Eliza Fletcher (Memphis Police Department) RELATED: Eliza Fletcher abduction: Timeline of the Memphis teacher's disappearanceA man charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the nationally-publicized case was scheduled to have an arraignment on Tuesday.
U.S. Marshals arrested 38-year-old Cleotha Abston on Saturday after police detected his DNA on a pair of sandals found near to where Eliza Fletcher was last seen, according to an arrest affidavit.A photo of Cleotha Abston. (Tennessee Department of Corrections) Abston will now also be facing a charges of first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping, Memphis police said in a tweet Tuesday morning.Relatives of Fletcher and more than 20 media members were in the courtroom Tuesday morning for the arraignment, which was Abston’s first appearance before a judge on charges of kidnapping, tampering with evidence, theft, identity theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Abston was issued a $510,000 bond. Abston said he could not afford bond and he could not afford a lawyer. General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi appointed a public defender to represent Abston.Cleotha Abston, who is accused of kidnapping and killing billionaire heiress Eliza Fletcher, made his first court appearance in Memphis on Tuesday to face charges including murder and kidnapping.
Fletcher was abducted while she was jogging and her body was found by authorities on Monday night.Police also linked the vehicle they believe was used in the kidnapping to a person at a home where Abston was staying.