Edited by: TJVNews.com
UPDATE:
A man has been charged in connection with the disappearance of a Memphis teacher investigators believe was abducted while she was out for a jog Friday morning, police said Cleotha Abston, 38, was charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, according to a tweet from the Memphis Police Department posted early Sunday.
“Eliza Fletcher has not been located at this time. MPD Investigators and officers, along with our local and federal partners, continue searching for Mrs. Fletcher,” the post said
Police in Memphis, Tennessee have located the vehicle and driver wanted in connection with the mysterious abduction of a billionaire’s granddaughter, the New York Post reported.
CNN reported that Eliza “Liza” Fletcher, 34, was jogging around 4:30 a.m. when an unidentified person approached her, police said. She was forced into a mid-sized dark SUV and taken from the scene, police said, according to the CNN report. The “vehicle of interest” in the abduction was found Saturday, according to police.
In a post on Twitter, St. Mary’s Episcopal School said Fletcher is a junior kindergarten teacher, as was reported by CNN.
Fletcher’s grandfather was hardware magnate Joseph Orgill III, as was reported by the Post. He founded the private family business, Orgill Inc., which employs 5,500 people and does $3 billion in sales annually, according to their website.
Taking to Twitter, the Memphis Police announced that, “The vehicle of interest has been located and a male who was occupying the vehicle has been detained. Eliza Fletcher has not been located.”
CNN affiliate WHBQ in Tennessee reported that the family of the mother of two is offering a $50,000 reward through CrimeStoppers for information leading to an arrest in the case.
CNN also reported that local police did not immediately say whether the person who was detained is believed to be involved in the abduction or whether he will face charges.
Photos released by police show Fletcher running in the neighborhood near the University of Memphis, as was reported by CNN. She was last seen wearing a pink jogging top and purple running shorts, the police said in an alert. CNN reported that Fletcher is White, 5’6,” with brown hair and green eyes, police said. She weighs 137 pounds.
According to a news release obtained by WHBQ, the damaged phone that belonged to Fletcher as well as a water bottle were discovered near the scene where she is believed to have been abducted, CrimeStoppers Executive Director Buddy Chapman said, according the CNN report.
In a statement shared by Chapman, Fletcher’s family said, “We look forward to Eliza’s safe return and hope that this award will help police capture those who committed this crime.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a tweet it is also assisting Memphis police in the investigation into Fletcher’s disappearance, CNN reported.
