Eliza Fletcher Should Be Alive Today

The Long, Violent Criminal Record of Cleotha Abston

By Robert A. Waters

Cleotha Abston's criminal history began when he was 11 years-old. It never ended, even when he was incarcerated--in fact, while serving twenty years of a twenty-four year sentence, he committed more than 50 offenses in prison, including exposing himself to correctional officers, larceny, threatening employees, drug possession, and positive drug screenings. Even in prison, he seemed unable or unwilling control his criminal impulses. With that kind of record, why would an obviously dangerous inmate be released early?

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy wrote that Eliza Fletcher (pictured), "a devoted mother and beloved kindergarten teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal School, was abducted in September 2022 during an early morning run near the University of Memphis. Abston, a convicted felon previously imprisoned for kidnapping, was identified through forensic evidence and surveillance footage."

At around 4:00 A.M, on September 22, 2022, thirty-four-year-old Liza (as she was called) got out of bed and shucked on a pair of purple shorts, a pink shirt, and running shoes. Then she left the house to begin her usual morning jog. When she hadn't returned home by 7:45, her husband, Richard Fletcher, reported her missing.

The case quickly leaped to high profile status in the media. In addition to being an attractive blond, Liza was the mother of two young sons, and a productive, law-abiding citizen. Local TV hosts began railing about yet another innocent mother vanishing off the face of the earth. Then the media got wind of the fact that Liza was an "heiress." Her grandfather, it turned out, was a billionaire. Suddenly, the case exploded into an international sensation.

At around 6:45, on Central Avenue, a bicyclist found a cellphone and a pair of Champion "slides," i.e., sandals. Once he learned about the missing mother, the bicyclist turned these items over to police. The slides were tested for DNA and matched convicted felon Cleotha Abston. The phone belonged to Liza. 

Memphis police began searching the area around the university. One of the tactics of modern police work is to look for surveillance video. And it was there that detectives hit the jackpot. Footage obtained near where the shoes and phone were found showed the abduction. As she ran along the street, a black 2013 GMC Terrain was seen passing her and stopping in front of Liza's jogging direction. As she attempted to pass the vehicle, a figure jumped out the car and grabbed her. Footage shows a violent struggle as Liza is forced into the van.

Liza's body was found three days later. She'd been raped and bludgeoned to death. Liza's blood was found in Abston's car, even though he cleaned it thoroughly. Cops had no doubt they'd found the killer.

Abston's first arrest, for stealing a car, occurred shortly after he turned eleven. Because of his age, he was let off. Again and again. As he continued to commit crimes, he learned that breaking the law garnered few, if any, consequences. When he was fourteen, he raped a smaller boy and still received no jail time.

By the time he reached sixteen, he was ready for the big leagues. Abston used a gun to carjack and kidnap attorney Kemper Durand. He locked Durand in the trunk of his own car, a Mercedes Benz, then drove around picking up "friends." At some point, Abston forced the lawyer into a convenience store to withdraw money from an ATM. Durand saw an armed security guard enter and sounded the alarm. The guard quickly called police. Abston and his cohorts fled when they saw the guard's gun. Durand later said, "I was extremely lucky that I was able to escape from the custody of Cleotha Abston...It's quite likely that I would have been killed had I not escaped."

Abston was sentenced to 24 years in prison for kidnapping. But, as we all know, 24 years never means 24 years. Even though he had all those prison infractions against him, he was released after serving slightly less than 20 years. Memphis writer Jessica Jaglois wrote that, "according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, he was released early due to credits he received for serving jail time before his sentence and for participating in the prison's job program where Abston worked in the kitchen, laundry, [as a] cleaner, and as a cook."

Almost from the second he was released, Abston began a crime spree. He somehow obtained a job at a Fed Ex warehouse. Within weeks, he was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods. He targeted high-end items such as television sets and designer shoes, such as Nikes. Despite his arrest, Abston was released while cops and Fed Ex continued their investigations.

The violent criminal soon set up a profile on an internet dating service. The first woman to contact him was Alicia Franklin. (NOTE: she released her name to the media.) She was promptly lured to a vacant apartment and raped. DNA linked Abston, but he somehow remained free until he murdered Liza.

In 2023, before going to trial for the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher, Abston pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Later, he was convicted of the rape and kidnapping of Alicia Franklin. A Tennessee judge sentenced him to eighty years.

