Killer who murdered teacher on morning run gets earful from family at sentencing

The man accused of nan 2022 kidnapping and sidesplitting of Memphis mother and coach Eliza Fletcher pleaded blameworthy Monday and will walk nan remainder of his life successful prison. 

Cleotha Abston, 40, pleaded blameworthy to aggregate charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and tampering pinch evidence. A judge sentenced Abston to life successful situation without nan anticipation of parole.

Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother of 2 young boys and a kindergarten coach astatine St. Mary’s Episcopal School, vanished during an early greeting jog successful September 2022. Her disappearance sparked a wide hunt that lasted for days, until her assemblage was discovered successful South Memphis.

"I want america coming to admit and observe nan life of Liza Fletcher, a beloved daughter, wife, mother and coach who was tragically kidnapped and murdered successful a senseless enactment of random predatory violence," Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said successful a statement Monday. "Today’s statement achieves finality for nan family. The suspect gives up his correct to appeal, truthful location won’t beryllium years and decades of appeals. It besides helps nan community, because this vulnerable personification will ne'er again locomotion our streets. He will dice successful prison."

MEMPHIS FELON ACCUSED OF JOGGING TEACHER'S ABDUCTION AND MURDER DUE BACK COURT

Eliza Fletcher was a 34-year-old coach and mother of 2 erstwhile she was killed. (Jennifer Sink/Facebook, Memphis Police)

Before nan resolution, Abston’s trial was expected to statesman Feb. 10, but he gave up his correct to entreaty Monday.

During Abston's sentencing, Mulroy publication a connection from Fletcher’s family addressed to her killer.

"We person nary thought what happened to you to move you into personification truthful filled pinch a desire to wounded people. Whatever it was, it does not excuse aliases explicate what you person done. You person changed our lives forever, and thing will ever beryllium nan same," nan family connection said.

"Your actions were evil. There is nary different connection for it. You murdered Liza, moreover though she did thing to merit it. She did not wounded you. In fact, she would’ve been nan first to thief if you needed it."

ELIZA FLETCHER DEATH: MEMPHIS KIDNAPPING SUSPECT CLEOTHA ABSTON HELD WITHOUT BOND

Cleotha Abston Henderson stands pinch his attorney, Jennifer Case, successful criminal tribunal successful Memphis May 25, 2023. (Karen Pulfer Focht for Fox News Digital)

In nan early greeting hours of Sept. 2, 2022, Abston camped retired successful nan area earlier snatching Fletcher disconnected nan thoroughfare during her greeting jog, forcing her into his SUV, sexually assaulting her and shooting her successful nan backmost of nan head. 

Surveillance cameras recorded Abston sprinting retired of a GMC Terrain SUV and forcibly grabbing Fletcher astir 5:30 a.m. He mislaid his Champion slides footwear astatine nan scene, and constabulary recovered his DNA connected them. 

Abston was identified done forensic grounds and surveillance footage, Mulroy wrote successful a 2nd connection Monday. He was arrested nan time aft Fletcher was reported missing, pinch information footage capturing him cleaning his SUV.

Abston is simply a repetition offender pinch juvenile convictions that see rape and aggravated assault.

ELIZA FLETCHER KIDNAPPING: MEMPHIS TEACHER KILLED IN SUSPECTED 'ISOLATED ATTACK BY A STRANGER,' POLICE SAY

Eliza Fletcher's father, James Beasley, pinch mourners aft exiting nan religion for her funeral. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)

At his sentencing, Abston lowered his caput erstwhile speaking to nan judge but showed nary guidance aft pleading blameworthy to nan kidnapping and murder, WREG reported. He answered "yeah" to astir questions.

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"We miss nan agleam ray of Liza’s life each day. Liza meant truthful overmuch to truthful many, and her grin radiated happiness, energy, and comfort. Her husband, her children, her parents, her brother, nan remainder of her family, her friends, her students, her schoolhouse families, her chap teachers, her religion community, and truthful galore others were moved by countless examples of her faith, kindness, and compassion," nan afloat connection from Fletcher's family said, according to nan outlet.

"No ineligible solution and nary condemnation tin diminish nan anguish of Liza’s murder. We judge nan result that her murderer has pled blameworthy to each charges, will aftermath up successful situation for nan remainder of his life, and cannot harm anyone else."  

Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.