Authorities arrested a 51-year-old man Friday in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black mother of four who was found hanging from a tree in Mississippi. The arrest of Jacques Ratliff came one day after state medical examiners officially classified Fortune's death as a homicide.
Ratliff was taken into custody by Jackson police while walking on Capitol Street, hours after officers executed search and arrest warrants related to the Aug. 3 incident. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney stated that the arrest is a significant development but not the end of the investigation, indicating that additional arrests are anticipated in the ongoing case.
"We understand the questions, and the desire for answers, given Mississippi’s history," Brackney said, adding that officials are approaching the sensitive case with a broad perspective. Fortune's body was discovered in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson.
Christy Spivey, Fortune's mother, expressed relief upon hearing of the arrest. "I just started crying and told them 'thank you, thank you, thank you,'" Spivey told reporters. She noted that police have not yet disclosed a motive or confirmed if DNA evidence led to Ratliff's apprehension. Spivey stated that her family remains in disbelief and shock, and they are still seeking many answers.
Fortune, 29, was last seen by her mother on July 26 during a family reunion in Kentucky before returning to Mississippi. Spivey described her daughter as being in good spirits and at peace during their last encounter.
Fortune's death occurred less than a year after two other individuals were found hanging in Mississippi: Trey Reed, a 21-year-old university student, and Cory Zukatis, a homeless man in his 30s. Authorities ruled both of those cases as suicides.
Fortune, whose full name is Tasia Sidea Fortune, had resided in Jackson for 10 years, having moved from Marion, Kentucky. Relatives remembered her as religious, intelligent, and athletic, noting that she had skipped her junior year of high school and was a standout cross-country runner. Her obituary highlighted her resilience and deep faith.