The Shelby County District Attorney is pursuing the death penalty for Cleotha Abston, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Eliza Fletcher in Memphis last September. Abston, a convicted felon with a history of violent crimes, allegedly abducted Fletcher, a 34-year-old teacher, while she was jogging near the University of Memphis. Authorities say he forced her into an SUV and later shot her.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy's decision to seek capital punishment was announced during a recent court hearing. This move comes despite Mulroy's previously stated opposition to the death penalty. However, this isn't the first time Mulroy has sought this punishment in a high-profile case. He also pursued the death penalty for Ezekiel Kelly, the suspect in a 2022 Memphis shooting spree that left four dead and three injured. Mulroy has explained that the horrific nature of these crimes outweighs his personal views on capital punishment.

Abston's criminal history includes a 20-year prison sentence for a previous kidnapping. As a teenager, he abducted attorney Kemper Durand, forcing him to withdraw money from ATMs. He was released early from prison before Fletcher's murder. Police connected Abston to Fletcher's abduction through DNA evidence found on a discarded sandal at the crime scene. Fletcher's body was discovered days later behind a vacant house. Witnesses reported seeing Abston cleaning his SUV with chemical cleaner shortly after the abduction.