T he suspect in the abduction of billionaire heiress and Tennessee teacher Eliza Fletcher was identified after leaving his sandals at the crime scene, according to police.

Fletcher, 34, who was abducted while jogging at around 4 a.m. at the University of Memphis campus, engaged in a struggle with her kidnapper, now believed to be Cleotha “Pookie” Abston, 38, before being thrown into an SUV, according to an affidavit seen by NBC News. The struggle apparently resulted in the kidnapper losing his sandals, which were left at the scene, along with the victim's phone.

ELIZA FLETCHER ABDUCTION: MAN CHARGED IN CASE OF MISSING BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS

“During this abduction, there appeared to be a struggle,” the affidavit said. “The Champion slides sandals were found in this area. The vehicle then sat in the parking lot with the victim inside for approximately four minutes before it drove off.”

Police were able to trace the sandals back to Abston after finding his DNA on them. He has since been arrested and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence, Memphis police said.

Police fear Fletcher "suffered serious injury" in the struggle with her kidnapper, leaving blood in the SUV that the defendant cleaned, according to the affidavit.

Despite Abston's arrest, Fletcher has still not been found. "This remains to be an active and ongoing investigation," the Memphis Police Department said in a statement.

Fletcher is the granddaughter of hardware magnate Joseph "Joe" Orgill III, whose namesake wholesale family business is described as "the world's largest independent hardlines distributor with annual sales of $3 billion," according to the company's website. She is married to Richard "Richie" Fletcher III and a mother to their two children.

This remains to be an active and ongoing investigation.  We continue to ask for assistance from the community. If anyone has any information concerning this investigation, they should call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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Abston is being held in the county jail on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, per jail records reported by CNN. The report said it is not clear whether Abston has an attorney.

Court records reported by CNN show Abston served time for a prior kidnapping charge 20 years ago and was released in 2020.