The New American
MEMPHIS — Residents of Memphis, Tennessee, are reeling today after a string of murders, one of which has thrown the city into the national spotlight.
Authorities located the body of Eliza Fletcher, 34, Monday at the rear of an abandoned duplex in south Memphis. She was a wife, mother of two small boys, and pre-kindergarten teacher, abducted the previous Friday, September 2. Surveillance video on the University of Memphis campus caught the crime: A man attacked her while she was jogging in the early morning hours and forced her into his SUV. Footage indicates that shortly before the assault, he had circled and waited by the roadside for her approach.
According to police reports, it was the video, evidence gathered at the scene, and cellphone tracking data that identified the suspect, Cleotha “Pookie” Abston-Henderson, 38. Authorities arrested him on Saturday, September 3, but he refused to provide information about his victim. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping, among other indictments. Police say they don’t have information regarding any motive, and the district attorney’s office calls it an isolated incident….
