Arrest Made Over Hanged Black Woman’s Death in Mississippi

Police in Jackson, Mississippi, arrested 51‑year‑old Jarques Ratliff in connection with the homicide of 29‑year‑old Tasia Fortune, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in an abandoned home lot in August.

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney confirmed today’s arrest was an important development, but clarified it was not the final step in the investigation, which remains active. The medical examiner has classified the death as homicide and a murder charge is forthcoming.

Chief Brackney identified Ratliff as a suspect and said there was an “association” between him and Fortune, though details remain undisclosed. She added that more arrests could follow as investigators pursue the evidence.

Christy Spivey, Fortune’s mother, expressed a sigh of relief when told about the arrest but worried whether the right person had been named. She had been trying to reach Jackson police several times over the past two weeks, leaving voicemails without response.

The case’s delayed communication and its grim circumstances shed light on the community’s fear, rooted in Mississippi’s brutal history of racial violence. The FBI and Justice Department are under pressure to conduct an independent investigation, following a letter from more than 50 members of Congress urging federal scrutiny.

The letter, sent to the FBI and DOJ, warns of “possible modern‑day lynchings” and lists at least ten reported hangings of black people in the United States this year. It also notes over 70 lynchings between 2000 and 2025, highlighting longstanding systemic concerns.

a letter to the FBI and DOJ was sent by congressional representatives to underscore the seriousness of the situation.