Second arrest made in hanging death of Tasia Fortune in Mississippi, third suspect sought

Police in Jackson, Mississippi have arrested a second man in the death of Tasia Fortune, found hanging from a tree in August. A warrant has been issued for a third suspect.

Second man arrested over hanging death of Tasia Fortune in Jackson

Jackson police have made a second arrest in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman whose body was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home on 3 August, pbs.org reports.

Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, was taken into custody late Tuesday and appeared at a brief hearing in Jackson on Wednesday. Like Fortune and the first man arrested — Jarques Ratliff, 51 — Lloyd is Black.

Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, attended the hearing and said she was ecstatic to see arrests being made. She noted that neither she nor several of her daughter's friends recognised Lloyd, and stressed that all defendants remain innocent until proven guilty.

"My family is not the only family that this is affecting," Spivey said, referring to the defendants' families. "I feel for them as well. The only difference is that mine can never come back. At least they can have telephone visits."

She added: "I'll never truly have peace."

Ratliff was arrested in September on murder charges. He pleaded not guilty and remains jailed without bond.

Police announced in a statement that they have also issued an arrest warrant for a third suspect, though they provided no details about that person's identity or alleged connection to Fortune's death. Authorities said they expect to issue additional warrants.

Following Ratliff's arrest, Jackson police chief RaShall Brackney said Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune but did not elaborate further.

Police have not indicated a possible motive for the killing, nor stated whether they believe race played a role. Nevertheless, the case has drawn widespread attention because the manner of death recalled the history of racial lynchings in the Southern state.

Fortune was originally from Kentucky and had been living in Jackson for approximately a decade, according to relatives. She had four children. Her mother previously said Fortune had struggled with homelessness in recent years and that the family was uncertain where she had been living at the time of her death. In the period before she died, Fortune had spoken of starting a cleaning business and was working to stabilise her life, Spivey said.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)