A 51-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi, last month.
Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced Friday, September 11, that Jarques Ratliff was taken into custody after investigators obtained search and arrest warrants in the case. Police encountered Ratliff walking along Capitol Street and arrested him without incident.
The arrest came shortly after the Mississippi state medical examiner’s office officially determined that Fortune’s death was a homicide. According to police, investigators had already prepared the warrants but were waiting for the medical examiner’s determination before executing them.
Fortune’s body was discovered on August 3 in the backyard of an abandoned home. Her death has drawn national attention because of the circumstances surrounding how her body was found and the questions that remained about what happened to her.
Police have confirmed that Ratliff had an “association” with Fortune but have not publicly disclosed the nature of their relationship. Authorities also have not released a motive or said whether DNA evidence played a role in identifying the suspect.
Fortune was a mother of four and was remembered by loved ones as a resilient woman, athlete and person of faith. Her mother, Christy Spivey, has maintained that her daughter did not take her own life.
After being informed of Ratliff’s arrest, Spivey said she was overcome with emotion and expressed gratitude to investigators, while acknowledging that the family still has many unanswered questions.
“We still don’t have a lot of answers,” Spivey said, according to The Associated Press.
Jackson police emphasized that Ratliff’s arrest is not the conclusion of the investigation. Chief Brackney said the case remains active and that additional arrests are expected.
Authorities have urged the public to allow investigators to follow the evidence as they work to determine exactly what happened to Fortune and whether others were involved.
For Fortune’s family, the arrest represents an important step toward finding answers, but they continue to seek justice and accountability for her death.
This is a developing story.
