Jarques Ratliff is among at least three arrested in Tasia Fortune’s death; Eric Clark surrendered and Earnest Lloyd Jr. was arrested, both on murder charges. Detective Samuel Dukes testified Fortune was killed elsewhere before her body was hung from a tree.
At a municipal hearing, Ratliff’s attorney said the vacant lot had no surveillance video and that no evidence showed Fortune was killed elsewhere. Dukes testified illegal narcotics were thought to be at the root of the crime, rather than a racial motive.
Fortune’s body was found Aug. 3, prompting fears among local residents because of Mississippi’s history of racial violence and lynchings.
