Convicted Felon and Suspected Gang Member Austin Drummond Arrested for Tennessee Family Murders and Abandonment of Baby

A seven-day manhunt has culminated in the arrest of Austin Robert Drummond in connection with the murders of four family members and the abandonment of their infant relative. The 28-year-old was taken into custody on Tuesday morning in Jackson, Tennessee, following reports from residents who spotted him.

Drummond, a convicted felon with alleged ties to a violent street gang, was out on bail for an attempted murder charge and was dating the sister of one of the victims. He will appear at Lake County General Sessions Court for an arraignment on Thursday morning. However, the motive behind these crimes and why the baby was left in a different county remain unexplained.

Drummond’s criminal history dates back to July 2013 when he was a 16-year-old who robbed a Circle K convenience store in Jackson at midnight. He brandished a pistol, demanded money from the cash register, and was subsequently convicted of aggravated robbery. Sentenced to ten years in prison, Drummond made calls threatening jurors and the robbery victim following his trial in 2014. This led to an additional three-year sentence for retaliation against past actions.

The District Attorney’s office opposed parole, labeling him as a “dangerous felony offender.” Drummond was released last September after serving eleven years at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. Following his release, he faced new charges related to his time in prison, including a drug arrest and attempted murder case.

As of now, it remains unclear if Drummond’s attorney represents him in connection with these recent killings. The manhunt spanned rural Tennessee following the discovery of an abandoned infant in a car seat near Tigrett on July 29th. Witnesses reported seeing a dark-colored minivan or white mid-size SUV leaving the scene.

Hours later, four bodies – later identified as the baby’s family members – were found dead in Tiptonville, Lake County. The seven-month-old infant was safely recovered. Victims included the parents James M. Wilson and Adrianna Williams, Williams’ maternal grandmother Cortney Rose, and her fifteen-year-old uncle Braydon Williams.

Drummond is wanted for four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. It was confirmed that Rose’s sister was Drummond’s girlfriend, having served as a corrections officer at Northwest Correctional Complex when Drummond was incarcerated there.

Investigators suspect Drummond may have received assistance from members of the Vice Lords gang. The gang is known for involvement in murder, drug trafficking, and other violent crimes. The Vice Lords have members and offshoot groups across Tennessee and Illinois.

Three others were arrested in connection with the case: Dearrah Sanders, Tanaka Brown, and Giovontie Thomas. Charges against Sanders include accessory to first-degree murder for allegedly assisting Drummond after the killings. Brown faces tampering with evidence charges as well. The details of their alleged involvement remain unspecified.

Investigators have yet to release further information about the circumstances surrounding the murders, how the bodies were discovered, or any potential motives. Firearms recovered during the arrest could potentially be linked to the crimes.