Suspect Arrested in Mississippi Death of Black Woman Hanged From Tree

Warning: This story contains distressing details.

Police in Mississippi announced earlier this week that the death of 29‑year‑old Tasia Fortune, found hanged in an abandoned building lot in Jackson, is being treated as a homicide.

Chief RaShall Brackney said the arrest of 51‑year‑old Jarques Ratliff is an "important development" but not the final word. He added that more arrests may follow as investigators continue to follow the evidence.

Fortune’s death has rattled a city that is majority Black and sits in a state with a legacy of racially‑based violence. Her mother, Christy Spivey, expressed relief at the arrest but also stressed the need that the "right person" be brought to justice.

The case follows a pattern of incidents in which Black Americans have been found hanging from trees. Congress has sent letters to the FBI and Justice Department urging an independent probe of these deaths, highlighting the specter of modern‑day lynchings.

So far this year, at least 10 alleged hangings of Black people have been reported across the U.S., and the FBI listed more than 70 lynching cases between 2000 and 2025.