Man Arrested In Death Of Tasia Fortune
A 51-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman whose body was found hanging from a tree at an abandoned property in Jackson, Mississippi, in August.
Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced Friday that Jarques Ratliff had been arrested after investigators determined Fortune’s death was a homicide. A murder charge is expected.
“The arrest today is an important development in this investigation, but it is not the conclusion,” Brackney said.
Police said Ratliff and Fortune had an “association,” but investigators have not publicly explained the nature of their relationship or released details about what led them to Ratliff.
Brackney said investigators have interviewed 15 people and warned that additional arrests could follow as they continue reviewing the evidence.
Family Waited Weeks For Answers
The arrest comes after weeks of growing frustration from Fortune’s family and concern throughout Jackson.
Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, told BBC News that she cried when police called to inform her about the arrest.
“I guess I do feel like a little sigh of relief,” Spivey said.
But she remains cautious.
“I just hope that they’ve got the right person,” she added.
Spivey previously said she repeatedly contacted Jackson police after her daughter’s death, leaving multiple voicemails without receiving a response.
Police have disputed that characterization. Brackney said investigators had maintained contact with Fortune’s mother, stepfather and biological father throughout the case.
Death Raises Broader Questions
The circumstances surrounding Fortune’s death have drawn particular attention because of Mississippi’s history of racial violence and lynching.
Earlier this month, a member of Congress described Fortune’s death as part of a pattern of “possible modern-day lynchings.”
More than 50 members of Congress have called on the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice to independently investigate reports of Black people found hanging from trees across the country.
The lawmakers said the deaths raise concerns about possible foul play given the history of lynching in the United States.
They cited at least 10 reported hangings of Black people this year and more than 70 documented lynchings between 2000 and 2025.
Authorities have not publicly classified Fortune’s death as a racially motivated killing, and the investigation remains active.
For her family, however, Friday’s arrest marks a long-awaited step toward answers.
Investigators say the case is not over, and more arrests could follow.
