Suspect arrested for alleged quadruple homicide in Jackson, Tennessee following their identification
In a shocking turn of events, Austin Robert Drummond, a 28-year-old man, has been arrested and accused of a quadruple homicide in Lake County, Tennessee. Drummond is the prime suspect in the killings of four individuals: 38-year-old Cortney Rose, her children, 20-year-old Adrianna Williams and 15-year-old Braydon Williams, and 21-year-old James "Michael" Wilson, Adrianna Williams' boyfriend [1][2][4].
The grisly discovery was made on July 29, 2025, along a road in northwest Tennessee, near the borders of Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky. On the same day, Wilson and Williams' baby was found abandoned in a car seat in a random individual's front yard in nearby Dyer County. The infant received paramedic treatment and is currently safe and in care [1][2].
Drummond was considered armed and dangerous during a weeklong manhunt. He was captured in Jackson, Tennessee, on August 5, 2025, after police released a home security camera image of him. At the time of arrest, rewards totaling up to $30,000 were offered for information leading to his capture [1].
The charges against Drummond are severe. He faces multiple charges, including 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 [1].
The motive for the killings remains under investigation. During the search for Drummond, four others were arrested as accessories after the fact [1][3][4].
Drummond's past is not without blemish. In 2014, he was convicted of aggravated robbery for an armed robbery at a Circle K convenience store in Jackson, Tennessee [2]. He had also been out on bond for an attempted murder charge related to an incident while incarcerated for attempted robbery.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation include the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), local sheriff departments, police departments, federal agencies, and specialized task forces [4].
As the investigation continues, the community hopes for justice and closure in this tragic case. The four victims were found in the woods, nearly 30 minutes away from where deputies in Dyer County found the baby alone. The TBI announced a third arrest on Monday morning, Dearrah Sanders, from Jackson, Tennessee [3]. Sanders will be booked into the Lake County Jail.
[1] TBI Press Release: Austin Robert Drummond Arrested in Connection to Quadruple Homicide
[2] WBBJ News: Austin Robert Drummond's Criminal History
[3] WMC Action News 5: Third Arrest Made in Connection to Quadruple Homicide
[4] Nashville Public Radio: Lake County Quadruple Homicide: What We Know So Far
War-and-conflicts and politics intersect as the authorities investigate a quadruple homicide in Lake County, Tennessee. General news revolves around the capture of Austin Robert Drummond, the prime suspect, who also has a criminal history including aggravated robbery and attempted murder. Crime-and-justice also play a significant role as Drummond faces multiple charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, and law enforcement agencies such as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, federal agencies, and specialized task forces are involved in the investigation.
