Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have arrested Jacques Ratliff in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman. Ms Fortune was found hanging from a tree behind a vacant house last month.
The state medical examiner ruled Ms Fortune’s death a homicide on Thursday, according to Jackson police chief RaShall Brackney-Wheelock. Police secured search and arrest warrants for Mr Ratliff and arrested him when he was encountered walking on the street.
Chief Brackney-Wheelock stated at a news conference on Friday that the suspect, a 51-year-old Black man, knew Ms Fortune. The investigation remains active, and more arrests are considered likely.
Ms Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, expressed gratitude for the arrest but noted that police did not share a motive or whether DNA led to the arrest. Ms Spivey said she did not know the arrested man.