A man was arrested Friday in connection with the tragic hanging of a black mother of four in Mississippi. This came just one day after state medical examiners deemed her death a homicide.
Jacques Ratliff, 51, was taken into custody by Jackson police while walking down Capitol Street, shortly after officers executed search and arrest warrants related to Tasia Fortune’s death.
“This arrest is a significant step forward in our investigation, but it certainly isn’t the end,” Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney told reporters. He cautioned that more arrests may occur as the case is ongoing.
“We understand the community’s concerns and the need for answers, especially given the history in Mississippi,” Brackney noted, emphasizing that the investigation is being approached with a global perspective.
Fortune’s body was found hanging from a tree in the backyard of an abandoned property in Jackson on August 3.
Her mother, Christy Spivey, was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning about the arrest. “I just started crying and thanked them,” she shared with reporters.
Spivey mentioned that police had not yet revealed a motive or if DNA evidence played a role in the arrest. She also expressed that she did not know Ratliff and that her family is still grappling with disbelief and shock. “We still don’t have a lot of answers,” she admitted.
Spivey last saw her 29-year-old daughter on July 26 during a family reunion in Kentucky before she returned to Mississippi. “She seemed happier than I had seen her in a long time. She was at peace,” Spivey said.
Fortune’s death follows closely behind two other hanging deaths in the state less than a year ago — those of Trey Reed, a 21-year-old Delta State University student, and Cory Zukatis, a homeless man in his 30s. Both cases were eventually determined to be suicides by officials.
Fortune, whose full name was Tasia Sidea Fortune, had lived in Jackson for a decade after relocating from Marion, Kentucky.
Relatives remember her as religious, bright, and athletic. Her obituary described her as intelligent and talented, having skipped her junior year of high school.
“She was also a standout cross-country athlete. Regardless of the challenges, she never lost her faith in God. She leaves behind a powerful legacy of resilience, deeply rooted in her unwavering faith.”
