Austin Drummond has been captured

August 5, 2025

Amelia Carlson,

NORTH JACKSON, Tenn. – Jackson City Mayor Scott Conger announced during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 5, that Austin Drummond had been captured. He was later booked into Obion County Jail in Union City.

Austin Drummond was booked into the Obion County Jail on Tuesday, August 5. (Photo: Mobile Patrol)

According to a post on the Madison County government page, Drummond was captured with no shots being fired. Officials are asking for citizens to stay away from the area as law enforcement is still searching the area for any items Drummond may have discarded.

Austin Drummond was captured on Windwood Hills in Jackson, TN.

Shortly after Mayor Conger announced the capture at the city council meeting, Dyer County Sheriff’s Department posted confirmation of the arrest as well on Facebook.

Austin Drummond has been captured. (Photo credit: JPD)

“Sheriff Jeff Box of the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to confirm that the man responsible for the murder of four Dyer County citizens has been captured by the U.S. Marshalls. Sheriff Box expressed his gratitude to all agencies involved. ‘This would not have been achieved without the tireless work and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners. Their commitment to justice and public safety around the clock since Tuesday at 3 p.m. has been invaluable throughout this investigation. Also, our citizens have been extremely helpful and cooperative. Thank you so much for always being a willing partner with our deputies and investigators.’

The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the immense pain and suffering experienced by the families of the victims during this incredibly difficult time. ‘Our focus now shifts to honoring the lives lost and providing support to their grieving families. We urge the community and the media to respect their privacy as they navigate through this tragic loss.’

The investigation is ongoing and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is the lead investigative agency. The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work diligently to ensure justice is served for the victims and their loved ones while fostering a safe environment for our community.'”

Jackson Police Department Chief Thom Corley released a statement acknowledging the capture and the work of law enforcement.

“I am pleased to announce the successful capture of Austin Drummond, wanted for the murder of four individuals in Lake County, Tennessee. This marks an important step in restoring safety to our community.

Thank you to our partners at all levels, including TBI, FBI, The U.S. Marshal, THP, Madison County Sheriff Department and Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, for their dedication in this case. I also extend my gratitude to the citizens for their support and to the brave men and women of the Jackson Police Department for their commitment to public safety.”

Early Tuesday morning, residents in the area of White Oak, Bridlepath, Saddlebook, and Pipkin were asked to shelter in place and for others to avoid while officials continued their search and efforts to locate Drummond. Shortly after the request for shelter in place was released, Mayor Conger announced his arrest at the council meeting.

OFFICIALS REACT TO THE CAPTURE:

In a post from Jackson Police Department, they thanked the members of JPD that worked to bring Drummond into custody.

“We would like to express our gratitude to our City of Jackson, TN- Police Department officers, specifically the SWAT team, Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol Division, and the Special Operations Unit, for their relentless pursuit of justice in the Austin Drummond case.

Your commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens is truly commendable. We appreciate the exceptional service and sacrifices made by our officers, which significantly contribute to maintaining a secure environment for all Jackson residents.

The remarkable teamwork and perseverance displayed over the past week or duly acknowledged. Thank you for your selfless dedication to protecting and serving our community.”

THE CRIME, HISTORY, AND MANHUNT:

On Tuesday July 29, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a “concerning incident” on Old Highway 20 near the Tigrett area.

When officials arrived, they found an infant alone in a car seat in a stranger’s front yard. Emergency medical services evaluated the child and determined the infant was safe, but officers were still puzzled on who left it there. It only took officials approximately 30 minutes to determine the next of kin of the child and started efforts to locate the family.

Later that night, just before 11 p.m., Lake County police found four of the family members dead in some woods along Carrington Road in Tiptonville and an investigation was launched in cooperation with Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The TBI became the lead agency for the search and investigation.

On Wednesday, July 30, the identities of the family members were released and it was announced Braydon Williams, 15; Adrianna Williams, 20; James M. Wilson, 21; and Cortney Rose, 38 had been the victims of homicide.

Officials later confirmed Adrianna and James as the parents to the infant, while Braydon and Cortney were identified as the uncle and maternal grandmother.

