Remembering Eliza Fletcher: Hundreds Complete Liza's Run in Memphis to Honor Late Teacher
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Eliza Fletcher's legacy lives on in her local community.
Hundreds ran through Memphis streets on Sept. 9 as part of an event to honor the late kindergarten teacher.
The event, titled Let's Finish Liza's Run, comes after Eliza Fletcher, 34, was found dead on Sept. 5 after being kidnapped three days earlier while out on a jog, according to the city's police department.
The run began around 6:20am and stretched 8.2 miles along a path Fletcher would regularly run. Coordinators wrote on Facebook that they "created this run as way to honor Liza and cope with our own feelings."
"Our goal is to stand up for the women in the Mid South," the event's Facebook page read, "and emphasize that women should be able to safely run any time of day."
Authorities were alerted of Fletcher's disappearance on Sept. 2 after the teacher did not return home from her morning run. In a missing persons alert, police said that Fletcher had been approached by an individual during her run and "forced into an SUV."
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Fletcher's family issued a statement on Sept. 6 and shared that they were "heartbroken and devastated by this senseless loss."
"Liza was such a joy to so many—her family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, members of her Second Presbyterian Church congregation, and everyone who knew her," read their statement. "Now it's time to remember and celebrate how special she was and to support those who cared so much for her."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Even a few of the runners are wearing pink sports tank and/or purple shorts... the outfit similar in appearance as Liza was running in on her last run.<br>Local law enforcement is also present watching over the runners. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FinishElizasRun?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FinishElizasRun</a> <a href="https://t.co/6V7P09zLsz">pic.twitter.com/6V7P09zLsz</a></p>— Jurnee Taylor (@JurneeTaylorTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JurneeTaylorTV/status/1568184642200559617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Memphis police announced in a Sept. 6 press conference that they had arrested and charged suspect Cleotha Henderson with first-degree murder and perpetration of kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence in connection to Fletcher's death.
Henderson went to court on Sept. 7 for his second arraignment and made a third appearance on Sept. 8.
He is due back in court in court on Sept. 19.
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