Preparedness
Tennessee Criminal Receives 80-Year Sentence: Justice for Alicia Franklin
Cleotha Abston, a man whose name has been synonymous with shocking crimes in Tennessee, has recently been handed an 80-year prison sentence. Abston gained notoriety in September 2022, when he was taken into custody over his alleged involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Eliza Fletcher, a billionaire heiress and mother of two. The horrifying series of events included Fletcher being forced into a black SUV, an act caught on surveillance video.
Fletcher, a 34-year-old kindergarten teacher, had been out jogging on Central Avenue in Memphis when she was kidnapped. Her lifeless body was discovered days later near an unoccupied duplex.
A year prior to the Fletcher incident, in September 2021, Abston reportedly committed another horrendous act. He allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted another woman, known as Alicia Franklin, at gunpoint. On a recent Friday, a court sentenced him to 80 years in prison for the crimes against Franklin.
Abston received 40 years for aggravated rape, 20 years for aggravated kidnapping, and 20 years for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He chose to waive his right to a formal sentence hearing. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee decided that these sentences would be served consecutively.
Judge Coffee shared a chilling detail with the courtroom.
“When this defendant placed a gun to her face, to her neck and told her quote ‘BLEEP’ if you say anything or move, I will kill you.’ This is especially troubling.”
Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman expressed his commitment to justice in a statement following the ruling.
“We’ve been committed to justice for Alicia Franklin and Liza Fletcher since the awful crimes against them. My office asked for, and he received an 80-year maximum sentence with no possibility of parole.”
Hagerman further insisted on the importance of a severe sentence for Abston.
“His violent history and these crimes demand sentences that ensure he’ll get out of prison, ever,” Hagerman continued. “This sentence alone ensures that — but we are not done.”
The arrest of Abston, now aged 40, occurred a full year after his alleged crimes against Franklin, and only in the wake of Fletcher’s tragic death. His criminal record, unbelievably, dates back to when he was only 12 years old. Over his lifetime, he has been involved in more than 30 infractions.
Fletcher’s autopsy reported a fatal gunshot wound to the head, along with injuries to her right leg and jaw. As for the case involving Fletcher’s kidnapping and murder, Abston’s trial is slated to begin on June 17.
Prosecutors have made it clear they will seek the death penalty if Abston is convicted of first-degree murder in relation to Fletcher’s death. As the legal proceedings move forward, the hope for justice for these victims remains resolute.
Watch a local news report about the incident below:
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