Mississippi Woman's Body Staged in Hanging After Drug Dispute, Police Say

Tasia Fortune, 29, was already dead before her body was hanged from a tree in Jackson, Miss., a detective testified. Two men face murder charges.

Jackson Killing Ruled Homicide as Detective Describes Staged Scene

Tasia Fortune was already dead before her body was hanged from a tree branch behind an abandoned property in Jackson, Mississippi, a Jackson police detective testified Friday, according to NYT US News.

Det. Samuel Dukes, citing the medical examiner's opinion, told a hearing that the scene had been "staged." Fortune, 29, was found on Aug. 3. Authorities have ruled the death a homicide but have not publicly disclosed the exact cause.

Two men — Jarques Ratliff, 51, and Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25 — have been arrested on murder charges. Both have been identified as Black. A warrant has also been issued for a third suspect. Ratliff, who pleaded not guilty, remains held without bond in the Hinds County jail. He testified Friday that Fortune had been a friend of his.

Dukes said the motive appears to have been a drug dispute, and that interviews with others indicated Fortune fought hard before she was killed. Authorities have not explained why they believe the defendants hanged her body after she was already dead.

Friday's hearing will resume Sept. 30. Its purpose is to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to send the case to a grand jury for a possible indictment.

The case drew widespread attention because the scene was reminiscent of lynchings — a painful chapter in Mississippi's history of racial violence.

Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, told reporters her daughter had four children and had struggled with homelessness in recent years. Spivey said she was not certain where Fortune was living at the time of her death, but that her daughter had spoken about starting a cleaning business and was working to stabilize her life.

Source: NYT US News