Abston should have been arrested earlier for raping Franklin, but was not. Immediately after the assault, she reported it to the Memphis Police Department and had a rape kit done. He was quickly identified by DNA but was not immediately arrested.

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally was still outraged that Abston had been released from prison early. He stated that if the convicted felon had served his full sentence for the Durand kidnapping, "Eliza Fletcher would still be alive." 

The grieving Fletcher family released a statement to be read to Abston. It read: "We have no idea what happened to you to turn you into someone so filled with a desire to hurt people. Whatever it was, it does not excuse or explain what you have done. You have changed the course of our lives forever, and nothing will ever be the same. Your actions were evil. There is no other word for it. You murdered Liza, even though she did nothing to deserve it. She did not hurt you. In fact, she would've been the first to help if you needed it."

Cleotha Abston (pictured) has never shown one shred of remorse.

The Magic Needle

 Nancy Judith Harris

Burned to death for $76.00 and a wedding ring...

By Robert A. Waters

After Matthew Johnson was sentenced to death for the murder of Nancy Harris, her son Christopher looked him in the eye and said, "I hope the screams of my mother tear at your soul for eternity."

The time has finally come for whatever justice humans can deliver. Johnson is scheduled to be executed in the Texas death chamber on May 20.

Nancy Harris had worked at the Fina Whip convenience store in Garland, Texas for many years. On the morning of May 20, 2012, the seventy-six-year-old mother and grandmother opened up at 7:00 A.M. Videotape shows everything that happened in the next few minutes.

Matthew Lee Johnson entered the store shortly after Harris. Court records state that he was "carrying a cigarette lighter and a bottle containing what was later determined to be lighter fluid. [Johnson] walked around the sales counter into the employees-only area where Harris was standing. He poured the fluid over Harris's head, demanded money, and stood immediately behind her as she attempted to open the cash register."

Johnson grabbed two packs of cigarettes and two more lighters. Documents read that "he also attempted to remove Harris's ring. When it did not come off, [Johnson] licked his fingers, used the moisture to lubricate the ring and Harris's finger, and worked the ring off."

By this time, Nancy had opened the register. Johnson reached in and pulled out $76.00 in bills. Not wanting to leave anything behind, he also scooped up the few coins he found in the tray.  

Then, before leaving, Johnson clicked a lighter and held it to Harris's head. Her hair exploded in flames, and, as Johnson left, she ran to the back of the store to a nearby sink. Video shows her hair on fire and the flames crawling down to her shoulders. Using water from the faucet, she attempted to put out the flames but was unsuccessful. 

In fact, the blaze got worse. Documents describe the scene: "Harris leaned over the sink, attempting to extinguish the flames. When that attempt failed, Harris removed her burning shirt and dropped it to the floor, but her brassiere remained on fire. As Harris leaned over the sink again, flames from the still-burning shirt ignited her pants leg. She was unable to extinguish the flames. Still on fire, she made her way out of the store and began screaming for help."

As this was happening, Johnson nonchalantly grabbed a couple of candy bars and walked out the door.

Two police officers happened to be near the store and ran to help. Officer Billy Coffee grabbed a fire extinguisher from his car and put out the flames. He and the other officer called for backup and attempted to administer aid to Nancy. She kept screaming, "Help me. Help me. Help me." She also gave the officers a description of her attacker.

An ambulance quickly arrived and transported Nancy to Parkland Hospital. There, emergency room physicians determined that the patient had first, second, and third degree burns on her face, shoulders, abdomen, upper arms and legs. Staff quickly started the burn protocol, but Nancy's airway began closing. Medical personnel intubated the patient but had little hope that she would survive.

In the meantime, Johnson had retreated to a neighborhood behind the store. There, as he attempted to break into a home, he was arrested. In his pockets, cops located Harris's ring, cigarette lighters, coins and seventy-six dollars in bills.

In constant excruciating pain, Harris passed away three days after the attack. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, caused by "thermal injury."

Johnson had a lengthy criminal history, including many arrests for robbery, violating protective orders, resisting arrest, numerous charges for drug offenses, aggravated assaults, thefts, exposing his genitalia in a public place, and several counts of domestic abuse. 

