Mississippi Police Suspect Woman Found Hanged Was Dead Before Body Placed in Tree
Investigators believe the death of Tasia Fortune, initially ruled a homicide, was staged to look like a lynching.
Investigators in Jackson, Mississippi, believe Tasia Fortune was already dead before her body was hanged from a tree in late July, a detective testified Friday. The hanging was "staged," Jackson police Det. Samuel Dukes stated, citing the medical examiner's opinion.
Authorities have ruled Fortune's death a homicide and have arrested two men on murder charges, issuing a warrant for a third. The motive for the killing appears to be a drug dispute, according to Dukes. He indicated that interviews suggested Fortune struggled before she died.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances, which recalled historical lynchings in Mississippi, a state with a history of racial violence. Police have not elaborated on why they believe the defendants hanged Fortune's body after her death.
Dukes provided testimony at a hearing for Jarques Ratliff, 51, the first suspect arrested in the case. Ratliff, who has pleaded not guilty, is being held without bond in the Hinds County jail. The hearing, scheduled to resume on September 30, will determine if sufficient evidence exists to present the case to a grand jury for a potential indictment.
Police arrested the second suspect, Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, earlier this week. During Friday's hearing, Ratliff stated that Fortune had been a friend of his.
Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, said her daughter, a mother of four, had struggled with homelessness and was attempting to improve her life. Spivey was unsure of Fortune's living situation at the time of her death, but noted Fortune had expressed interest in starting a cleaning business.