JACKSON, Miss. — Authorities are investigating the hanging death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune after her body was found in the backyard of an abandoned house in Jackson on Aug. 3, officials and family members said.
Discovery and identification
Jackson police responded to the property after a report and located a person hanging outside the vacant home, according to statements from the department. Hinds County chief medical examiner investigator Jeremiah Howard later confirmed the identity as Tasia Fortune. Her remains are currently held by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office pending an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
A small memorial stood near the scene on Monday, a week after officers discovered the body. Pink and white decorations, teddy bears and a photograph of Fortune were arranged in an otherwise overgrown yard littered with empty chip bags and discarded bottles.
Family reaction and timeline
Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, told ABC News she last saw her daughter on July 26, after Fortune had returned from a family reunion in Kentucky. Spivey described her daughter as a loving mother of four and expressed certainty that Fortune did not take her own life.
"She did not do this to herself. I know my daughter, and she did not do this to herself," Spivey said.
Officials have not publicly declared whether they consider the death suspicious. Jackson police said they are actively working "to determine the circumstances surrounding the death." No arrest has been reported.
Community concern and official response
The incident has unsettled the neighborhood and broader community, in part because two other people in Mississippi have been found hanging from trees in less than a year, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Those earlier deaths have raised questions among residents about patterns and public safety.
Local elected officials are seeking federal assistance. Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes wrote to Mississippi U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger asking for help in the investigation, a move that reflects mounting concern about how the case is handled and whether additional resources are needed.
What investigators have said
Police have provided limited public detail while the medical examiner's office performs an autopsy. Investigators typically await toxicology and other forensic results before ruling on cause or manner of death, and such tests can take days to weeks depending on the scope.
What we know so far
- Last known contact: Fortune was last seen by family on July 26.
- Discovery: Body found in the backyard of an abandoned house in Jackson on Aug. 3.
- Identification: Confirmed by a Hinds County medical investigator; remains are at the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy.
- Community actions: City councilman requested federal assistance; makeshift memorial placed near the scene.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 26 | Fortune last seen by family after returning from Kentucky |
| Aug. 3 | Jackson police discover a hanging body at an abandoned house |
| Aug. 10 | Family memorial observed near the scene; body in custody of medical examiner |
Broader context and public safety
The death arrives amid heightened sensitivity after other recent deaths involving people found hanging in Mississippi. Those earlier incidents have prompted community discussions about safety, mental health services and the adequacy of investigations. Officials have not connected Fortune’s death to other cases publicly.
Residents near the scene described an overgrown lot and a hollowed house entrance. Such properties can complicate investigations by allowing evidence to be disturbed or overlooked. Investigators will likely canvass the area, seek surveillance or witness accounts, and pursue forensic testing to build a timeline of what happened in the days before the discovery.
Next steps in the case
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office will release results of the autopsy when available. Jackson police said they are continuing to gather information and follow leads. Anyone with information about Fortune’s movements between July 26 and Aug. 3 is encouraged to contact the Jackson Police Department.
For now, family members, neighbors and city officials await answers as investigators work to establish how Fortune died and whether criminal activity played a role.
Curtis Whitfield is the state correspondent for WE NEWS covering Jackson and the Mississippi capital region.
