Lawyer for man charged in connection to Lake County murders speaks with WBBJ

December 16, 2025

Ashlyn Swinea,

JACKSON, Tenn. — Four individuals charged in connection to the Austin Drummond case appeared in Madison County Circuit Court Monday for a status hearing.

ARCHIVE: This Dec. 12, 2025 photo depicts Wise as he appeared in Madison County Circuit Court.

Eric Wise is currently charged with four counts of accessory after the fact.

This charge means prosecutors believe Wise knew Austin Drummond killed four individuals in Lake County and that Wise helped Drummond while he was on the run from law enforcement.

Wise’s defense attorney, Dr. Bede Anyanwu, says his client is innocent and he did not know about the murders.

ARCHIVE: This Dec. 12, 2025 photo depicts Wise (R) and Thomas (ML) as they appeared in Madison County Circuit Court.

“He didn’t kill anybody. More so, they have to prove that Mr. Drummond actually killed those individuals before they could actually charge my client with accessory after the fact. That is the law in Tennessee,” said Dr. Bede Anyanwu.

He also says Wise has a child with another defendant in the case and that wise has no connection to Drummond.

“Being in the wrong place at the wrong time or being in association with somebody and now you are putting all of them in the same port as being a part of a particular act an allegation that’s why he is being charged,” said Dr. Anyanwu.

Dr. Anyanwu said prosecutors accused Wise of purchasing a cell phone for Drummond while he was on the run. He said Wise had no money to buy a phone for Drummond and that he is innocent.

The court gave a deadline date of January 16, 2026 to agree on a plea agreement. However, Wise plans to plead not guilty and go to trial.

“We are not going to plea to something he didn’t do and the other person can go and fly off the moon. As far as my client is concerned we plan to have exoneration,” said Dr. Anyanwu.

The trial dates have been set and Dr. Anyanwu says they are ready to fight the case.

“We are ready to go to trial. We are ready to rock and roll,” said Dr. Anyanwu.

Wise is currently being held in the Madison County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Dr. Anyanwu said he believes the bond is too high and plans to file a motion to try and get the bond reduced.

The trial dates have been set to May 5 & 6 of 2026.

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