A woman was abducted early Friday morning near the University of Memphis (UofM).
Her family is offering $50,000 to anyone who comes forward with information that will help authorities find the person responsible for her kidnapping.
“We look forward to Eliza’s safe return and hope that this award will help police arrest those who committed this crime,” said a family statement released by CrimeStoppers director Buddy Champman.
UofM officials have sent out a warning that a woman who regularly runs on Central Avenue appears to have been abducted around 4:30 a.m. in Central’s 3800 block.
PHOTOS: Woman kidnapped, forced into SUV while running near University of Memphis
According to the Memphis Police Department, officers were dispatched around 7:45 a.m. to assist UofM officers regarding a missing person in the Central and Zach Curlin area.
Officers were told that a woman identified as Eliza Fletcher, 34, was jogging in the area around 4:20 a.m. when an unknown person approached her.
According to MPD, she was reportedly forced into an SUV and taken.
The suspect was in a dark-colored SUV heading west on Central. MPD later released a photo of the vehicle.
Fletcher is a teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School.
Albert Throckmorton, the school principal, said younger students have not been notified of the kidnapping, but the school is supporting older students in hearing the news.
The school has issued a letter to parents saying that counselors and chaplains are available to support students.
“You don’t want to hear that happen. We just want to find her,’ said Hart Robinson, a friend of Eliza Fletcher’s family.
“She teaches and that has two young boys who are clearly concerned about a wonderful lady, just the best mother.”
Robinson said Fletcher regularly runs near the University of Memphis.
“After we actually find the information and see a video of the person being kidnapped, that will raise the alarm,” says Mj. Karen Rudolph, an information officer with the Memphis Police Department, said.
Police said Fletcher’s phone and water bottle were found outside a home on Central Avenue, which is owned by the university.
Surveillance videos in the area showed that Fletcher was wearing a pink sports top and blue shorts in the area shortly before the incident.
Robinson said they just want her to be found safe.
“If you know anything or saw anything early this morning, we’re asking you to come forward and help us,” he said.
“It’s just the way things are these days. The way it is now,” said Charles Hartman of Memphis.
Hartman reacts after learning that Fletcher was kidnapped while he was running in his East Memphis neighborhood.
“It’s pretty quiet here at the university, this is very rare,” he said.
FOX13 spoke to students who said they were on high alert following the incident.
“I think we have a security team that will escort you to your car after dark, so people need to know that,” said Mark Provence.
Fletcher is 5′6”, 137 lbs., with brown hair and green eyes.
MPD said her personal items were found but she has not returned home.
MPD provided an address for Fletcher in the 1500 block of Carr Avenue.
The FBI and TBI have both responded to assist with the investigation.
If anyone has any information about Fletcher’s kidnapping or whereabouts, call 911 immediately.
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