Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty for Man Accused of Killing 4 Tennessee Family Members
Prosecutors in Tennessee announced they will pursue the death penalty against Austin Robert Drummond, a 28-year-old man accused of murdering four family members and abandoning a baby in a stranger’s yard, in a shocking and tragic case that has rocked rural Tiptonville.
Drummond appeared in court for the first time via video on Thursday, following his arrest earlier this week after a week-long manhunt. He faces four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
During the hearing, District Attorney Danny Goodman stated the killings were premeditated and confirmed that he will seek the death penalty. The judge entered a not guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf and assigned him a public defender. Drummond was ordered held without bond due to the severity of the charges.
A Baby Left in a Stranger’s Yard
The case began to unfold on June 29, when someone dropped a 7-month-old infant in a car seat in the yard of a stranger along Old Highway 20 near Tigrett, Tennessee. The resident immediately contacted 911 after discovering the abandoned child.
While searching for the baby’s family, authorities made a grim discovery. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) found the bodies of the infant’s parents, James M. Wilson (21) and Adrianna Williams (20), along with Williams’ 15-year-old brother Braydon Williams and 38-year-old grandmother Cortney Rose. All four victims were shot and found in a wooded area after a relative reported two abandoned vehicles nearby.
Drummond is believed to have been the boyfriend of Cortney Rose’s sister, adding a chilling layer of familiarity to the crime.
A Violent Criminal Past
At the time of the murders, Drummond was out on bond for attempted murder charges related to an incident that occurred while he was incarcerated. He was already serving a sentence for robbing a convenience store and threatening jurors. Despite that, he was granted bond, which allowed him to walk free prior to this mass killing.
The TBI named him as a suspect shortly after the murders and launched a statewide manhunt. He was eventually arrested on August 5 in Jackson, Tennessee, on Windwood Drive.
Community Devastated
“This is a whole family gone,” said Kim Hamil, mother of victim James Wilson, in a statement to the Associated Press. “It’s unbelievable. We’re just broken.”
Hamil added that the family will be present in court to honor and seek justice for their loved ones.
Others Also Charged
Three additional individuals—Dearrah Sanders (23), Tanaka Brown (29), and Giovonte Thomas (29)—have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in connection with the case. Investigators allege they assisted Drummond after the killings.
Prosecutors have not yet revealed a motive for the murders, but the case continues to develop. Drummond is facing a potential death sentence if convicted, and authorities are treating it as one of the most severe family-related homicides in recent Tennessee history.
