An intense multiagency manhunt continued Monday in western Tennessee for a murder suspect wanted in the deaths of four people after a baby was found abandoned in a person’s front yard last week.
Austin Robert Drummond, 28, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in the deaths last month of James Matthew Wilson, 21; Adriana Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
Wilson and Adriana Williams are the abandoned baby’s parents. The bodies were discovered in a wooded area in Tiptonville, according to NBC affiliate WMC of Memphis.
After Drummond was spotted Sunday night in a town roughly 70 miles away wearing camouflage and armed with a rifle, police in the city of Jackson urged residents to lock their doors and report suspicious activity.
Here’s everything we know about the murders and the search for Drummond.
Abandoned baby found in a person’s yard
The search for Drummond began Tuesday, after an infant was found in a car seat in “a random individual’s front yard” shortly before the baby’s parents and two other family members were found dead.
A witness reported seeing a vehicle drop off an infant in the person’s front yard, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Facebook. In an updated post, the office said it wanted to speak with Rose, Williams and Wilson.
In a news release Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said Rose, Williams and Wilson were among four people found dead in Tiptonville, which is in neighboring Lake County.
Relatives of Drummond did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
Who are the victims?
James Matthew Wilson and Adriana Williams are the baby’s parents. Cortney Rose is the baby’s maternal grandmother, and Braydon Williams is the maternal uncle.
Authorities have not said how they died.
TBI Director David B. Rausch said there is a “familial relationship” between the suspect and the family but did not provide further details.
A relative of the victims said on Facebook that Drummond had dated one of Rose’s sisters. The relative said he had “literally been nothing short of amazing to us and our kids.”
Wilson’s family said in an online obituary that he was a “guiding light and an irreplaceable presence in our lives.”
“He was a devoted father and would do anything to take care of his child and family. Matthew’s quick wit and infectious smile lit up any room he walked into,” they wrote. “Growing up with him was an adventure, he was always there whether to offer a helping hand or to provide a shoulder to lean on.”
The victims’ families could not be reached for comment Monday.
Three people arrested
Two men described as “associates” of Drummond were arrested on suspicion of helping him.
Tanaka Brown was arrested Friday, and Giovontie Thomas was taken into custody Saturday, the TBI said. Both men, of Jackson, were charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Brown faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence, the agency said in a news release.
Dearrah Sanders was also taken into custody on a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. She is accused of helping Drummond after the murders, the TBI said in a news release Monday.
It is not clear whether they have attorneys.
Search for suspect continues
The Jackson Police Department said Monday that Drummond was captured on a security camera the night before.
In one video released by the department, Drummond was seen with a backpack and hooded camouflage jacket. He was armed with a rifle.
In another video, while still armed with a rifle, he appeared to be trying to open a door.
“Drummond is considered armed and dangerous,” the department said. “Please exercise extra caution as you come and go from your homes. Drummond is believed to still be in the area, and it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Ensure all doors, garages, sheds, and outbuildings are securely locked to prevent unauthorized access.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a combined reward of $32,500 for information leading to Drummond’s arrest was being offered by local, state and federal authorities.
The U.S. Marshals Service said getting him into custody is a top priority.
He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, possession of a gun during a dangerous felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the killings, the Marshals Service said.
Investigators located two vehicles associated with Drummond. A white 1988 Ford pickup with red side panels was found in Dyer County. Authorities asked people to check their security cameras for video of the truck. A white 2016 Audi A3, believed to belong to Drummond, was found in Jackson. Rausch said investigators believe Drummond may be in the Jackson area.
Authorities said he was out on bond when the killings took place. He had been released in connection with an incident in prison when he was serving time for an unrelated aggravated robbery, said Danny Goodman, the district attorney for Dyer and Lake counties.