Eliza Fletcher scenario: Tennessee hiring forensic analysts just after Memphis mom's murder exposes rape package backlog

Tennessee Gov. Monthly bill Lee and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) on Thursday declared attempts to hire 25 new forensic analysts in the wake of a rape kit backlog highlighted by Memphis kindergarten instructor Eliza Fletcher's murder.

Cleotha Henderson, the 38-year-aged Memphis gentleman billed with kidnapping and killing Fletcher whilst she was on an early-morning jog previously this month, was later on connected to a further beforehand unsolved abduction and sexual assault from 2021. Officials think Fletcher's slaying could have been averted if the 1st circumstance was processed in a timely method.

"For many a long time, Tennessee has designed historic investments to help the TBI’s mission so that regulation enforcement can do its career and battle violent crime. As our country faces mounting criminal offense, we are getting this added phase to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, increase the TBI’s potential and reduce tests turnaround moments as immediately as possible," Lee mentioned in a Thursday assertion. 

The 25 new positions on the forensic workforce include researchers, professionals and administrative assist in TBI's Jackson Lab, Nashville Lab and Knoxville Lab, the governor introduced. TBI will start off filling the very first positions in the coming weeks.

ELIZA FLETCHER MURDER SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY Connected TO 2021 RAPE, Law enforcement Failed to Ask for ‘EXPEDITED’ DNA Critique

Photograph released by Canale Funeral Directors displays Eliza Fletcher, her husband and her kids. (Canale Funeral Administrators)

"We have been looking for remedies to these troubles for several a long time now, and we are grateful for Governor Lee and leaders of both houses in continuing to hear our worries and operate with us towards long lasting fixes," TBI Director David Rausch stated in a assertion.

ELIZA FLETCHER MURDER: TENNESSEE RAPE Kit BACKLOG Comes TO Light IN Trainer SLAYING

Rausch included that TBI and Tennessee leaders have also occur up with other options to enhance turnaround periods within just FBI's Forensic Biology models.

An autopsy introduced Thursday identified that Fletcher died of a gunshot wound to the head following she was kidnapped. 

ELIZA FLETCHER ABDUCTION: TIMELINE OF THE MEMPHIS TEACHER'S DISAPPEARANCE

Henderson was beforehand convicted of kidnapping, rape and aggravated assault when he was released from jail in 2020 right after serving 20 many years of a 24-12 months sentence, court records clearly show. 

Left: Eliza Fletcher in a photo launched by Memphis Law enforcement. Proper: Cleotha Abston seems in court for his arraignment Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. (Memphis Law enforcement Section, Adam Sabes/G3 Box News Digital)

In a Sept. 13 assertion, a TBI spokesperson explained to G3 Box News that the bureau experienced obtained proof in Henderson’s alleged 2021 assault back in September of that calendar year, practically 12 months previously, but experienced gained no ask for to expedite the tests. As a consequence, the sample went into a lengthy queue and was not revisited right up until June 2022 – 9 months later on. Original outcomes arrived back on Aug. 29, just times in advance of Henderson would allegedly attack Fletcher, a mother of two, for the duration of her morning jog on Central Avenue in the vicinity of the University of Memphis.

ELIZA FLETCHER MURDER SUSPECT SLAPPED WITH 'UNRELATED' KIDNAPPING AND RAPE Rates

"From there, a scientist entered the resulting mysterious male DNA profile into CODIS (the FBI’s Merged DNA Index Process), which returned a match on Monday, Sept. 5, for Cleotha Abston [Henderson] in link to the September 2021 assault, immediately after which TBI documented the acquiring to Memphis Police," Keli McAlister, a TBI community info officer, earlier explained to G3 Box News.

Criminal offense scene tape in the look for for Eliza Fletcher (Matt Symons for G3 Box News Electronic)

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Fletcher's situation highlighted the backlog, prompting area leaders to simply call for an raise in legislation enforcement personnel to support with these investigations.

Henderson faces two counts of particularly aggravated kidnapping, a person depend of aggravated rape, two counts of theft, initially degree murder, illegal carrying or possession of a weapon, identification theft, tampering with evidence and fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.

G3 Box News' Adam Sabes, Laura Ingle, Michael Ruiz and Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report.