Man Arrested in Homicide of Woman Found Hanging in Mississippi
Jacques Ratliff, 51, has been arrested in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman discovered hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi. Authorities have officially classified her death as a homicide.
Sources
Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman, was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, on August 3, and her death has been determined a homicide by the state medical examiner’s office. Police arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff in connection with her death and are expecting additional arrests as the investigation continues. Fortune, described by her mother as a resilient individual and mother of four, left behind a legacy of faith and strength, and the family expressed disbelief regarding the circumstances of her death.
A man named Jarques Ratliff, 51, has been arrested in connection with the homicide of Tasia Fortune, a black woman found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, with police indicating that additional arrests may follow as the investigation remains active. The medical examiner confirmed Fortune's death as a homicide; consequently, police have interviewed 15 individuals regarding the case. This incident is part of a troubling pattern, with more than 10 reported hangings of black individuals in the U.S. this year alone and over 70 documented lynchings between 2000 and 2025, leading some members of Congress to call for an independent investigation.
Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have arrested 51-year-old Jacques Ratliff in connection with the homicide of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found hanging from a tree behind a vacant house. The state medical examiner ruled Fortune's death a homicide, prompting police to execute search and arrest warrants for Ratliff, who was known to the victim. Fortune was a mother of four, and her death has drawn significant national attention due to its gruesome nature and the historical context of racial violence in Mississippi.