Kidnapping victim believed Cleotha Abston was going to kill him – two decades before Eliza Fletcher’s murder

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A man kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Cleotha Abston believed that he would have killed him if he had the chance – two decades before the suspect allegedly abducted and murdered Memphis business heiress Eliza Fletcher. Memphis attorney Kemper Durand said in a 2003 victim impact statement that he was “lucky” to escape from Abston, now 38, during the violent kidnapping back in 2000. open image in gallery Cleotha Abston appears in court on Tuesday morning Abston pleaded guilty in 2001 to especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery. “It is quite likely that I would have been killed had I not escaped.” open image in gallery Kemper Durand was Cleotha Abston’s kidnapping victim in 2000 Mr Durand also pointed to Abston’s long rap sheet prior to the kidnapping, having been in and out of the juvenile system since he was around 12 years old on charges of theft, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a weapon, and rape.