Jarques “Jock” Ratliff, Earnest Lloyd Jr and Eric Clark were arrested in connection with Tasia Fortune’s death; Lloyd and Clark are charged with murder, while Ratliff pleaded not guilty to murder. Police say her hanging was staged, but her cause of death remains undetermined.
Fortune, 29, was found behind an abandoned house in Jackson on Aug. 3. Police said they believe she had been killed two or three days earlier in a suspected drug-related dispute.
Police alleged that Lloyd had a physical altercation with Fortune and hanged her with a black cable cord. Clark turned himself in Friday and had not yet appeared in court. Ratliff told the court he wanted the truth to emerge; his lawyer said Ratliff denied involvement and that he believed him. Fortune’s mother said she hoped police had the right people.
