Mississippi police anticipate further arrests in homicide case of Tasia Fortune

Jackson police arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff on a homicide charge after the state medical examiner ruled the death of Tasia Fortune, 29, a Black woman found hanging from a tree in an abandoned yard on Aug. 3, a homicide. Police chief RaShall Brackney said Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune but did not elaborate, and described the arrest as an "important development" while noting that the case remains active and more arrests may follow.

The chief added that investigators will follow the evidence wherever it leads and acknowledged the national media attention the case has received. Ratliff is scheduled to appear in Jackson Municipal Court by Monday morning, according to state defender André de Gruy.

Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, expressed gratitude for the arrest but said investigators have not disclosed a motive or whether DNA evidence led to the suspect. She said the family still lacks many answers and remains in shock.

Fortune, who was raised in foster care after being taken from her parents, had lived in Jackson for about a decade and was described in an obituary as a mother of four, a former cross-country runner, and a person of strong faith. She had recently been trying to start a cleaning business and was reportedly struggling with homelessness.

Police declined to provide further details on the investigation when contacted for comment on Saturday.