-lost-heart-wrenching-video-of-liza-fletcher-singing-to-her-students-revealed">What The World Lost: Heart-Wrenching Video Of Liza Fletcher Singing To Her Students Revealed</a>

Family Of Heiress, Teacher Eliza Fletcher Breaks Silence After Body Confirmation

Family Of Heiress, Teacher Eliza Fletcher Break Silence After Body Confirmation

Video of Eliza Fletcher, the late beloved Memphis kindergarten teacher who was also the heiress to a billion-dollar hardware fortune, singing to her class during the COVID pandemic, has surfaced, showing how much was lost when her body was found on Tuesday.
Fletcher, a mother of two young boys, was kidnapped early Friday while jogging. “Cleotha Abston, 38, an ex-con who served time for kidnapping, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-busted-in-hardware-heiress-disappearance-was-weird-pervert-who-did-time-for-kidnapping">was arrested Saturday</a> in connection with the abduction,” The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/body-of-memphis-kindergarten-teacher-heiress-to-billion-dollar-fortune-found-report">reported</a>.
“Hey girls, it’s Ms. Fletcher,” the young teacher told the camera as she got down on the floor. “So before we go, I wanted to remind you of something we do at St. Mary’s that’s so special and that I miss a lot. So I want to see if you can join in with me. We’re going to sing ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ okay? Ready?”
Sitting back up on her haunches, she waved her finger back and forth, singing, “This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
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We are heartbroken at the loss of our beloved teacher, colleague, and friend Liza Fletcher. Our hearts are with the Fletcher, Orgill, and Wellford families. <a href="https://t.co/41cePIFgos">pic.twitter.com/41cePIFgos</a>
&mdash; St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal School (@StMarysMemphis) <a href="https://twitter.com/StMarysMemphis/status/1567178641657790468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Taking her other hand to cover her upraised finger, she sang, “Hide it under a bushel?” then pulled the hand back off to leave the finger alone, “No! I’m gonna let it shine.”
After repeating the gesture, she continued by waving her finger in a circle: “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Shine it all over St. Mary’s school. I’m gonna let it shine.”
After more of the song with similar gestures, she knelt before the camera, saying, “Miss you girls. And you need to let the light shine at your house. And I will see you later.”
Then she leaned into the camera: “But wait! One second: I heard somebody that you might want to meet.” She turned back toward the open door behind her, calling, “Jamie? C’mere girl!”
As her black Labrador retriever came running him, Fletcher lovingly wrapped her arms around the dog, saying, “Look girls! This is Jamie. And Jamie is the girl in our house because there’s two little boys and a Mr. Fletcher and so there’s just me and Jamie.”
“And I miss all of you girls so much,” she stated, then blew them a kiss. “Bye!”
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God bless her soul. Video showing Eliza Fletcher singing to students at St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal School. Clearly she was a very kind and loving soul <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lizafletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lizafletcher</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElizaFletcher?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElizaFletcher</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Memphis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Memphis</a> <a href="https://t.co/eTZ9QQZ0s8">pic.twitter.com/eTZ9QQZ0s8</a>
&mdash; That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfanityNewz/status/1566980436638711808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Abston’s DNA was reportedly found on a pair of shoes known as “slides” left at the crime scene, near the University of Memphis. His GMC Terrain also matched the vehicle seen in surveillance video, and Abston was seen cleaning the interior of the vehicle and washing his clothes in a sink shortly after Fletcher’s abduction, according to witnesses, one of whom is Abston’s brother.
Greg Wilson contributed to this report.

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Liza Fletcher

Cause Of Death Revealed For Murdered Kindergarten Teacher Eliza Fletcher

Man Accused Of Murdering Eliza Fletcher Charged In Additional Sexual Assault Case From Last Year

Thousands To Finish Liza Fletcher’s Run To Honor Her On Friday

Family Of Heiress, Teacher Eliza Fletcher Breaks Silence After Body Confirmation

What The World Lost: Heart-Wrenching Video Of Liza Fletcher Singing To Her Students Revealed