A 29-year-old Black woman whose body was found hanging from a tree behind a vacant home in Jackson, Mississippi, has been identified as Tasia Fortune as authorities continue investigating how she died.
The case has rapidly drawn attention from community leaders, including Jackson Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who is calling for a federal investigation. Stokes told 16 WAPT News Jackson he sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney's Office this week requesting assistance with the case.
“Everywhere you go, people are talking about that hanging,” Stokes said.
According to WLBT, Hinds County Coroner Jeremiah Howard said Fortune’s body was transferred to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, which will determine her cause and manner of death. Howard also said Fortune’s family has been notified.
16 WAPT reported investigators believe Fortune’s body may have been in the tree for three to four days before it was discovered Monday evening (August 3). The station also reported the Jackson Fire Department used a ladder truck to remove her body from the tree.
In an interview with the news station, Stokes questioned how Fortune’s body ended up high enough in the tree that firefighters needed a ladder truck to remove it.
Fortune’s sister, LaToni Fortune, told Mississippi Today the family is searching for answers following her death. She said Tasia frequently traveled between Mississippi and Kentucky to spend time with relatives.
Jackson police spokesperson Tommie Brown declined to release an incident report, telling Mississippi Today the case remains an active investigation and authorities could not provide additional information.
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