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View Full CaseMurder Case — Jackson, Mississippi
The Murder of Tasia Fortune
● Charges Filed
Charges Filed — Awaiting Trial
Held Without Bond
Victim Information
Tasia Fortune
Tasia Fortune
| Age | 29 |
| Hometown | Marion, Kentucky |
| Residence | Jackson, Mississippi |
| Family | Mother of four |
Tasia Fortune, 29, was originally from Marion, Kentucky, and had been living in Jackson, Mississippi, for about ten years, according to her family. She was the mother of four children.
Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, last saw her daughter on July 26, 2026, during a family gathering in Kentucky. Fortune's body was found in Jackson on August 3, 2026.
01
What We Know
The Discovery
On the evening of August 3, 2026, a 911 caller reported a body hanging from a tree behind a vacant home on the 500 block of Road of Remembrance in west Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson police arrived at the scene at approximately 9:05 p.m. and found Tasia Fortune, 29, hanging from the tree by a black cord. Her body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Fortune was originally from Marion, Kentucky, and had lived in Jackson for about ten years. She was the mother of four children. Her mother, Christy Spivey, said she had last seen her daughter on July 26, 2026, during a family gathering in Kentucky.
Jackson police opened a homicide investigation, interviewing approximately 15 people and collecting forensic evidence. Jarques Ratliff, 51, was known to police and was questioned during the investigation, but was not arrested until the manner of Fortune's death was officially determined. Police said Fortune knew Ratliff, describing their connection only as an association.
On September 10, 2026, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office ruled Fortune's death a homicide. The following day, Jackson police secured two search warrants and an arrest warrant for Ratliff. He was arrested that afternoon and charged with murder.
Ratliff pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on September 14, 2026, and was denied bond. As of September 17, 2026, he remains held at the Hinds County Detention Center. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney has said the case remains active and that additional arrests are possible. A motive for Fortune's death has not been released.
02
Case Timeline
The Investigation Unfolds
August 3, 2026
Body Found in West Jackson
August 5, 2026
Call for Federal Investigation
August 2026
Investigation Underway
September 10, 2026
Death Ruled a Homicide
September 11, 2026
Search Warrants and Arrest
September 14, 2026
Arraignment
September 25, 2026
Next Court Date
03
The Investigation
Building the Case
Jackson police assigned the case to the department's robbery-homicide unit. Investigators interviewed approximately 15 people connected to Fortune and Ratliff and spent weeks collecting forensic evidence before requesting a homicide warrant. Chief Brackney said police could not seek an arrest warrant for homicide until the medical examiner's office issued an official cause of death.
On September 10, 2026, the medical examiner's office classified Fortune's death as a homicide. Police then secured two search warrants and an arrest warrant for Ratliff. Officers executed the search warrants the following afternoon but did not find him at either location. Investigators later encountered Ratliff walking on Capitol Street, near the block where Fortune's body was found, and took him into custody without incident.
At Ratliff's arraignment, investigators told the court that he had attempted to hide in a car on the day of his arrest. Prosecutors also disclosed that Ratliff had a prior criminal record that included charges of grand larceny and cocaine possession, along with more than $3,000 in unpaid traffic fines. According to an affidavit cited by CNN affiliate WAPT, Ratliff is accused of using a black cable cord to hang Fortune from the tree.
Chief Brackney said the arrest was an important development but not the conclusion of the case, and that additional arrests are expected as investigators continue to follow the evidence. A motive for Fortune's death has not been released.
The Vacant Home Where Fortune Was Found
The Scene on Road of Remembrance, Jackson
04
The Accused
Jarques Ratliff
Jarques Ratliff, 51, has been charged with murder in connection with Tasia Fortune's death. According to police, Ratliff knew Fortune, though the department has not disclosed the nature of their relationship. He has pleaded not guilty, and no verdict has been reached.
Jarques Ratliff
Age 51 · Jackson, Mississippi
Charge: Murder
Arrested: September 11, 2026
Prior Record: Grand larceny, cocaine possession, more than $3,000 in traffic fines
Attorney: Toney Baldwin
Status: Held without bond at the Hinds County Detention Center
As of September 17, 2026, Ratliff is charged with murder and is being held without bond at the Hinds County Detention Center. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on September 14, 2026. His next scheduled court appearance is September 25, 2026. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney has said the investigation remains active and that additional arrests are possible. A motive for Fortune's death has not been released.
Things to Note
Context Around This Case
Mississippi's History and the Public Response
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Other Recent Hangings in Mississippi
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Calls for a Federal Investigation
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The Case Remains Active
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In Memoriam
Tasia Fortune
Tasia Fortune was a mother of four children, remembered by her family as someone who lit up a room. She had made the trip home to Marion, Kentucky in July 2026 for a family reunion, the last time her mother, Christy Spivey, would see her.
In Jackson, the lot where Fortune was found became a place for the community to grieve. Neighbors and family built a small memorial there: pink and white ribbons, rainbow pinwheels, teddy bears, and fresh flowers gathered around her photograph.
Spivey has said she wants the truth about what happened to her daughter, for the sake of Fortune's children and everyone who loved her. Tasia Fortune is remembered not for the way her life ended, but for the family she built and the people who continue to carry her memory forward.
Sources
Mississippi Today | CNN | NBC News | Fox News | WLBT | Mississippi Free Press
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