JACKSON, MISS. — Fortune was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi, on Aug. 3. Officials believe she may have been dead for two or three days before her body was discovered. Authorities ruled her death a homicide.

Earnest Lloyd Jr. is accused of hanging Fortune with a black cable cord. Reports indicate Lloyd allegedly had a physical altercation with Fortune shortly before her death. Witnesses observed Lloyd chasing Fortune sometime prior to her death, though details regarding the incident were not disclosed.

Jarques Ratliff told the court that Fortune was his friend. His attorney, Toney Baldwin, stated that his client said he is not involved and that is what he believes. Baldwin added that he wants the truth about what happened to come out. Ratliff pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a judge denied bond.

The Jackson Police Department reported that investigators interviewed up to 15 individuals, collected forensic evidence, and followed numerous leads in the days following Fortune's discovery. Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of a third suspect in the case.

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney acknowledged the national attention the case has drawn due to Mississippi’s history of lynchings and stated that police are taking those concerns seriously. The purpose of the hearing is to determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury for a possible indictment. The hearing for Ratliff is scheduled to resume on Sept. 30.

Why It Matters

Tasia Fortune was a 29-year-old mother of four children, including a 7-year-old son, a 5-year-old son, a 4-year-old son, and a 1-year-old son, as reported in her obituary. She was a Kentucky native who had been living in Jackson, Mississippi, for about a decade prior to her death. Fortune was described as a former high school cross-country athlete who skipped her junior year of high school, according to her obituary. She had four children and was attempting to start a cleaning business before her death, according to her mother’s statements.

Fortune's death occurred less than a year after two other highly publicized hanging deaths in Mississippi, involving Delta State University student De'Martravion "Trey" Reed and Cory Zukatis. Earnest Lloyd Jr. one of the accused, has a prior aggravated assault charge with the Jackson Police Department and additional charges from Rankin County.

Timeline

Tasia Fortune was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi, on Aug. 3. On September 25, Ratliff told the court that Tasia Fortune was his friend.

Detective Samuel Dukes testified that investigators believe Tasia Fortune's hanging was staged and that she was dead before her body was placed in the tree. Christy Spivey stated she wants to know what evidence police have.

What's New

Tasia Fortune was a Kentucky native who had been living in Jackson, Mississippi, for about a decade prior to her death. Tasia Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, stated that neither she nor Fortune’s friends were familiar with Earnest Lloyd Jr. indicating limited prior connection between Lloyd and Fortune.

The hearing for Ratliff is scheduled to resume on September 30. Tasia Fortune's death occurred less than a year after two other highly publicized hanging deaths in Mississippi, involving Delta State University student De'Martravion "Trey" Reed and Cory Zukatis.

How Sources Differ

Hinds County Court charging documents state that Ratliff, 51, and Earnest Lloyd Jr. 25, have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Tasia Fortune's death. A news report states that Earnest Lloyd Jr. allegedly had a physical altercation with Tasia Fortune shortly before her death.