Jogger abducted near UofM campus, police say

Memphis police say they have detained a man who was found inside a vehicle of interest after a... — Memphis police say they have detained a man who was found inside a vehicle of interest after a woman was abducted while jogging on Friday.(Memphis Police Dept.)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The kidnapper’s vehicle that took Eliza Fletcher has been found, and the man occupying it has been detained.

Eliza Fletcher still has not been found as of September 3rd, 2022.

Family has posted a $50,000 reward with CrimeStoppers for information that helps authorities arrest those responsible.

Eliza Fletcher, 34, went missing in the early morning hours. Police found her personal items but have not located her.

Police say she left her home on Carr Avenue and was abducted on Central Avenue, near the University of Memphis campus.

Her description is 5 foot, 6 inches tall, 137 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink jogging top and purple/blue running shorts and had her hair in a bun.

MPD released this photo of her, seen running:

A photo of Fletcher as she was out running(Memphis Police Dept.)

The University of Memphis sent an alert to students saying a woman had been kidnapped at about 4:30 a.m. on Central Avenue.

Officers were called to the scene around 7 a.m. when Fletcher was reported missing.

Police say the woman frequently jogs in the area and was approached by an unknown person and forced into an SUV.

The suspect was in a dark-colored SUV traveling westbound on Central Ave.

Police say Fletcher’s phone was found smashed and the phone and her water bottle were found in front of a home on Central Ave.

Friends say the woman they know as Liza is an avid runner and is a mother of two children.

She is also a teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, where she teaches Junior Kindergarten.

Surveillance photo of the suspect's SUV(Memphis Police Dept.)

Investigators utilized bloodhounds around the scene of the abduction, but the search for Fletcher didn’t end near the UofM.

From Friday morning until evening, investigators were in and out of Fletcher’s home on Carr Avenue in Central Gardens, at one point entering the front door with a riot shield.

One forensic investigator was seen carrying evidence markers.

Authorities eventually left the home with a laptop and garden shears and towed away a cream Jeep Wagoneer.

Anyone with information about Fletcher’s whereabouts should call 911 immediately. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist MPD.

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