A Tennessee man accused of killing four people in a brutal attack is denying responsibility, instead claiming he was acting as a confidential FBI informant whose cover was blown.
Austin Drummond, 28, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm during a felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm after four people were found dead in Lake County on July 29. The victims — James Matthew Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and 15-year-old Braydon Williams — were discovered hours after authorities located a 7-month-old baby abandoned in a stranger’s yard.
Drummond, who was released from prison in late 2024 after serving over a decade for armed robbery, spoke for the first time this week in an interview with CBS affiliate WTVF. He claimed he had no reason to kill the victims, whom he described as “family,” and insisted he fled only because he was terrified once people discovered he was working undercover.
“They found out I was an informant,” Drummond said. “I was afraid because I knew bad things happened. I was afraid things would happen to me.”
According to Drummond, he infiltrated the Vice Lords gang while in prison as part of an operation to crack down on drug smuggling, implicating dealers, corrupt officers, and gang members. He alleges his cover was blown weeks before the killings, though he refused to provide details about how this related to the murders.
Despite his claims of innocence, Drummond’s criminal history has fueled skepticism. Court records show he has prior convictions for armed robbery, vandalism, and retaliation against jurors. In 2010, he robbed a Circle K convenience store at gunpoint, netting just $44 but later serving 13 years in prison. Prosecutors say he threatened jurors and the victim after the trial, warning they would “regret it.”
In 2020, District Attorney General Jody Pickens urged the parole board to deny Drummond early release, describing him as “not capable of living among society.” While incarcerated, he was also charged with attempted murder and possession of contraband. Images later surfaced on social media showing him drinking, eating pizza, and even playing a Nintendo Switch while behind bars, raising questions about his conduct in custody.
Investigators from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and federal agencies remain deeply involved in the Lake County case, calling the deaths a “tragic” act of violence. While Drummond insists he is being framed, prosecutors argue that his record and behavior show a consistent disregard for the law.
As Drummond awaits trial, his extraordinary claims of being a government informant are under scrutiny. Authorities have not confirmed his alleged cooperation with the FBI. For now, the families of the victims — and the community left shaken by the killings — are left searching for answers in a case marked by brutality, fear, and a defendant with a long history of violent crime.
Insets, left to right: Austin Drummond (Tennessee Department of Correction), Adrianna Williams and James Wilson, Braydon Williams, and Cortney Rose Drummond (GoFundMe). Background: Austin Drummond makes a court appearance in Lake County, Tenn., where he is accused of killing four people and abandoning an infant (WTVF/YouTube).
