Austin Robert Drummond, the man accused of murdering four family members and abandoning a baby in a front yard, has been captured in Jackson, Tennessee, authorities confirmed Tuesday, according to the New York Times.
The 28-year-old fugitive was wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and several other charges tied to a grisly massacre in Tiptonville on July 29.
Drummond’s arrest came after an intense statewide manhunt. He had been spotted in Jackson, about 75 miles southwest of Tiptonville, prompting law enforcement to urge residents to shelter in place. He was added to Tennessee’s Most Wanted list, and a $32,500 reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest.
The disturbing case began shortly after 3 p.m. on July 29, when a caller reported that a minivan or SUV had dropped off a baby in a car seat in a front yard near Tigrett, roughly 40 miles south of Tiptonville, according to the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office.
By 5:10 p.m., authorities had identified the infant and launched a search for the child’s family members. They were soon identified as Matthew Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; and Cortney Rose, 38.
Two days later, the sheriff’s office confirmed all three were found dead in Tiptonville, along with a fourth victim: 15-year-old Braydon Williams.
According to investigators, Wilson and Williams were the infant’s parents. Rose was the child’s grandmother, and Braydon Williams was the uncle, the district attorney’s office confirmed.
Authorities have not released the cause of death for the victims or specified a motive, but confirmed the attack was targeted and that Drummond had family connections to all four victims.
In the days following the slayings, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also arrested three individuals for allegedly helping Drummond evade capture.
Dearrah Sanders, 23; Tanaka Brown, 29; and Giovontie Thomas, 29, were charged as accessories after the fact to first-degree murder. Brown also faces a charge of tampering with evidence. The TBI described all three as “associates” of Drummond but declined to reveal the specifics of their involvement.
Drummond has a violent criminal history. He was convicted of armed robbery in 2013 after holding up a convenience store in Jackson and was sentenced to 14 years. He was released from prison in September 2024, according to state records.
At a press conference Friday, Danny Goodman Jr., district attorney for Dyer and Lake Counties, revealed Drummond had also been indicted on drug and attempted murder charges while incarcerated — and was free on bond at the time of the quadruple homicide.
With Drummond now in custody, families of the victims are demanding answers, and the state prepares to pursue justice in one of Tennessee’s most shocking murder cases in recent memory.
