Tasia Fortune Found Hanging From Tree Was Killed With Cable Cord as Black Man Faces Murder Charge, More Arrests Expected

JACKSON, Miss. — Prosecutors say a black cable cord was used to hang 29-year-old Tasia Fortune from a tree behind an abandoned Jackson home as the man accused of killing her appeared before a judge.

Jarques Ratliff, 51, pleaded not guilty to murder Sept. 14 in Jackson Municipal Court, three days after his arrest. The judge denied bond, leaving Ratliff jailed pending his next appearance.

Officers accused Ratliff of trying to hide inside a vehicle when police moved to arrest him. His attorney, Toney Baldwin, argued for bond and cautioned the public against prejudging his client.

Fortune was discovered Aug. 3 behind an abandoned home in Mississippi's capital. More than a month later, the state medical examiner determined she had been killed, leading Jackson police to arrest Ratliff.

Police Chief RaShall Brackney said Ratliff had an “association” with Fortune but has not publicly explained what connected them. Investigators have not announced a motive or said race played a role in her death.

More arrests are expected, Brackney said when authorities announced the murder charge. Detectives are continuing to pursue others as they determine who else may have participated.

Images of a young Black woman hanging from a tree immediately carried historical weight in Mississippi, where lynchings terrorized Black residents for generations. Despite the imagery, police have not presented evidence publicly identifying racial hatred as the motive.

Christy Spivey said her daughter was born in Kentucky to a Black father and white mother and identified as Black. Fortune had lived in Jackson for about 10 years and was raising four children.

Recent years had been difficult for the 29-year-old, with her mother saying she struggled with homelessness and Spivey rarely saw two of her grandchildren. Fortune had recently talked about starting a cleaning business and was trying to put her life back together.

Two other hanging deaths in Mississippi had attracted attention during the previous year. A Black student at Delta State University and a homeless white man in Vicksburg were both found dead in separate cases that authorities ultimately ruled suicides.

Baldwin said Ratliff made no confession and stressed that the murder charge is an accusation that has not been proven. Authorities have yet to disclose what they believe led to the hanging or what evidence could connect other suspects to the crime.