Mississippi police make 2nd arrest in death of Black woman found hanging from tree, seek 3rd suspect

WXXV Staff,
Tasia
A makeshift memorial honoring Tasia Fortune stands in the backyard of the property where her body was found. Photo taken on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Police in Mississippi have arrested a second man in the death of a Black woman found hanging from a tree and have issued an arrest warrant for a third suspect.

Jackson police said late Tuesday that they arrested 25-year-old Earnest Lloyd Jr. in the death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune, whose body was found hanging behind an abandoned home in the city on Aug. 3.

Like Fortune and the first man arrested, 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff, Lloyd is black.

Ratliff was arrested in September on murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.

Police said in a statement that they issued an arrest warrant for a third suspect, but gave no details about that person’s identity.

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