Man Denies Guilt in Tasia Fortune’s Murder, Denied Bond in Mississippi

Man denies guilt in Tasia Fortune's murder, denied bond in Mississippi. Full details on the case.

September 15, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Jackson, United States — A man accused of murdering Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi, has pleaded not guilty and was denied bond.

Jarques Ratliff, 51, appeared in Jackson Municipal Court on Monday and was formally charged with murder. His attorney, Toney Baldwin, argued that Ratliff is not a flight risk and is employed, but Judge Taurean Buchanan ruled he would remain in custody without bond. A law enforcement official described Ratliff as a danger to Jackson residents.

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Ratliff, who had an association with Fortune, was arrested last week. Police Chief RaShall Brackney said more arrests are expected, though no motive or cause of death has been disclosed. The case has drawn national attention due to Mississippi’s history of racially motivated violence and concerns over police handling of such cases.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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