The convicted kidnapper accused of snatching Tennessee heiress Eliza Fletcher appeared in court early Tuesday just moments after his charges were upgraded to first-degree murder.

Cleotha Abston, 38, appeared in Shelby County Circuit Court wearing green prison scrubs and a black face mask, at one point meekly raising a hand to try to get the judge’s attention.

He was held in custody after confirming that he could not afford the $510,000 bond that he was previously ordered held on after being charged Sunday with especially aggravated kidnapping 34-year-old mom of two Fletcher.

Prosecutors asked for more time to adjust that bond after Abston was further charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping.

Memphis police confirmed that a body found was the missing heiress and announced the charges at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday, just 11 minutes before Abston was scheduled in court.

The suspect — who previously served 20 years in prison for another especially aggravated kidnapping in 2000 — was led away as a new hearing was set for Wednesday to include the upgraded charges.

He was also told he would be getting a court-appointed lawyer after confirming he could not afford an attorney of his own.

Surveillance footage had shown Fletcher, a teacher and granddaughter of a late billionaire, being violently forced into a GMC SUV while she was jogging at 4 a.m. Friday.

Abston was busted the next day after DNA linked him to a pair of slides left near the kidnapping scene.