Police in Mississippi announced on Saturday that they continue to investigate the death of Tasia Fortune, a black woman who was discovered hanging from a tree last month. This came a day after a man was taken into custody in connection with her death.
Friends and family remember Fortune as a dedicated mother, an athlete, and a person of deep faith, expressing hope that her legacy won’t be defined solely by the tragedy of her death.
Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney mentioned on Friday that further arrests may be forthcoming in this ongoing investigation.
Authorities arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff, who is also black, after encountering him on the street, police stated.
Ratliff is expected to appear in court in Jackson by Monday morning, according to Mississippi’s state defender, André de Gruy.
Brackney described Ratliff as having some sort of “association” with Fortune, although she did not provide specifics about their relationship. She referred to the murder charge against Ratliff as a significant development but noted that the investigation is still active.
“This isn’t the end of the road. We’ll keep following the evidence wherever it leads,” Brackney explained. She also acknowledged the extensive media attention the case has received locally and internationally.
Police provided limited updates on Saturday
The state medical examiner’s office ruled on Thursday that Fortune’s death was a homicide. This allowed law enforcement to move forward with executing existing warrants, furthering the investigation.
On Saturday, police did not provide additional information to The Associated Press, merely confirming that their investigation is still in progress.
Ratliff is charged with murder, based on records from Hinds County jail, which offered little more detail.
It was unclear if he had legal representation, and a message was sent to the public defender’s office for clarification. If he qualifies for a public defender, it would be from Hinds County, according to de Gruy.
Fortune’s mother expressed gratitude to the police
Christy Spivey, Fortune’s mother, shared her emotional reaction upon learning of Ratliff’s arrest, saying, “I just started crying and told them ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’”
However, Spivey mentioned that police did not reveal the motive behind the crime or provide details regarding DNA evidence. She was unfamiliar with Ratliff and was inquiring among her daughter’s friends about him. The family feels a mix of disbelief and shock.
“We still don’t have a lot of answers,” Spivey noted.
Police discovered Fortune’s body hanging in the backyard of an abandoned house in Jackson on August 3.
Spivey expressed certainty that her daughter, at 29 years old, would never have taken her own life. “Absolutely not. Even if she could climb that tree, no, she would never, ever, ever,” she stated firmly.
Fortune was a mother, an athlete, and deeply religious
An obituary for Fortune published by Tucker Funeral Home highlighted her challenging life path, filled with ups and downs. It noted that she was a talented cross-country runner who even skipped her junior year of high school. Her strong faith in God was also mentioned, with services conducted for her last month in Kentucky.
“She leaves behind a powerful legacy of resilience, rooted deeply in her unwavering faith. Even in her darkest hours, she never stopped believing in her Savior,” the obituary stated.
Fortune was the mother of four, although she had limited contact with two of her children, according to Spivey. The last time they saw each other was in late July during a planned family reunion in Kentucky that had to be canceled, but Fortune still made the effort to visit her mother.
“When she was there, there was this pull, like a spiritual pull to her. I needed her. I guess God knew that was going to be it,” Spivey reflected.
Spivey also shared the struggles she and Fortune’s father faced as a mixed-race couple in Crittenden County, Kentucky, prior to Fortune’s birth. Fortune had been removed from her parents’ care and placed in foster care as a child, later moving between group homes throughout high school until eventually running away to Mississippi. The obituary noted she had lived in Jackson for about a decade.
It remains uncertain where Fortune was residing at the time of her death, though Spivey indicated her daughter had been dealing with homelessness in recent years. Fortune had two sisters with whom she was close, but Spivey described her daughter’s experience with the father of one of her children as verbally and physically abusive.
Before her passing, Fortune expressed aspirations of starting a cleaning business and was in the process of trying to turn her life around.
“Say her name. Keep it going,” Spivey urged. “Because I’m not going to stop until I get answers.”
