Crime & Public Safety
Third person charged after body found on Road of Remembrance in Jackson
A body discovered behind a vacant home on the Road of Remembrance in Jackson on August 3, 2026, is at the center of an ongoing homicide investigation after the State Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide. Investigators say the body of Tasia Fortune was found hanging behind the vacant property and believe the hanging was staged; they estimate the body remained at that location for about two to three days.
On September 25, 2026, Eric Clark, 45, turned himself in and was charged with murder; his initial appearance was scheduled for September 28, 2026. Earlier this week investigators also announced the arrest of Earnest Lloyd, Jr., 25, who was charged with murder and denied bond. During a preliminary hearing on September 25, 2026, evidence presented by investigators implicated Jarques Ratliff; he is charged with murder and a DNA sample taken from him is pending testing.
Prosecutors have told investigators they recovered items from Fortune that they believe may have belonged to Ratliff and are still awaiting laboratory testing. Detectives said they are examining a possible narcotics-related motive, including allegations about missing illegal drugs. During the hearing, Ratliff’s defense attorney challenged the strength of the evidence, noting there is no neighborhood surveillance video documenting what occurred at the Road of Remembrance location and that investigators could not confirm Fortune was died at that site.
Documented case status: Clark is charged and scheduled for initial appearance; Ratliff and Lloyd remain charged in the matter with forensic testing and pretrial proceedings ongoing. The Medical Examiner has not disclosed a cause of death.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.