Was Eliza Fletcher's abduction 'pre-planned'? Ex-cop hints teacher may have been stalked while jogging
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Former Washington, DC homicide detective Ted Williams says Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher's abduction is either "random" or "pre-planned," which is what police are likely trying to determine as they search for the missing woman.
Fletcher, 34, was abducted and forced into a dark SUV while driving near the University of Memphis around 4.20 am Friday, according to Memphis Police Station. “The kidnapping of Eliza Fletcher in Memphis is suspicious for many reasons,” Williams told Fox News Digital. “Law enforcement is trying to determine if this was a legitimate abduction or if it was pre-planned.” Williams said he has seen many such instances of criminals stalking their targets with consistent running and exercise routes.
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The police department received two phone calls on the morning of her abduction around 7.45 am — one from Fletcher's husband, Richard Fletcher III, who reported her missing after she did not come home from her run, and one from the University of Memphis. Police found some of Fletcher's belongings at the scene on Central Avenue. They were also told that a man approached Fletcher and forced her into a dark SUV after a struggle. "The…authorities are going to go back in the past few weeks to see if they can see that vehicle anywhere in the area of which she jogs," Williams said, adding that "video is going to be instrumental in locating that vehicle."
Later on Friday, authorities took a white Jeep Grand Wagoneer from in front of Fletcher's home. "I find it very interesting that law enforcement would tow away the vehicle at [Fletcher's] home. … All of those things factor in," Williams said. "Law enforcement is trying to find out what really was the [connection between] a woman jogging at 4:30 in the morning and a video that appears to show that she's been abducted." Once police obtain video of the vehicle around the time Fletcher was abducted, they will be able to determine whether "she knew her abductors," Williams explained. MPD continued its search for Fletcher on Saturday, and a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her whereabouts.
"She is the heir of a billion-dollar fortune, and the question is whether this is a kidnapping, or is this an abduction for another purpose? Was this an abduction, or was this pre-planned?" Williams speculated, adding that he believes law enforcement has "more information than what they're sharing with the public."