Composite story
Eric Clark surrenders as a detective calls Tasia Fortune's hanging staged
Jackson, MississippiPublished 26 Sep 2026
Police testified Friday that Fortune was killed in a drug dispute before her body was hanged, and a third man turned himself in.
On Sept. 25, 2026, Detective Samuel Dukes told a Jackson municipal judge that Tasia Fortune was killed before her body was hanged behind a vacant house on Road of Remembrance, and that the death was tied to a drug dispute. The medical examiner had ruled the death a homicide and, police said, found the hanging staged. The same day other outlets reported that 45-year-old Eric Clark turned himself in and was charged with murder, joining Jarques Ratliff and Earnest Lloyd Jr. Judge Lilli Bass recessed Ratliff’s hearing until Sept. 30.
Disputed facts
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Disputed opinions
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Jackson police link Tasia Fortune killing to drug dispute
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Detective Samuel Dukes said Jarques Ratliff, 51, was one of a group of people involved in the death.
A makeshift memorial for Tasia Fortune was in the backyard of a vacant home in the 500 block of Road of Remembrance on Aug. 12, 2026.
Detective Samuel Dukes said Jarques Ratliff and Tasia Fortune knew each other.
Jarques Ratliff was arrested on Sept. 11, 2026.
Earnest Lloyd Jr. was arrested on Sept. 22.
Christy Spivey posed with a portrait of her daughter Tasia Fortune on Sept. 8, 2026, in Marion, Kentucky.
The Jackson Police Department is working with the U.S.
Christy Spivey said she felt kind of sad for Jarques Ratliff.
Christy Spivey attended the hearing with her husband.
Members of Jarques Ratliff’s family also attended the hearing.
Opinion
Lashuna Jones, Jarques Ratliff’s stepdaughter, insisted that he was innocent.
Lashuna Jones said she feels Jarques Ratliff was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Toney Baldwin said he believes Jarques Ratliff is not involved.
Judge recesses preliminary hearing for suspect in Tasia Fortune murder case until next week
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Judge Lilli Bass said the case would stay in recess until Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.
Judge Lilli Bass said part of the questioning would be closed to the public.
After more than an hour, Judge Lilli Bass recessed the hearing to confer with prosecutor Gerald Mumford and defense attorney Toney Baldwin.
Evidence had not yet been presented to a grand jury.
Toney Baldwin said an evidentiary hearing is meant to prove there is enough evidence to proceed.
About a dozen supporters of Jarques Ratliff appeared in court.
A Jackson police officer stepped between Jarques Ratliff and relatives who tried to speak to him during a recess.
Detective Samuel Dukes said police have a witness who will attest to Jarques Ratliff’s involvement in Fortune’s death.
Toney Baldwin asked Detective Samuel Dukes whether Jarques Ratliff had a motive to kill Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four.
Detective Samuel Dukes initially testified that he did not know a motive.
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune had said that if anything happened to her, she would get every piece of DNA evidence she could.
Detective Samuel Dukes said Jarques Ratliff and Tasia Fortune stayed at the same property.
The back of Christy Spivey’s shirt read “Tasia’s Mom.”
Toney Baldwin alleged that someone pistol-whipped Jarques Ratliff after he was first released from police questioning.
Christy Spivey spoke to reporters on the steps of Jackson Municipal Court during the recess.
Toney Baldwin said Jarques Ratliff told police he did not know what happened but had heard what people were saying in the streets.
Detective Samuel Dukes said there is a field across the street from 555 Road of Remembrance.
Detective Samuel Dukes said further arrests could number three, four, or five.
Toney Baldwin said there was no way those people would have known that information.
Opinion
Toney Baldwin said the court had not given Jarques Ratliff a reason to jail him with no bond and call him a flight risk.
Toney Baldwin said it was very important that Detective Samuel Dukes divulge the information.
Christy Spivey said what got to her was the testimony that Tasia Fortune put up a big fight.
Third man arrested in connection to death of Tasia Fortune
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Investigators believe Fortune’s body was at the Road of Remembrance location for about two to three days.
Investigators said they recovered items from Fortune that they believe may have belonged to Jarques Ratliff and that still need testing.
A detective said Jarques Ratliff appeared to have glassy eyes while being questioned.
No drug test was conducted while Jarques Ratliff was questioned.
Christy Spivey said she believes multiple people were involved in her daughter’s death.
Opinion
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune would have fought for her life.
3rd arrest made in death of Jackson woman found hanging
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Jackson police said detectives interviewed as many as 15 people, preserved forensic evidence, and followed numerous leads.
Opinion
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JPD makes third arrest in Tasia Fortune death investigation
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
No unique facts.
Opinion
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Tasia Fortune’s hanging was staged after her death in a drug dispute, Mississippi police say
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of a third person.
Jarques Ratliff was the first person arrested in the case.
Christy Spivey said she was not sure where Fortune was living when she died.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
Third suspect arrested in homicide of Tasia Fortune
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
No unique facts.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
Tasia Fortune Update: Death 'Staged' After Black Woman Found Hanging—Police
Published 25 Sep 2026 accessed 26 Sep 2026
Facts
Authorities said the killing was not a hate crime.
The hearing was to decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case against Jarques Ratliff, 51, to a grand jury.
Jarques Ratliff, arrested earlier this month, has pleaded not guilty.
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune had a lot of friends.
Christy Spivey said she never believed her daughter’s death was self-inflicted.
A GoFundMe for Fortune’s family had raised $181,571 from nearly 5,000 donations as of 5 p.m. Friday.
The fundraiser says donations will help bring Fortune home for burial, support her children, and help the family seek justice and answers.
The GoFundMe organizers wrote that they thank everyone for helping the family.
Opinion
Lashuna Jones, Ratliff’s stepdaughter, said he did not do it and that she is behind him.
Christy Spivey said Jarques Ratliff’s comment sounded sincere.
Christy Spivey said she hopes that if Jarques Ratliff is innocent he can prove it.
Toney Baldwin told reporters after the hearing that all he wants is for the truth to come out.
Newsweek wrote that Fortune’s death shocked Jackson after her body was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home on Aug. 3.
Toney Baldwin said his heart goes out to the family because the death is a tragedy.
Newsweek wrote that the discovery recalled Mississippi lynchings and prompted calls for answers.
Christy Spivey told ABC News that Tasia Fortune was strong-minded and full of laughs and love.