Police in Mississippi have stated their belief that a Black woman was already deceased before her body was "staged" and placed hanging in a tree. A detective disclosed this in court on Friday, adding that they believe 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, a mother of four, was killed in a dispute linked to drugs.
Fortune's body was discovered in August, hanging from a tree on the grounds of an abandoned property in Jackson. Police later issued a news release stating that an autopsy by the medical examiner determined her death was a homicide and that "the scene and the hanging were staged."
Three individuals have been arrested in relation to the case. Jarques Ratliff, 51, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty, remaining in custody without bond. Earnest Lloyd Jr, 25, was arrested this week. Eric Clark, 45, turned himself in on Friday, was charged with murder, and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.