FROM THE COURTROOM: A Killer’s Attempt at Freedom
In a courtroom still haunted by the brutal memory of Eliza Fletcher’s tragic murder, Cleotha Abston made headlines once again — not for remorse, but for an attempt to escape justice for yet another heinous crime. Already serving a life sentence for the kidnapping and killing of the beloved Memphis teacher, Abston’s defense returned with a shocking motion that stunned even the most hardened observers.
His attorneys argued that the presence of a firearm — discovered during the investigation into Fletcher’s murder — unfairly influenced the jury in an entirely separate trial. That trial? The rape and kidnapping of Alicia Franklin, a young woman who bravely came forward and whose life was forever scarred by Abston’s actions.
The defense insisted that this gun, shown to the jury as part of prosecutorial evidence, was prejudicial and unrelated — and thus grounds for overturning the conviction.
But what about justice for Alicia?
Alicia Franklin: Forgotten or Failed?
Alicia Franklin’s name is often overshadowed by the high-profile Eliza Fletcher case, but her trauma deserves no less attention. Kidnapped and sexually assaulted by Abston before Fletcher’s murder even occurred, Franklin reported the crime in 2021. Yet, delays in processing evidence meant her case stalled while Abston remained free — long enough to claim another victim.
Franklin’s pain echoes in every line of her victim impact statements. She trusted the system. She waited for justice. And when it finally came, Abston’s defense sought to erase it by pointing fingers at technicalities — a weapon not directly tied to her case, but shown during the trial to illustrate a broader pattern of his criminal behavior.
Was it fair? Was it right? Or was this yet another example of how victims like Alicia are retraumatized — not just by the crime, but by the system meant to protect them?
One Monster, Two Victims, Endless Trauma
Cleotha Abston is no stranger to the justice system. From a violent youth to a chilling pattern of predation, his crimes have shattered lives and shocked communities. But his courtroom challenge this week felt like another blow — not just to Franklin, but to every survivor who’s ever had to watch their attacker twist the legal system in hopes of freedom.
The judge has yet to rule on whether the inclusion of the firearm indeed tainted the jury’s view. But to many watching, including Alicia Franklin and the family of Eliza Fletcher, the facts are crystal clear: the evidence may be in dispute, but the pain is real, the trauma deep, and the danger of this man ever seeing freedom again is too great a risk to take.
