Mississippi woman found hanging from tree was already dead before body was ‘staged,’ Police say

Police in Mississippi believe a Black woman was already dead before her body was staged and hung in a tree, according to the BBC. A detective disclosed in court on Friday that Tasia Fortune, 29, had likely been killed in a drug-related dispute. Her body was found hanging from a tree at an abandoned property in Jackson in August, sparking fear in the majority-Black city given the state’s history of racial violence and lynchings.

The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide. Jarques Ratliff, 51, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bond. A second suspect, Earnest Lloyd Jr, 25, was arrested this week, while police reportedly seek a third person in connection with the case.