Man Pleads Not Guilty After Homicide Ruling In Hanging Death Of Mississippi Woman
A 51-year-old man pleaded not guilty Monday, September 14, 2026, to a murder charge in Jackson Municipal Court in the hanging death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, and a judge denied bond.[1]
Prosecutors told the court that Fortune had been hanged with a black cable cord.[1] Prosecutors also said the suspect, Jarques Ratliff, attempted to hide from officers in a vehicle on the day of his arrest.[1]
Police found Fortune hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson on August 3, 2026.[2] The Mississippi state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide on Thursday evening, September 10, 2026, which allowed officers to execute search and arrest warrants.[2] Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said officers arrested Ratliff after encountering him walking on the street on Friday, September 11, 2026.[2]
Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, said police did not tell her a motive and that she believes her daughter would not have killed herself; she said Fortune, a mother of four who had struggled with homelessness, had been planning to start a cleaning business.[2] Officials say the case remains active, additional arrests are expected, and they declined further comment after the hearing.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- At a Friday, September 11, 2026 news conference, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said officers executed search and arrest warrants and arrested 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff after encountering him walking on the street; prosecutors also said Ratliff attempted to hide from officers in a vehicle on the day of his arrest.
- The Mississippi state medical examiner's office ruled on Thursday evening, September 10, 2026 that 29-year-old Tasia Fortune's death was a homicide, which allowed police to execute warrants that had already been prepared.
- On Monday, September 14, 2026 at his first appearance in Jackson Municipal Court, Jarques Ratliff pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and the judge denied bond.
- Prosecutors told the court that Tasia Fortune had been hanged with a black cable cord.
- Officials say Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune but have not elaborated on a suspected motive or whether race played any role; police and prosecutors have said the case remains active, that additional arrests are expected, and declined further comment after the hearing (Jarques Ratliff).
- Police found Fortune hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson on August 3, 2026, and her mother, Christy Spivey, said she believes her daughter would not have killed herself and that Fortune — a mother of four who had struggled with homelessness — had been planning to start a cleaning business and "get her life in order."
📰 Source Timeline (3)
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- On Monday, September 14, 2026, Jarques Ratliff pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in Jackson Municipal Court at his first appearance.
- The judge denied bond for Ratliff during the brief September 14 hearing.
- Prosecutors said in court that Tasia Fortune had been hanged with a black cable cord.
- Prosecutors also told the court that Ratliff attempted to hide from officers in a vehicle on the day of his arrest, Friday, September 11, 2026.
- Police and prosecutors still have not provided a suspected motive or indicated whether they believe race played any role, though police previously said Ratliff had an 'association' with Fortune.
- The article reiterates that additional arrests are expected in the case and that officials declined further comment after the hearing.
- At a Friday, September 11, 2026 news conference, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said officers executed search and arrest warrants for 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff and arrested him after encountering him walking on the street.
- Brackney said the Mississippi state medical examiner's office determined on Thursday evening, September 10, 2026, that the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune was a homicide, which allowed police to execute warrants that were already prepared.
- Brackney described Ratliff as having an 'association' with Fortune but declined to elaborate, and said the case remains active with additional arrests expected.
- Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, said police did not tell her a motive or whether DNA evidence led to the arrest, and she said she does not know Ratliff and is asking her daughter's friends if they recognize him.
- Spivey provided additional personal and social context about Fortune, including that she had struggled with homelessness in recent years, was a mother of four, and had been planning to start a cleaning business and 'get her life in order' before her death.
- The article reiterates that police found Fortune hanging in the backyard of an abandoned home in Jackson on August 3, 2026, and that her mother believes she would not have killed herself.