Tasia Fortune hanging in Mississippi was staged, police testify

Tasia Fortune Jackson Mississippi staged hanging drug dispute homicide racial violence history

Jackson police investigators testified in court that the hanging of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune was “staged” after she had already been killed. Fortune's body was discovered on August 3, hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi.

Detective Samuel Dukes testified that the medical examiner's opinion indicates Fortune was dead before being placed in the hanging position. Authorities have ruled the death a homicide and believe the motive was a drug dispute. Investigators noted that Fortune fought hard before she was killed.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the scene's resemblance to historical lynchings in the South. Two men, 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff and 25-year-old Earnest Lloyd Jr., have been arrested on murder charges. A warrant has been issued for a third, unnamed suspect. Ratliff, who pleaded not guilty, remains in custody without bond.

Entities

Earnest Lloyd Jr. · Jackson Police Department · Jackson, Mississippi · Jarques Ratliff · Samuel Dukes · Tasia Fortune

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 11 SOURCES] The hanging of Tasia Fortune's body was staged, according to testimony from Detective Samuel Dukes. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The medical examiner's opinion indicates Fortune was already dead before her body was hanged. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Authorities have ruled the death a homicide. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The motive for the killing appears to have been a drug dispute. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Tasia Fortune's mother stated her daughter had four children and had struggled with homelessness. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · theshaderoom.com
[DISPUTED] Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, was arrested this week. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +4 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Two men have been arrested on murder charges and a warrant has been issued for a third person. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more
[● 11 SOURCES] Jarques Ratliff, 51, was the first person arrested in the case. krmg.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk · offthepress.com · atlantablackstar.com · +6 more