Mississippi police say more arrests to come in death of woman found hanging from tree

Jackson police have arrested Jarques Ratliff in the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, who was found hanging from a tree in an abandoned home on August 3. Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the arrest at a news conference on Friday. Brackney stated that Ratliff, 51, had an association with Fortune, though he did not disclose further details.

The state medical examiner determined Fortune's death to be a homicide, allowing police to execute warrants against Ratliff. The chief mentioned that the case remains active and that additional arrests are expected. Police interviewed nearly 15 individuals and collected forensic evidence during their investigation. Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, expressed relief and gratitude upon hearing of her daughter's arrest.

She requested information about the motive and whether DNA evidence led to the arrest, but police declined to provide further details. Fortune's death occurred less than a year after the suicides of 21-year-old Trey Reed and Cory Zukatis in separate incidents.