Man charged with rape, murder of Memphis mother Eliza Fletcher gets 80 years for raping, kidnapping Alicia Franklin at gunpoint



The Tennessee man charged with the rape and murder of Memphis mother Eliza Fletcher has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for raping and kidnapping another woman.

In September 2022, Cleotha Abston made national headlines when he was arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of billionaire heiress Eliza Fletcher. Abston is accused of forcing the mother-of-two into a black SUV, which is reportedly seen on surveillance video. Fletcher, a 34-year-old kindergarten school teacher who had been jogging on Central Avenue in Memphis when she was kidnapped, was found dead days later near a vacant duplex.

In September 2021, Abston reportedly kidnapped and raped another woman at gunpoint.

On Friday, Abston was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the kidnapping and rape of Alicia Franklin.

Abston was sentenced in the Franklin case to 40 years in prison for aggravated rape, 20 years for aggravated kidnapping, and 20 years for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He waived his right to a formal sentence hearing.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee ruled that the sentences would run consecutively.

Judge Coffee said Abston treated Franklin with "exceptional cruelty.”

The judge told 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 said in a statement, "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."

"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."

Reaction to Cleotha Abston verdict youtu.be

Abston, 40, was not arrested until the death of Fletcher – a full year later after his heinous crimes against Franklin.

Abston has a history of criminal charges dating back to the 1990s – starting when he was 12 years old. The judge said Abston was involved with more than 30 infractions during his life.

An autopsy report showed Fletcher died of a gunshot wound to the head, and also suffered injuries to her right leg and jaw.

Abston's trial for the suspected kidnapping and murder of Fletcher is expected to begin on June 17.

Prosecutors have said they will pursue the death penalty if Abston is convicted of first-degree murder in Fletcher's death.

Abston has pleaded not guilty.

Woman claims she was assaulted by suspect in Eliza Fletcher case l GMA www.youtube.com

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Whitlock: Memphis murder spree a byproduct of demonic, baby-mama cultural embrace



When trying to make sense of the criminal violence ravaging Memphis, it’s important to recognize that culture kills, not color.

The fixation on color stands in the way of addressing the cultural rot that has turned the Home of the Blues into Satan’s House of Horror. Memphis is America’s most dangerous city. Each day brings new news of the chaos and anarchy terrorizing the Birthplace of Rock & Roll.

Wednesday, a teenage black boy streamed on Facebook Live his daylong shooting spree. Ezekiel Kelly’s murderous rampage caused Memphis residents to shelter in place as law enforcement hunted the deranged 19-year-old. Shooting out the window of two separate moving cars, Kelly allegedly killed four people and wounded three others in a “joyride” that started at 1 a.m. and ended in the early evening with his arrest.

Kelly is just the latest Memphis alleged killer to make national news.

A week ago, Cleotha Abston, a 38-year-old black man, allegedly abducted, raped, and murdered a schoolteacher out on an early-morning jog. In mid-July, a trio of Latino boys ages 15 to 20 allegedly murdered a 52-year-old female pastor during a carjacking. In mid-August, 32-year-old Tifanee Wright, a black woman, allegedly shot and killed a 60-year-old political activist in a dispute over money.

The recent high-profile spate of violence will make Memphis a national talking point. Memphis is the new Chicago, the new Baltimore, the new Philadelphia, the new Compton, the new Name the Major City plagued by violent crime.

The conversation will be justifiably framed as a “black” problem or a problem for “people of color.” Justifiable is not the same as accurate. Culture kills, not color.

Black people have embraced a culture of death.

Virtually every day on social media, someone accuses me of unfairly criticizing black people. I allegedly hate myself and other black people because I constantly criticize black influencers who advocate for black people by policing the behavior and culture of white people.

Yesterday, after I published my column about why South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley should fear Memphis far more than Provo, Utah, a man purporting to be a Christian minister complained that I was “anti the black agenda.” Staley canceled South Carolina’s games against Brigham Young University because a BYU fan allegedly yelled racial slurs at a Duke volleyball player. I argued that Staley’s players would be in far more danger when they played at Memphis in 2023.

