Third suspect arrested in death of Mississippi woman found hanging at ‘staged’ crime scene
A third person has been arrested in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old woman who police said was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned Mississippi home in August.
Eric Clark, 45, surrendered to police on Friday and is charged with murder. Police also disclosed on Friday that according to an autopsy investigation, “the scene and the hanging were staged.”
No other details were released about the scene or Fortune’s killing.
Clark is expected to appear in court on Monday.
Two other people, Earnest Lloyd Jr. and Jarques Ratliff, were also arrested and charged with murder in connection with her death. Both men are Black.
Police have released very little information about what led up to Fortune’s death. Detectives investigating the case have interviewed as many as 15 people, collected forensic evidence and followed numerous leads, police said in a news release.
Authorities said Ratliff, 51, had an “association” with Fortune but did not release further details.
Lloyd, 25, allegedly had a physical altercation with Fortune either days or minutes before she died, according to NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson. Police accused Lloyd of hanging Fortune with a black cable cord, WLBT reported.
Ratliff, who pleaded not guilty, and Lloyd were denied bond at separate court hearings.
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