Suspect arrested over death of Black woman found hanged from Mississippi tree

Tasia Fortune, 29, was found dead in the lot of an abandoned home in Jackson in August, according to BBC News. Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and confirmed a murder charge, identifying the suspect as 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff.

Brackney said investigators had interviewed 15 people and that additional arrests could follow. Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, said she felt a “sigh of relief” after weeks of what residents described as limited communication from officials. Congress members have called the case part of a wider pattern requiring federal investigation.