Jarques Ratliff, 51, pleaded not guilty and was denied bond after being charged with murder in connection to the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson on August 3. Police Chief RaShall Brackney confirmed that Ratliff had an association with Fortune but did not release details about the motive or cause of death. The chief also stated that additional arrests could follow as the investigation continues, though she emphasized that this development is not the end of the case.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The man arrested in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman who was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned Mississippi home last month, was denied bond after pleading not guilty to murder.
asserted
who → arrest → murder
Wearing a red jumpsuit, Jarques Ratliff, 51, made his first court appearance in Jackson Municipal Court on Monday and was formally charged with murder.
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Ratliff → wear → murder
His attorney, Toney Baldwin, argued that Ratliff was not a flight risk and was “gainfully employed,” but Judge Taurean Buchanan ordered him to be held on no bond.
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him → argue → bond
A law enforcement official present for the hearing alleged that Ratliff was “a danger to the citizens of Jackson.”
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Ratliff → allege → Jackson
Ratliff, whom Jackson police said had an “association” with Fortune, was arrested Friday.
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police → say → Fortune
Police Chief RaShall Brackney said more arrests are expected.
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arrests → say → ?
A motive and Fortune’s cause of death have not been released.
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motive → release → death
Fortune was originally from Kentucky but had been living in Jackson for the last 10 years, according to her obituary.
uncertain
Fortune → live → obituary
Her body was found Aug. 3.
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body → find → ?
Her death was classified as a homicide Thursday evening.
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death → classify → homicide
Brackney said police secured two search warrants and an arrest warrant for Ratliff.
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police → say → Ratliff
She said that investigators served the search warrants on Friday but did not find Ratliff at the location.
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investigators → say → location
As officers headed back to headquarters, they encountered him walking down the street and took him into custody.
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they → head → custody
Brackney called the arrest “an important development,” but “it’s not the conclusion.”
“This case remains active, and additional arrests will be pending as our investigators continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads,” the chief said.
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chief → call → evidence
“Tasia and her children deserve nothing less,” she added.
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she → deserve → nothing
Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, told The Associated Press that she cried after learning of the arrest.
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she → tell → arrest
Spivey said she did not know Ratliff and said the family is “in disbelief” and “still don’t have a lot of answers.”
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family → say → answers
Baldwin said he sympathizes with Fortune’s family but asked that people avoid speculating about the case.
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people → say → case
It’s not a conviction,” he told reporters outside of the courthouse.
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he → ’ → courthouse
“We look forward to having our day where we present the full picture.”
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we → look → picture
Two men whom Baldwin identified as Ratliff’s relatives declined to comment.
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Baldwin → identify → relatives
The father of Fortune’s 5-year-old son, Terence Anderson, was arrested last month on an unrelated weapons charge.
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father → arrest → charge
According to NBC affiliate WLBT, Anderson, 65, was said to be a person of interest in her death.
uncertain
Anderson → accord → death
His brother, Tony Anderson, told NBC News on Monday that Terence remains in custody on the weapons charge.
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Terence → tell → charge
Tony Anderson said he does not believe his brother is still considered a person of interest.
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brother → say → interest
Jackson police and the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
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police → respond → comment
“This just about ruined his life.
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This → ruin → life
He hasn’t been able to work; people thinking you done it,” Tony Anderson said.
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Anderson → work → it
“His little son worried about him. …
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son → worry → him
It’s just messed up all the way around.”
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It → mess → ?
Fortune, a mother of four children, was remembered in her obituary as an “intelligent and talented” woman.
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Fortune → remember → woman
It said she was a cross-country athlete in her younger years.
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she → say → years
“Tasia’s path was not always easy, and there were highs and lows,” her obituary said.
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obituary → be → ?
“But no matter what, she never lost her faith in God.
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she → lose → God
She leaves behind a powerful legacy of resilience, rooted deeply in her unwavering faith.”
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She → leave → faith
