Christy SpiveyGeorge W. BushJacques RatliffTasia FortuneBill ClintonRaShall Brackney-WheelockRaShall BrackneyJohn RatcliffeOsama bin LadenCentral Intelligence AgencyAl Qaeda

Mississippi police arrest man in Tasia Fortune's hanging death; mother says 'thank you' as investigation remains active

Mississippi police have arrested Jacques Ratliff in connection with the hanging death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman found dead last month. Fortune's mother expressed gratitude for the arrest, while authorities confirmed the investigation remains active and additional arrests are anticipated.

WAPT WAPT+2 sources12 September 2026 · 01:24 UTC
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Mississippi police have arrested Jacques Ratliff in the hanging death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found dead behind an abandoned home on August 3. The state medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, prompting the arrest after police secured warrants.123

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney stated, "This case remains active and additional arrests will be pending." He acknowledged the public's concerns regarding the case's implications, saying, "We understand this case is being viewed through a broader lens, a global lens, and we do not dismiss those concerns. We are taking them seriously."47

Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, expressed her emotional response to the arrest, stating, "I just started crying and told them ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’" However, she noted that police did not disclose a motive or whether DNA evidence led to the arrest. Spivey described her family as being in "disbelief" and "shock," adding, "We still don’t have a lot of answers."568

The investigation continues as police seek further information and potential suspects, emphasizing their commitment to a thorough inquiry into Fortune's tragic death.

Key Insight
“The state medical examiner ruled Fortune's death a homicide Thursday, allowing police to execute warrants they already had. Police chief RaShall Brackney declined to discuss motive, noting the case is viewed through a 'global lens' given Mississippi's history.”
CuriousCats studied:
1
WAPTWAPT
“JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi police have arrested a man in the death of Tasia Fortune, a Black woman found hanging from a tree last month.”
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2
The GuardianThe Guardian
“Newly declassified documents show the CIA repeatedly warned Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush that Osama bin Laden was determined to strike at the United States, as far back as three years before the 9/11 attacks.”
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3
AP News
“Police in Jackson, , have arrested a man in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found hanging from a tree behind a vacant house last month.”
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