JACKSON, Miss. — The man arrested in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman who was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned Mississippi home last month, was denied bond after pleading not guilty to murder.
\n\nWearing a red jumpsuit, Jarques Ratliff, 51, made his first court appearance in Jackson Municipal Court on Monday and was formally charged with murder. His attorney, Toney Baldwin, argued that Ratliff was not a flight risk and was “gainfully employed,” but Judge Taurean Buchanan ordered him to be held on no bond.
\n\nA law enforcement official present for the hearing alleged that Ratliff was “a danger to the citizens of Jackson.”
\n\nRatliff, whom Jackson police said had an “association” with Fortune, was arrested Friday. Police Chief RaShall Brackney said more arrests are expected. A motive and Fortune’s cause of death have not been released.
\n\nFortune was originally from Kentucky but had been living in Jackson for the last 10 years, according to her obituary. Her body was found Aug. 3. Her death was classified as a homicide Thursday evening.
\n\nBrackney said police secured two search warrants and an arrest warrant for Ratliff.
\n\nShe said that investigators served the search warrants on…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business