Third suspect arrested in death of Mississippi woman found hanging at ‘staged’ crime scene

A third person has been arrested in connection with the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old woman who police say was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned Mississippi home in August.

Eric Clark, 45, turned himself in to police Friday and is charged with murder. Police also revealed Friday that, according to the autopsy investigation, “the scene and the hanging were staged.”

No further details have been released about the scene or Fortune’s murder.

Clark is expected to appear in court Monday.

Two other people, Earnest Lloyd Jr. and Jarques Ratliff, were also arrested and charged with murder in connection with his death. Both men are black.

Police have released very little information about the cause of Fortune’s death. Investigating detectives interviewed up to 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 got into a physical altercation with Fortune days or minutes before his death, according to Jackson’s NBC affiliate WLBT. Police accused Lloyd of hanging Fortune with a black cable, WLBT reported.

Ratliff, who has pleaded not guilty, and Lloyd were denied bail in separate court hearings.