Quadruple homicide case in Tennessee to face capital punishment pursuit by authorities for the slaying of an infanticide victim's kin.
Man Accused of Quadruple Murder Appears in Court
Austin Robert Drummond, a 28-year-old man, made his first court appearance on Thursday, charged with the brutal killings of four family members in Tennessee. Drummond is accused of murdering Cortney Rose, her children Adrianna and Braydon Williams, and Adrianna's boyfriend James "Michael" Wilson. The infant child of Wilson and Adrianna was found alive, left in a car seat in a stranger’s yard nearby.
Drummond was ordered held without bond due to state law and the potential danger to the community. He is facing four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
The bodies of the victims were discovered on July 29, 2025, in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Drummond had been on the run since then, considered armed and dangerous. He was captured on August 5, 2025, in Jackson, Tennessee, following a weeklong manhunt.
Prior to the murders, Drummond had a troubled criminal history. He was out on bond for an attempted murder charge related to an alleged incident while he was in prison for attempted robbery. His background also includes confinement for attempted robbery and an active attempted murder case at the time of the incident.
No motive for the killings has been publicly disclosed, and investigations into any possible accomplices are ongoing. Several people have been charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Drummond evade capture.
Kim Hamil, the mother of one of the victims, is planning to attend Drummond's hearings. She stated that "it's a whole family gone" and that the family is "broken" due to the loss. She is currently caring for her son's baby girl.
During the court proceedings, Drummond showed no expression. The district attorney for Dyer and Lake counties, Danny Goodman, announced that the state intends to seek the death penalty.
At the time of the arraignment, Drummond did not yet have an attorney. Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Drummond is also reported to have ties to a violent street gang.
CNN's Cindy Von Quednow and Emma Tucker contributed to this report, along with The Associated Press, who interviewed Kim Hamil.
[1] Associated Press [2] CNN [3] The Tennessean
Following his capture, Austin Robert Drummond, charged with a quadruple murder, will face multiple counts, including first-degree murder, in the US court system. The unfolding events have attracted attention in general news and crime-and-justice sections, as the community grapples with the loss and potential danger posed by Drummond. Additionally, the families of the victims, like Kim Hamil, the mother of one of the victims, are eagerly following the court proceedings.
