Mourners pay touching tribute to billionaire heiress, 34, who was kidnapped and killed last week

Hundreds of mourners hit the streets of Memphis this morning to pay a touching tribute to Eliza Fletcher who was murdered last week while on an early morning run.  

The 34-year-old beloved kindergarten teacher and billionaire heiress was kidnapped and killed last week – abducted as she went on her usual 4:20am jog through the city. 

A 38-year-old career criminal who served 20 years in prison for kidnapping, Cleotha Abston, has been charged with her murder.

Friends, colleagues and mourners of Fletcher showed up to the Booty Loop in Memphis’ in Myers Park to show their support, turning out before the break of day at Central and Belvedere just before 4:20am.

The group ran, jogged and walked a roughly 8 mile circuit through the park, up Queens Road and back down Queens Road West.

Danielle Heineman, one of the creators of Facebook group Let’s Finish Liza’s Run, said: ‘I think it’s important for us to stand up, for the women in this community to stand up for ourselves.

‘My thought was that a few of us would go out, and we would just kind of stand up for that right and say, you know what, I am running at 4 in the morning, and nobody is going to stop us from doing that,’ she told FOX 13.

Another runner told local TV station WSOC: ‘Even though Eliza is one person there are 250,000 women every year who are abducted often times you never hear anything more about. 

‘We just are kind of here with our lights to go out in the neighborhood and remind people that where there’s light there’s no darkness.’

Fletcher’s family said of the memorial run: ‘The outpouring of love and grief would have surprised Liza, who never thought or acted as if she were something special – though she certainly was.’ 

Fletcher’s grandfather founded a hardware distributor based in Memphis with a revenue of $3.2 billion last year. 

Family, friends and mourners of Fletcher showed up to the Booty Loop in Memphis’ in Myers Park to show their support, turning out before the break of day at Central and Belvedere just before 4:20am

The group ran a roughly 8 mile circuit through Myers park, up Queens Road and back down Queens Road West in Memphis

One runner told local TV station WSOC: ‘Even though Eliza is one person there are 250,000 women every year who are abducted often times you never hear anything more about

A Facebook group was set up to coordinate Friday’s run in Fletcher’s memory and attracted hundreds of people

Fletcher’s family said of the memorial run: ‘The outpouring of love and grief would have surprised Liza, who never thought or acted as if she were something special – though she certainly was.’ Pictured: Runners gather at Union Square to remember Eliza 

The runners looked somber before they headed off on their run which was coordinated to honor the memory of Eliza Fletcher, jogging the same route she did at 4.20am on the night she was kidnapped 

Preparations: One runner was seen limbering up before the event in Manhattan, organized to denounce the kidnapping and murder of Eliza 

People looked emotional as they took on the route in New York, reflecting and chatting at Union Square and heading around the city 

The group stood in Union Square with their heads bowed as they reflected on the horrific events of Eliza Fletcher’s death

Runners looked pensive as they awaited the start of their memorial to Eliza Fletcher in New York 

Bowed heads: All of the group stand and think as they meet in the center of New York City 

Emotions: Men and women in running gear support each other and remember Eliza Fletcher in New York City 

Chats: The group speak to each other and are pensive as they discuss Eliza Fletcher in New York 

Support: The emotional group put their arms round each other as they have their photograph taken in New York 

Serious: Those involved in the memorial huddle together as they honor Eliza and take a picture at the event in New York 

Cleotha Abston, pictured in 2000, was first arrested when he was just 11 years old and was in and out of juvenile court 16 times in five years before he kidnapped a lawyer

On Thursday the family confirmed the details of Fletcher’s funeral, which will be held at 10am at Second Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 10.

Fletcher met her husband Richard at the church, and the pair were even married there in March 2014.

The pair became parents to what her obituary described as ‘two rambunctious, joyful boys Richard James Fletcher IV and Harry Wellford Fletcher.’

The obituary stated: ‘She loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. Together as a family, they enjoyed outdoor adventures including boating, water sports, hiking, running, and biking.

‘She was deeply admired by her family and friends for her passionate dedication to motherhood.’ 

The family also praised her strong faith.

‘She truly walked and modeled the Christian life and trusted in her unwavering faith,’ they wrote.

‘Liza was a light to all who knew her. Her contagious smile and laughter could brighten any room. Liza was pure of heart and innocent in ways that made her see the very best in everyone she met. To know her was to love her and to be loved by her.’

They noted the massive interest in her story and her untimely death.

‘Her impact is extraordinary, as is witnessed in the prayer groups, vigils held at the homes of friends and family, church and school gatherings, and memorial runs and walks held in her honor,’ they wrote.

Fletcher pictured with her husband Richie and their two children. The family described her as a ‘special’ woman who was taken away from them in a ‘senseless’ manner

Eliza Fletcher’s funeral will be held on Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis (pictured) – where she met and married her husband, Richard

Eliza Fletcher is seen on her March 2014 wedding day, with her new husband Richard. The pair met at Second Presbyterian Church

Fletcher was last seen about 4.20am on Friday, when she was jogging (right) in Memphis and a man approached her and forced her into an SUV after a brief struggle, police said

Friends: People involved in the event offered each other a hand and stuck together as they weaved through the streets of New York

A runner takes a photograph of the group as they assemble for the event in New York 

Hugs: People hug each other in support and solidarity as they get emotional after the Eliza Fletcher event in New York 

One woman looks upset and thoughtful as she stands for a picture at the running memorial event in New York 

The event saw the group travel in a big line of runners through New York as they celebrated the life of Eliza 

The family are requesting that anyone wishing to contribute make a donation to a fund set up in her memory at St Mary’s Episcopal school, where she taught, or at the church which played such a large part in her life.

Memphis magazine said her wedding was the ‘wedding of the year’.

After the church ceremony, the pair held their reception at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, with a rustic woodland theme beneath a clear marquee lined with fairy lights.

Fletcher’s billionaire grandfather wanted the wedding to reflect her outdoorsy personality.

Guests were treated to a champagne and seafood bar, bluegrass musicians in the woodland, and an interior described by Memphis magazine as ‘a wonderland of flowers and ferns cascading from the ceiling.’

An Alabama-based artist, Ronald Bayens, was commissioned to paint the event as it was happening.

‘There has been no other wedding like this in Memphis,’ said the wedding planner team, Russell and Ruthie Events. 

Cleotha Abston, 38, appeared in court charged with the first-degree murder of Eliza Fletcher, 34, and could face the death penalty. He has not yet entered any pleas to the charges against him, but his public defender is considering a gag order

Eliza Fletcher, 34, (pictured) was kidnapped after being forced into a black SUV on Friday. Cleotha Abston, 38, has been charged with her kidnap and is set to be charged with her murder after a her body was found in long grass against an abandoned house

 

Abston appeared at court in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and tampering with evidence – with the judge again refusing him bail ahead of another hearing on September 19.

Jennifer Case, his public defender, initially argued that there was a conflict of interest in her representing him as her office had worked with him in a previous criminal matter in the early 2000. 

However the matter was dismissed by the judge, Louis Montesi Jr, despite him agreeing to hear her arguments regarding a gag order at a later hearing. 

Case argued that certain aspects of the case should not be made public after Memphis Police Chief C.J. David called Abston a ‘dangerous predator’. 

Tennessee is a state with the death penalty, and prosecutors on Thursday said that they were not ruling it out if he is convicted.  

Abston wore a green prison-issued uniform and a mask and only spoke to his public defender during the short hearing.