Mississippi police are anticipating further arrests in the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black mother of four whose body was discovered hanging from a tree last month. The announcement comes a day after police arrested Jarques Ratliff, 51, on a murder charge.
Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney stated Friday that additional arrests are expected as investigators continue to follow the evidence. Ratliff was apprehended by police while walking on a street and has been charged with murder, according to Hinds County jail records.
Brackney confirmed that the state medical examiner’s office determined Fortune’s death to be a homicide on Thursday evening, which allowed police to execute existing warrants. Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune, though the nature of their relationship has not been specified.
Fortune's body was found on Aug. 3 in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson. Her mother, Christy Spivey, expressed gratitude to the police following Ratliff’s arrest but noted that many questions remain unanswered, including the motive and whether DNA evidence led to the arrest. Spivey stated she did not know the man arrested.
Spivey was adamant that her 29-year-old daughter would not have died by suicide. "Absolutely not. Even if she could climb that tree, no, no, she would never, ever, ever," Spivey said.
Fortune's mother described her daughter as a mother, athlete, and a person of strong faith. An obituary noted that Fortune had faced adversity, including being placed in foster care as a child and struggling with homelessness in recent years. She had also spoken about starting a cleaning business and was working to improve her life.
Police have offered little new information since confirming the ongoing nature of the investigation on Saturday. Ratliff is scheduled to appear in Jackson Municipal Court by Monday morning. It was not immediately clear if he has retained legal counsel.