Venue Change Denied in Rape Trial of Eliza Fletcher Murder Suspect

Cleotha Abston to Face Trial in Shelby County, Tennessee, Despite Defense's Concerns Over Media Publicity

Cleotha Abston, accused of raping a woman in 2021 and killing schoolteacher Eliza Fletcher in 2022, will face trial in Shelby County, Tennessee, as a judge denied a change of venue motion.
Abston was not arrested on the rape charges before Fletcher’s killing due to a delay in processing the sexual assault kit.
The trial for the rape charges is scheduled for April 8 and will take place before the trial for Fletcher's murder.
Prosecutors will pursue the death penalty if Abston is convicted of first-degree murder in Fletcher's death.
Following Fletcher's death, the Tennessee Legislature passed a law requiring the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to issue a quarterly report on sexual assault kit testing times.