Second arrest made in death of Tasia Fortune, found hanging from tree in Jackson
Mississippi police arrested a second man in the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman found hanging from a tree in Jackson. A warrant has been issued for a third suspect.
Second man charged with murder in Tasia Fortune case as third suspect sought
Jackson, Mississippi police have arrested a second man in connection with the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, whose body was discovered hanging behind an abandoned home on 3 August, AP News reports.
Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, was taken into custody late Tuesday and charged in connection with Fortune's death. Lloyd, like Fortune herself and the first man arrested, is Black.
The first arrest came in September, when 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff was charged with murder. Ratliff has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bond.
Police also announced they have issued an arrest warrant for a third suspect, though they released no details regarding that individual's identity.
Following Ratliff's arrest, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney stated that Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune, without elaborating further. Authorities have not publicly suggested a motive for the killing, nor have they indicated whether they believe race played a role in Fortune's death.
The case has drawn widespread attention across the United States. The manner in which Fortune's body was found — hanging from a tree in a Southern state with a history of racial violence — drew comparisons to historical lynchings, prompting intense public scrutiny.
Fortune was originally from Kentucky and had been living in Jackson for approximately a decade, according to relatives. She was a mother of four children.
Her mother, Christy Spivey, told AP News that Fortune had experienced homelessness in recent years and that she was uncertain where her daughter had been living at the time of her death. Spivey said Fortune had recently spoken about launching a cleaning business and was working to rebuild her life.
Source: Google News MT