JACKSON, Tenn. (BN24) — Authorities in western Tennessee have arrested the man accused of killing four members of the same family before abandoning an infant in a stranger’s front yard, bringing a tense multi-day search to an end.
Police in Jackson said 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond was taken into custody Tuesday in a wooded area after being spotted in a neighborhood. Hours earlier, officers had urged residents to stay indoors following reports of his presence nearby. A photo released by police showed Drummond wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, looking directly at the camera.
District Attorney Danny Goodman of Dyer and Lake counties told The Associated Press that Drummond fatally shot the victims, all related to the child found alive. “They were actually all associated with one another,” Goodman said. “So it wasn’t a random attack.” Drummond’s girlfriend is the sister of the infant’s grandmother, Goodman added.
Drummond faces four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and multiple weapons charges. He is scheduled for arraignment later this week in Tiptonville.
The investigation began July 29 when deputies in Dyer County received a call about an infant left in a car seat outside a home in the Tigrett community, about 40 miles from Tiptonville. A witness reported seeing a minivan or midsize SUV leave the scene.
The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office soon linked the case to a crime scene in neighboring Lake County, where the bodies of the child’s parents, grandmother, and uncle were found in nearby woods. The victims were identified as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the baby’s parents, and Rose was the mother of Adrianna and Braydon.
Goodman said the four had not been seen since the previous night, when a relative discovered two abandoned vehicles in a remote area and called 911. Investigators believe Drummond carried out a targeted attack before abandoning the child. The baby, a girl, is now in the care of other relatives and is safe.
Authorities say Drummond’s capture followed the release of surveillance footage showing a man in camouflage, armed with a gun, attempting to enter a building. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and multiple agencies were involved in the search.
Two other suspects — Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29 — have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege they helped Drummond after the killings.
Drummond has a criminal record that includes serving prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening jurors. While incarcerated, he was charged with attempted murder.
Goodman said the killings have deeply shaken the small river communities. “The biggest emotion has been fear,” he said. “You don’t usually hear about a quadruple homicide in small towns. The two emotions are shock, and fear.”
