Composite story
Judge denies bond for second man charged in Tasia Fortune's hanging death
Jackson, MississippiPublished 25 Sep 2026
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Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Earnest Lloyd Jr. is jailed without bond on a murder charge after Fortune was found hanging behind a vacant house in Jackson.
Jackson police arrested 25-year-old Earnest Lloyd Jr. on Sept. 22, 2026, and charged him with murder in the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, who was found behind a vacant home in Jackson on Aug. 3. A municipal judge denied bond the next day. Police had already charged Jarques Ratliff with murder. Outlets disagree on whether Ratliff was arrested on Sept. 11 or last week. Investigators are seeking at least one more unnamed suspect.
Disputed opinions
None yet.
Second suspect in Tasia Fortune death investigation denied bond
Published 23 Sep 2026 accessed 25 Sep 2026
Facts
Investigators said witnesses pointed them toward Earnest Lloyd Jr.
Police accuse Earnest Lloyd Jr. of hanging Tasia Fortune with a black cable cord.
Earnest Lloyd Jr. has a previous aggravated assault charge with the Jackson Police Department.
WLBT reported that this is not Earnest Lloyd Jr.'s first run-in with police.
Earnest Lloyd Jr. also had charges from an incident in Rankin County.
Christy Spivey said she did not know how Earnest Lloyd Jr. and Tasia Fortune crossed paths or how long they knew each other.
Christy Spivey said she also does not know how Tasia Fortune knew Jarques Ratliff.
Christy Spivey set up a GoFundMe account after her daughter's death.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
Police make 2nd arrest in death of Tasia Fortune, Mississippi woman found hanging from tree
Published 23 Sep 2026 accessed 25 Sep 2026
Facts
Earnest Lloyd Jr. appeared at a brief hearing Wednesday in Jackson.
Chief RaShall Brackney said police interviewed more than a dozen people after Jarques Ratliff's arrest.
Chief RaShall Brackney said police collected forensic evidence.
Tasia Fortune's death comes a year after the hanging deaths of Trey Reed in Cleveland, Mississippi, and Cory Zukatis in Vicksburg.
The deaths of Trey Reed and Cory Zukatis were ruled suicides.
Trey Reed's family and attorneys have called for an independent autopsy.
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune struggled with homelessness in recent years.
Christy Spivey said Fortune's loved ones still do not have a lot of answers.
Christy Spivey said she was not sure where Tasia Fortune was living when she died.
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune had talked about starting a cleaning business and getting her life in order.
Opinion
Christy Spivey cautioned that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Second suspect denied bond for murder in Tasia Fortune death case
Published 23 Sep 2026 accessed 25 Sep 2026
Facts
Jackson police told the Clarion Ledger that witnesses saw Earnest Lloyd Jr. chasing Tasia Fortune before her death.
Earnest Lloyd Jr. pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
The coroner's office has not announced a cause of death.
Police did not disclose what the alleged chase was about.
At the Sept. 14 hearing, investigators cited an affidavit alleging a black cable cord was used to hang Tasia Fortune.
Toney Baldwin said Jarques Ratliff is innocent and that no complete picture of the evidence had been shown.
The Clarion Ledger reported it was not known whether Earnest Lloyd Jr. has a lawyer.
An obituary said Tasia Fortune is survived by her mother, Christy Spivey, her father, Tony Fortune, and extended family.
Opinion
Toney Baldwin asked the public not to prejudge until all the evidence is in.
Family of Tasia Fortune focuses on healing as investigation continues
Published 23 Sep 2026 accessed 25 Sep 2026
Facts
Tasia Fortune's death was ruled a homicide.
Christy Spivey said she continues to hold onto memories of Tasia Fortune.
Christy Spivey said she is trying to stay strong for the rest of the family.
Christy Spivey said that includes making sure Tasia Fortune's children remain connected and cared for.
Christy Spivey said she has not had time to fully grieve and plans to seek counseling with her daughter.
Police Chief RaShall Brackney spoke at Tuesday night's Jackson City Council meeting.
Opinion
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune thought Spivey was the best thing in the world when Spivey was at her worst.
Christy Spivey said Tasia Fortune's sister is struggling with the loss.
Second man arrested in connection with hanging death of Tasia Fortune as her mother 'feels' for all involved
Published 23 Sep 2026 accessed 25 Sep 2026
Facts
TheGrio reported that hundreds of people shared the statement "Black people don't hang themselves."
TheGrio reported that more than half a dozen Black men and women have been found hanged in the South since 2024.
TheGrio reported that some of those hanging deaths were ruled suicides.
Opinion
A social-media statement said Black people do not hang themselves.
Christy Spivey said she does not believe race played a factor in Tasia Fortune's death and that it felt personal.
Brad Jackson said Black people in Mississippi in 2026 are feeling some of the same things as in 1956 and 1966.
TheGrio said those rulings continued to raise skepticism.
Brad Jackson said Mississippi's racist history has toughened people's skin.