Black woman found hanging from tree was dead before body was 'staged', US media reports
Tasia Fortune's body was found hanging from a tree on the grounds of an abandoned home in Jackson in August.
In a distressing development in Jackson, Mississippi, police have disclosed that a black woman, Tasia Fortune, was likely dead before her body was staged and placed in a tree, according to US media. Detective's court statement on Friday revealed the belief that Fortune, a 29-year-old, was killed in a drug-related dispute. The discovery of her body hanging from a tree at an abandoned home in August had sparked fears in the majority-black city due to its history of racial violence and lynchings.
Following weeks of speculation and public demand for answers, multiple arrests were made. Police Chief RaShall Brackney confirmed that the language used by authorities remained consistent, stating that Fortune was found in a hanging position. However, specific details about the exact cause of death or why the hanging was staged have not been shared.
The medical examiner confirmed Fortune's cause of death as homicide, leading to a murder charge against Jarques Ratliff, 51, who remains in custody without bond. Another individual, Earnest Lloyd Jr, 25, was also arrested, and a third suspect was reportedly being sought by authorities.
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