Mississippi police arrest suspect in homicide of woman found hanging from tree

Jackson police arrested Jacques Ratliff, 51, on homicide charges in the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant house last month. The state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide on Thursday, enabling officers to execute existing search and arrest warrants, police chief RaShall Brackney-Wheelock said at a Friday news conference.

Brackney acknowledged the case’s national attention, noting Mississippi’s history of racial violence, but declined to discuss motive, stating the suspect knew the victim and that officials must base public statements on verified evidence.

Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, expressed relief at the arrest but said the family still lacks answers about the motive and whether DNA evidence linked Ratliff to the crime. The investigation remains active, and officials indicated additional arrests could follow.