I don’t hate myself or black people. I hate the culture black people have embraced. I’m critical of the high-profile advocates of the progressive, secular, hedonistic, and materialistic culture that currently defines “black culture.”

They have a worldview that directly opposes my biblical worldview. They believe the highest form of humanity is victimhood. I reject that. With Jesus on my side, I cannot fail. My ultimate victory is assured. They believe that white people control the destiny of black people. I reject that, too. They believe in the attainment of financial wealth by any means necessary. I don’t. They believe the improvement of white people improves black people. I believe my improvement improves me. I could go on and on.

Bottom line: “Tha Culture” is satanic. Its wicked intent and manifestation can be most easily seen in commercial hip-hop music.

Memphis’ importance to “Tha Culture” was elevated a year ago when a relatively unknown rapper, Young Dolph, was murdered. Corporate media and the other satanic co-conspirators all pretended that Young Dolph was Young Elvis Presley. Young Dolph was nothing more than a local Memphis rapper who promoted a satanic worldview.

His successor is his cousin, Jay Fizzle, a 28-year-old deadbeat with more than 20 kids. Fizzle recently sat down for an interview with at least 15 of his “baby mamas.” He wants to do a TV show about his kids and their mothers.

If you want to understand what’s the matter with Memphis, watch the Jay Fizzle interview on YouTube. If you want to understand why I call “Tha Culture” satanic, watch the Jay Fizzle interview.

“Baby mama” culture produces 19-year-olds who livestream their killing sprees. The destruction of family destroys all morals, norms, and order.

Culture kills, not color.

I will never apologize for hating the culture that celebrates, tolerates, and proliferates a mindset that teaches black people to see themselves as victims, dependent on white guilt, and criminals.

Our fixation on color prevents us from examining the culture we’ve adopted or been assigned.

Last week, the Tennessee Titans announced a partnership with the Memphis rap group Three Six Mafia. The NFL franchise hired DJ Paul and Juicy J to write a theme song for the organization. This is an example of the NFL being “inclusive” and reaching out to the black community.

Three Six Mafia is a clever way of saying 666, the number that signifies the Devil, the antichrist. It’s taken from the Book of Revelation, chapter 13, verse 18: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.”

The evil is hiding in plain sight. Look at the NFL’s choice in Super Bowl halftime entertainment last year – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. The most powerful force in popular culture – the NFL – believes the best way to show affection toward black people is by embracing a musical genre that celebrates a satanic worldview.

Tha Culture is killing us. It’s not white people or black people killing us. It’s the culture we’ve chosen to embrace.

I’m going to continue objecting to this culture. I’m going to continue criticizing the black and white people who promote this death culture. If that makes me a sellout, consider me bought and sold.

Suspected Memphis mass shooter a violent felon who was released from jail early



Four people are dead and three more were injured in the string of shootings that paralyzed Memphis, Tennessee, with fear on Wednesday night. The suspect, 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly, is a convicted felon who was freed from jail early. He was captured by police after crossing state lines and has been charged with first-degree murder.

Kelly reportedly claimed he wouldn't be going back to jail and livestreamed his alleged crimes on Facebook. The videos have since been taken down.

Police indicated that the 19-year-old began his violent spree at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, around which time a 24-year-old gunshot victim was found dead in his driveway in the 3100 block of Lyndale Avenue.

At 4:38 p.m., police responded to another shooting, this time in the 900 block of South Parkway East. A man was found with multiple gunshot wounds dead inside his car. Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis indicated that Kelly had pulled up next to the victim in a grey vehicle, shot him, and fled.

Minutes later, Kelly allegedly shot a woman in the leg on Norris Road near Interstate 240. The injured woman was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. Kelly is said to have again fled the scene, but this time in a dark sedan.

During the shootings, which continued well after the injured woman was rushed to hospital, police issued multiple warnings, telling people to "shelter in place." Public bus service was suspended, people were instructed to stay in their homes, and a minor-league baseball game was placed on lockdown.

\u201chttps://t.co/oFj7eUn6LG\u201d
— Memphis Police Dept (@Memphis Police Dept) 1662595216

Around 6 p.m., Kelly allegedly walked into an AutoZone store, took aim at an unsuspecting man and pulled the trigger. On his livestream, he allegedly said, "Check this s*** out. I pull up and do this s*** ... What do those n***** say? No faking? No faking. You heard me, this s*** for real."

