“We cannot speculate by the nature or the manner in which Ms. Fortune was killed, beyond what has been officially determined by the medical examiner.”
A black man has been arrested in the case of a black woman being found dead hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi. The arrest comes as there have been some that have pushed the claim that the woman's death, and other deaths around the country are examples of racially motivated lynchings.
Police secured a search warrant for Jarques Ratliff, 51, and took him into custody when they found him walking on the street. The arrest comes after Tasia Fortune, a black woman, was found dead hanging from a tree last month. Ratliff has been charged with murder.
"This case remains active and additional arrests will be pending," Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said in a news conference on Friday, per CBS News. He said that there were 15 people interviewed about the case and forensic evidence was collected to lead to the arrest. "The warrants executed today and the arrest of Mr. Ratliff are significant steps, but there is still an ongoing investigation."
Fortune's mother, Christy Spivey, said after police told her that Ratliff was in custody: "I just started crying and told them 'thank you, thank you, thank you.'" Spivey said that she did not know the man who was arrested for her daughter's killing. She added that the family of the daughter was in "shock" that the murder took place. "We still don't have a lot of answers," she added.
Fortune, 29, was found by authorities on August 3 behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi. The death of Fortune comes as there have been several other deaths of black people in the US that have been found hanging from trees. Most have been ruled suicides, but that has not stopped some from using the deaths to push a narrative that racially motivated lynchings are taking place in the US and in Mississippi. Those who have pushed the narrative include Democrat Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley.
“We understand the questions and the desire for answers given Mississippi’s history,” Brackney told reporters. “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.” The sheriff did not disclose details about the motive, but said the suspect knew Fortune.
“At the same time, we do have a responsibility to make sure that what we say publicly is supported by our evidence and facts,” Brackney added. “We cannot speculate by the nature or the manner in which Ms. Fortune was killed, beyond what has been officially determined by the medical examiner.”
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