Johnson was tried and convicted of the capital murder of Nancy Harris. A jury voted 12-0 to give him the death penalty. A few weeks ago, his appeals ran out. Johnson is scheduled to die on May 20, 2025.

While politicians in many states make excuses for not carrying out death sentences, Texas executes approximately five killers each year. One of the lamest rationalizations some legislators give to their voters is that they are unable get the drugs to required for execution. 

Texas must have a magic needle, because officials seem to have no trouble sending deserving killers like Matthew Lee Johnson from Planet Earth to Hell. 

Carjackers Who Murdered Woman Get Light Sentences

 Linda Frickey

Woman's Arm Severed in Deadly Attack

By Robert A. Waters

Like jackals, they surrounded the silver Nissan mini-van as Linda Frickey waited inside. There was Lenyra Theophile, 15; Mar'quel Curtis, 15; Briniyah Baker, 16; and the leader of the pack, John Honore, 17. Surveillance video from home cameras captured the teens circling their prey.

On March 21, 2022, the normally peaceful community on Beinville Street in New Orleans was decidedly middle-class, in the best sense of the word. Residents worked for what they had, and kept their homes looking nice. Linda, employed as an agent for Security Plan Life Insurance Company, had given her employers 28 years of service. Friendly, positive, outgoing, Linda had made long-lasting friends with many of her customers.

Closing in, Honore nonchalantly sidled up to the driver's side door. Suddenly, he yanked it open, surprising his victim. Before Linda could move, Honore whipped out a can of pepper spray and drenched her. Then he punched her in the face several times for good measure. Linda could not fight back. As Honore tugged at her, trying to get Linda out of the car, the other three predators piled into the vehicle.

Linda finally fell onto the asphalt, and Honore deliberately stomped on her face before climbing into the driver's seat. During the assault, Linda's right arm got caught in the seat belt, part of which hung outside the car.

Jillian Kramer, staff writer for NOLA.com, described what happened next.

"Honore got into the vehicle and drove...Frickey, tangled in the driver's seatbelt, was dragged alongside the SUV for the length of nearly two football fields.

"From her front yard on Beinville Street, Leanne Mascar watched as [Frickey] flapped on the side of the vehicle.

"Then I heard this voice: 'Let me go,' Mascar said.

"'Honore was trying to dislodge this person like a piece of trash had stuck to the car,' she said.

"He drove the vehicle over a curb. There a utility pole cable ripped Frickey's arm from her body. Mascar said she ran to Frickey, who was awake, face up, her clothes ripped from her body.

"'My first thought was where is all the blood?' Mascar testified. 'There was no blood.'

"She covered Frickey with a pink and white sheet. With her husband, Marc, and several others who had gathered, Mascar prayed over Frickey. 'Time was going slowly,' Mascar recalled."

Paramedics arrived just in time to watch Linda die. Forensic pathologist Erin O'Sullivan stated that Linda had suffered the following injuries: fractured ribs, vertebrae and collarbone, a torn aorta, and head bleeding. She also had her arm severed from her body. She might have died from any of those injuries, according to O'Sullivan.

Within hours, the parents of two of the assailants turned them in, and those two ratted out the others. Honore had driven the car a mere two miles before abandoning it. 

Linda had many family members in the area. After such a brutal attack, her family, including her husband of 36 years, called on the system to render justice. But justice in America does not often come easily, especially when those committing crimes are juveniles.

In 2023, Honore chose to face a jury while his cohorts pled guilty to reduced charges of second-degree murder. Baker, Theophile, and Curtis received 20 years in prison. Honore was convicted, also of second-degree murder. The judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. (He will be 42 years old at that time.)

According to my research, the three accomplices might serve 85% of their time before being released. That means they will be in their early thirties when they're freed to bring more misery to residents of the Big Easy. 

Where are the Police?

New Mexico Woman Shoots Felon Who Breaks into Her Home

Check out this interview with Anissa Tinnin. Here, using Ring doorbell surveillance video and audio recordings of the 9-1-1 call, we get a real-life perspective of a home invasion as it's occurring.

Joseph Rivera should have been in jail or prison. But within a span of a few weeks, he was arrested and re-arrested at least five times for auto theft and other charges, yet each time he was released. And so he ended up breaking into Tinnin's home.

NOTE: Thanks to KRQE News for publishing this interview.