The AutoZone victim survived, but was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

After the AutoZone shooting, the Memphis Police Department launched a citywide manhunt and asked additional partner agencies for help in locating Kelly.

Just after 7 p.m., Kelly allegedly killed a woman, stealing her grey Toyota SUV. Minutes later, he allegedly shot a man, who was subsequently taken to the hospital.

According to officials, Kelly soon traded in his stolen vehicle for a new ride. He allegedly stole a Dodge Challenger in Southaven, Mississippi.

Police identified the stolen vehicle on Interstate 55 and gave chase. The resulting high-speed pursuit ended when Kelly wrecked the stolen vehicle.

The Shelby County sheriff's office and the MPD took Kelly into custody without incident near Ivan Road and Hodges Road, where he had crashed.

\u201cFROM THE SCENE: Video shows the moments 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly was captured after allegedly going on a shooting spree across the Mid-South. https://t.co/3OKscsoXpK\u201d
— FOX13 Memphis (@FOX13 Memphis) 1662607826

MPD lifted the shelter-in-place warning around 9:30 p.m.

In February 2020, Kelly was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. His attempted murder charge was dismissed and he pled guilty to aggravated assault, receiving a three-year sentence in April 2021.

Despite the three-year sentence, he was released 11 months later in March.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said, "If Mr. Kelly served his full 3-year sentence, he would still be in prison today and 4 of our fellow citizens would still be alive. ... Our judicial system is too often a revolving door. A citizen emailed me today: 'Until/unless there are real consequences for criminal behavior, it will continue.' I agree 100%."

Former Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich, defeated and replaced by Democrat Steve Mulroy in August, recently suggested that Memphis, Tennessee, would soon look like San Francisco, which saw a marked spike in violent crimes over the past few years under Democratic district attorneys. "The answer to our crime problem is not simply releasing people from prison."

In a press conference on Wednesday, Mulroy said, "People are frightened, people are angry. In times like this, it's sometimes hard for people to know what to do."

This violent sequence of events took place only days after 38-year-old Cleotha Abston was charged in connection with the Friday abduction and murder of Eliza Fletcher in Memphis, which Mulroy termed "an isolated attack."

Suspect accused of driving around Memphis shooting at people has been taken into custody youtu.be

Memphis mother and baby abducted from Target, 1 kidnapping suspect arrested and the other still on the run



Last week, a Memphis mother and her 1-year-old son were abducted at gunpoint outside a Target. One of the suspects was arrested yesterday. The other suspect is still on the run from authorities.

On August 31, Memphis Police responded to a call that a mother and her baby were approached at gunpoint by two men while the mother was putting groceries into her vehicle in a Target parking lot. She told authorities that the men jumped out of a tan vehicle and attacked her while her child was still sitting in the shopping cart.

The two assailants demanded money, but the victim told the men she did not have any. So instead, she handed the attackers her wallet and gave them the pin number to one of her cards, reported WREG-TV.

The men grabbed her child from the shopping cart and forced the two into her car. The victim said she sat in the vehicle's front seat with one of the men. The other man, who was armed, sat in the back seat with her 1-year-old son.

The men drove to a nearby bank and demanded that she withdraw $800 from the ATM. After the men collected the money, they drove back to Target and made the mother and child get out of the vehicle.

The suspects attempted to wipe their fingerprints from the debit card used to withdraw money from the ATM. They returned the card to the woman's purse and left with her wallet. The mother ran inside Target to alert staff to the incident.

Authorities were able to obtain photos of the men from a Walmart security camera, taken prior to the kidnapping. Law enforcement released the images to the public of the wanted men in hopes of identifying the two individuals.

On Tuesday morning, Memphis police identified and arrested 25-year-old Will Hayes as one of the suspects in the kidnapping, reported WHBQ-TV. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

The other suspect has not yet been identified or arrested. Memphis Police reported that the investigation is still ongoing.

The kidnapping of the mother and baby occurred only two days before the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher. The Memphis schoolteacher was abducted while out on a morning jog.