Drummond, 28, accused of killing four and
abandoning baby during violent spree; captured after statewide search.
Jackson, Tennessee — Austin Robert Drummond, 28, has been arrested following a weeklong manhunt after being accused of murdering four members of his girlfriend’s family and abandoning a baby on a stranger’s doorstep in a rural Tennessee town.
A violent week in rural Tennessee ended in a tense
manhunt and the arrest of a recently paroled felon accused in the targeted
killing of four family members and the abandonment of an infant.
Austin Robert Drummond, 28, was apprehended Tuesday
morning in a wooded area near Jackson, Tennessee, approximately 70 miles south
of the murder scene. The arrest came just over a week after police discovered a
baby in a car seat left in front of a home in Tigrett, sparking immediate
concern and a subsequent investigation.
Authorities later found the bodies of four
individuals — Adrianna Williams, 20, her partner James M. Wilson, 21, her
mother Cortney Rose, 38, and her teenage brother Braydon Williams, 15 — in
Tiptonville, roughly 40 miles away from where the baby was abandoned.
Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley confirmed that
multiple public tips around 8:00 a.m. CDT led to the arrest, which occurred
around 9:05 a.m. local time. “This marks an important step in restoring safety
to our community,” Corley said during a press conference.
TBI Director David Rausch called the murders
“targeted,” and police later revealed that Drummond had a personal relationship
with the victims — specifically, he was dating one of the deceased victim’s
family members.
While authorities have not disclosed a motive,
investigators confirmed that Drummond is suspected of killing his girlfriend’s
mother, sister, brother, and the father of the infant — then leaving the baby
in a remote area, helpless but ultimately unharmed.
The baby is now in protective custody and reported
to be in good health.
Drummond’s arrest follows mounting public pressure
and a $32,500 reward offered for information. Before his capture, authorities
had released surveillance footage appearing to show him armed and dressed in
camouflage, attempting to enter a building.
Three other individuals have also been arrested and
charged with assisting Drummond in the aftermath of the killings.
This case has drawn renewed attention to
Tennessee’s parole system. Drummond had been released from prison in September
2024 after serving 13 years for a 2013 armed robbery. In 2020, a district
attorney had warned the state parole board against early release, citing
threats made by Drummond and multiple disciplinary infractions during incarceration.
“This type of behavior clearly demonstrates a
continued threat to society,” the prosecutor reportedly said at the time.
- Following his arrest, Drummond faces multiple felony charges including:
- Four counts of first-degree murder.
- One count of aggravated kidnapping
- Four counts of felon in possession of a firearm
- One count of firearm possession during a dangerous felony
Law enforcement described the case as one of the
most disturbing they’ve encountered in years, pointing to the calculated nature
of the crime and the vulnerability of the surviving infant.
"This wasn't random," said one TBI
investigator. "This was a deliberate, planned act — and a tragic reminder
of how domestic violence can escalate to mass murder."
As investigators continue to gather evidence and
prepare for prosecution, questions remain about how Drummond, with such a
record, was released from custody and able to carry out such violence so soon
after parole.
The community of Tiptonville remains shaken.
Candlelight vigils are being planned in memory of the victims, and a GoFundMe
has been set up to assist with funeral costs and ongoing care for the orphaned
child.