The case that has shaken rural Tennessee to its core began with a chilling discovery — a seven-month-old baby left alone in a stranger’s yard in the small community of Tigrett. What started as a welfare check on the infant quickly escalated into a quadruple homicide investigation that has left an entire community reeling. Authorities are searching for 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond, now wanted for multiple counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and illegal firearm possession, after four members of the child’s family were found dead in a wooded area nearly 40 miles away.
A Baby Left Behind, A Trail of Blood Uncovered
On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 29, law enforcement in Dyer County, Tennessee, received a disturbing call — a baby girl had been dropped off in a car seat in a stranger’s front yard by someone driving a dark-colored minivan. The time was 3:10 p.m. The resident had no connection to the child, and the situation sent shockwaves through the community.
This strange abandonment triggered an urgent search for the baby’s parents and guardians. Later that night, just before 10:30 p.m., police received a report that several family members were missing — including 21-year-old James Matthew Wilson, his 20-year-old partner Adrianna Williams, her 15-year-old brother Braydon Williams, and her mother, 38-year-old Cortney Rose.
By the end of the night, the search led investigators nearly 40 miles away, to a wooded area in Tiptonville, Lake County, along Carrington Road. There, in a grim and heart-wrenching scene, deputies found all four victims dead. While officials have not yet confirmed how they were killed, all deaths have been ruled homicides.
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The baby girl, despite the harrowing circumstances, was physically unharmed and is now in protective care. But her life has been changed forever.
Austin Drummond: A History of Violence and Gangs
The man at the center of this brutal tragedy, Austin Robert Drummond, is no stranger to law enforcement. At just 28 years old, he has a criminal record spanning over a decade. Drummond was released from prison in September 2024 after serving a 10-year sentence for an aggravated robbery he committed when he was only 16. During the 2014 incident, he held up a gas station in Jackson, Tennessee, with a handgun.
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Even while incarcerated, Austin Robert Drummond’s behavior remained violent and erratic. In November 2024, just two months after his release, he was charged with attempted murder and drug offenses while still inside the Northwest Correctional Complex. He has faced multiple disciplinary actions in prison, ranging from assault and possession of deadly weapons to refusing drug tests and participating in gang activity.
Authorities have confirmed that Drummond is affiliated with the Vice Lords, a notorious and violent street and prison gang. According to a letter written by District Attorney Jody Pickens to the Tennessee Board of Parole in 2020, Drummond posed an ongoing threat to society and should not be released. Pickens also noted that in recorded prison phone calls, Drummond allegedly threatened jurors who convicted him, vowing they would regret their decision.
Despite these dire warnings, Drummond was paroled in 2024, and less than a year later, he is now the suspect in one of the most devastating family killings in recent Tennessee history.
The Investigation and the Associates Now Behind Bars
Since the discovery of the bodies, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service have launched an intensive manhunt. Drummond is wanted for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was last seen on Sunday evening, August 3, in Jackson, Tennessee, near Pipkin Road. Surveillance footage captured him wearing camouflage clothing and carrying a rifle. Authorities consider him armed and extremely dangerous.
His white 2016 Audi A3, believed to have been used during the crime, was recovered in Jackson. An older white 1988 Ford pickup truck with a red stripe, also linked to Drummond, was found earlier in Dyer County. On Monday, officers focused their search in a wooded area near Union University in Jackson, prompting a nearby school to go into lockdown.
Three other individuals believed to have assisted Drummond after the murders have been arrested and charged with being accessories after the fact to first-degree murder. They are 29-year-olds Tanaka Brown and Giovonte Thomas, and Dearrah Sanders. Law enforcement has not yet revealed the extent of their involvement but stated they were close associates of Drummond. All three are being held without bond in Lake County Jail.
Authorities have also confirmed that Drummond has a familial connection to the victims. While the exact nature of his relationship remains unclear, a relative stated in a Facebook post that Drummond had previously dated Rose’s sister and was once considered trustworthy by the family.
This betrayal, layered over such a heinous crime, has left the community struggling for answers.
Grief and Mourning in the Wake of an Unimaginable Tragedy
The victims were a young family with their whole lives ahead of them. James Matthew Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the loving parents of the abandoned baby girl. Just seven months before the tragedy, the couple had shared their joy over their daughter’s birth online. Friends and family have since taken to social media to express their heartbreak and disbelief.
Wilson’s sister, Amanda Myatt, created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, describing her brother and his partner as devoted parents who were trying to build a future. “Courtney was the sole provider for her kids,” she wrote, referring to Adrianna’s mother, who also lost her life that day.
A separate fundraiser was organized by Wilson’s grandmother to ensure he received a proper funeral service, which was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Newbern. Friends of Adrianna have described her as a sweet and caring mother who loved being with her baby.
The last image on Rose’s Facebook page, believed to be from May, showed her proudly holding her infant granddaughter — a haunting reminder of the moments of joy this family once shared before their lives were stolen.
In such a small community, the impact of this tragedy has been overwhelming. The murder of four family members and the abandonment of an infant has left not only their relatives but the entire region shaken and searching for meaning. Vigils are being held, prayers are being offered, and many are asking how this could have been prevented.
As the manhunt for Drummond continues, the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any sightings. A reward totaling $32,500 is being offered for information leading to his capture. Authorities are working around the clock to bring justice to the victims and ensure the safety of the community.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with violent histories and the devastating consequences that can arise when warning signs are ignored. As officials continue to piece together what led to this horrific act, one thing remains clear — a once-loving family has been torn apart, and a young child will now grow up without her parents, grandmother, or uncle.