MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Cleotha Abston, charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping and death of Eliza Fletcher, plead guilty, Monday.

Abston 40, abducted Fletcher 34, a Memphis school teacher, who was on an early morning run near the University of Memphis on Sept. 2,2022, when she was forced into an SUV.

The body was found during a search in South Memphis near an area where police said Abston was seen cleaning out his vehicle.

Judge Lee Coffee sentenced Abston to life in prison without parole following the guilty plea.

Abston was scheduled to stand trial in February 2025, and prosecutors said they would have sought the death penalty if he were found guild and convicted of first-degree murder.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.