JACKSON, Miss. — Jacques Ratliff was arrested Friday afternoon and will be charged with homicide in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney told reporters, NBC News reported.

Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman, was found Aug. 3 hanging from a tree behind an abandoned building in Jackson. Her death was officially classified as a homicide Thursday evening, Brackney said — a determination that led police to secure two search warrants and an arrest warrant for Ratliff. Brackney said Ratliff had an “association” with Fortune but did not disclose what kind.

Investigators served the search warrants Friday; Ratliff was not at the location. Officers later found him walking along Capitol Street and took him into custody, Brackney said. The Fortune family was notified of the arrest. It was not immediately clear whether Ratliff has retained an attorney.

“The arrest today is an important development in this investigation, but it is not the conclusion. This case remains active, and additional arrests will be pending as our investigators continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Brackney said, adding “because Tasia and her children deserve nothing less.”

Brackney — cautious in describing Fortune as found “in a hanging position” — did not elaborate on the cause-of-death determination beyond the homicide ruling. She acknowledged scrutiny given Mississippi’s history of racial violence but stressed the case must rest on evidence and facts. WLBT separately reported Brackney said investigators interviewed nearly 15 people and that more arrests are expected.

Charges are allegations. Ratliff has not been convicted.

Sources