Police Say Hanging Was Staged After Drug Dispute Death.

Jackson police Det. Samuel Dukes testified Friday that Tasia Fortune's hanging was staged, citing the medical examiner's opinion. Fortune's body was found August 3 behind an abandoned home in Jackson, Mississippi.

• 2 men — Jarques Ratliff, 51, and Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25 — face murder charges.
• A warrant has been issued for a third, unnamed suspect.
• Fortune may have been dead 2 or 3 days before her body was discovered.
• Detectives say Fortune fought hard before she was killed.

Why it matters: Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death or explained why they believe the body was hanged after Fortune died. The case drew wide attention because the scene recalled lynchings in a state with a long history of racial violence.

• Fortune was 29 years old and had four children. Her mother, Christy Spivey, said Fortune had struggled with homelessness and was working to rebuild her life.

How 16 sources split on this story

What’s next: The Ratliff preliminary hearing resumes September 30 to weigh whether evidence warrants a grand jury indictment.

• Ratliff's attorney, Toney Baldwin, said his client denies involvement.
• What was the exact cause of Tasia Fortune's death?
• Why do investigators believe the body was hanged after she died, and by whom?
• Who is the third suspect named in the arrest warrant?