A third suspect has been arrested in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four whose case has shaken Jackson, Mississippi and drawn attention nationwide. Eric Clark was taken into custody Friday, and on Monday Judge Jeffrey Reynolds set his bond at $5 million, pointing to the heinous nature of the crime and fears in the community that a killer was targeting people for racial reasons.
Detective Robert Taylor testified that Fortune left a home on Capitol Street with Clark and another man to sell drugs and never returned. A witness told investigators Clark came back with money and drugs, and Fortune’s body was later found behind an abandoned home, hanging by an electrical cord, wearing Clark’s brown shoes. Police Chief RaShall Brackney said the hanging was staged. Two other suspects, Jarquez “Jock” Ratliff and Earnest Lloyd Jr., have already been arrested, and the chief said even more arrests are expected.
For families here on the Suncoast, this story is a reminder that justice can be slow and that communities far from the headlines still feel these losses deeply. Fortune leaves behind four children. As the case moves through the courts, we’ll be following every development.
What questions do you have about this case? Drop them in the comments and we’ll look into them.
