Mississippi police arrest second suspect in hanging death of Black woman, seek third

Jackson police announced the arrest of Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, as the second suspect in the fatal hanging of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman found behind an abandoned home on Aug. 3. The first suspect, 51-year-old Jarques Ratliff, was taken into custody in September on murder charges and has entered a not-guilty plea, remaining without bond. A warrant has also been issued for a third suspect, but authorities have not disclosed the person's identity.

Police chief RaShall Brackney noted that Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune, without elaborating on its nature. While officials have not indicated a motive or whether race played a role, the case has sparked widespread interest due to its resemblance to historic lynchings in the South. Fortune, originally from Kentucky, was a mother of four who had struggled with homelessness and was recently discussing plans to launch a cleaning business.