On Thursday, July 31, officials announced they were searching for Austin Robert Drummond, 28, as their suspect for the quadruple homicide. According to District Attorney Danny Goodman, Drummond knew the victims. Drummond was once romantically involved with Cortney Rose’s half-sister, though it is unclear if they are still together.

According to TBI Director David Rausch, he believed the killings were a targeted act and were not random.

On Friday, August 1, the car Drummond was believed to be driving in was recovered along MCO Road in north Jackson, just before a TBI press conference regarding the case.

A manhunt ensued as law enforcement combed through the surrounding area for the suspect or clues on where he might have went.

Officials were, however, unsuccessful in locating Drummond. A $15,000 combined reward between the TBI and U.S. Marshals Service was announced as their search continued.

Drummond’s criminal history

Also on Friday, WBBJ was able to learn more about Drummond and his violent criminal history.

According to court records available online, Drummond previously had an upcoming court hearing in Lake County scheduled for August 25. Charges listed include:

Schedule II drugs: meth (Violation date: 07/21/2023)
Schedule VI drugs: manufacturing, delivering, selling, possession (Violation date: 07/21/2023)
Contraband in penal facility (Violation date: 07/21/2023)
Contraband – intoxicant/drugs in penal facility (Violation date: 07/21/2023)
Possession of a handgun – convicted felon (Violation date: 07/21/2023)
First degree murder – attempted (Violation date: 8/29/23)

In his earlier years, records also show that Drummond robbed a convenience store at gunpoint in 2013, when he was just a teenager. However, he was charged as an adult and given a combined sentence of 13 years.

During his incarceration, Drummond racked up 25 disciplinary actions ranging from drug possession to deadly weapons and more.

WBBJ obtained audio from Drummond’s 2020 early parole hearing where he was denied. District Attorney Jody Pickens strongly opposed his early release.

Drummond was released in September 2024, according to Tennessee Department of Correction records.

On Saturday, August 2,

Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box announced Saturday that they are asking residents and businesses along Highway 78, from Dyersburg to Lake County, to review their camera footage from Tuesday, July 29, 2025, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for any sightings of the following vehicles:

White Nissan Rogue
Black Dodge Charger
White Audi
White Traverse

These vehicles have already been recovered and they are looking for video footage exclusively. If you have any video footage that could be pertinent to the TBI’s investigation into the recent quadruple homicide in Lake County, call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

TBI also announced that the 1988 white Ford truck connected to the case was located in Dyer County.

2 men charged in connection to homicides, Drummond still missing

While Drummond was still missing, TBI officials confirmed that two Jackson men have been arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to 1st degree murder in connection to the ongoing search for Drummond.

Friday, Tanaka Brown, 29, was arrested and is currently being held without Bond in Lake County Jail. Then, on Saturday, Giovonte Thomas, 29, was also arrested after both men were alleged to have assisted Drummond. Both arrests were announced on Saturday.

According to the arrest warrant, “Braydon Keith Williams, Cortney Rose, Adrianna Williams, and James M. Wilson were all located deceased from apparent gunshot wounds on Carrington Road in Tiptonville, Lake County, TN. On July 30, 2025, Austin Drummond was charged with four counts of first degree murder. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Tanaka Brown did knowingly commit the offense of accessory after the fact by providing aid to Austin Drummond with the mans of avoiding arrest.”

The other arrest warrant for Brown says, “it was determined that Tanaka Brown did knowingly commit the offense of tampering with evidence for altering, destroying or concealing the availability of evidence in the investigation.”

Brown was not the only one charged with accessory and helping Drummond evade capture.

Giovante Thomas was also charged with Accessory After the Fact to 1st Degree Murder. He was already being held in the Madison County Jail and will be transferred to Lake County Jail for the new charges.

Thomas was being held in Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge for Failure to Appear, and will be transferred to Lake County Jail to be arraigned. Brown is now facing an additional charge: one count of tampering with evidence.

On July 30, Dearrah Denise Sanders was arrested and charged with Accessory after the fact when, according to the arrest warrant, “did knowingly commit the offense of accessory after the fact by, after the commission of a felony, with knowledge or reasonable ground to believe that Austin Drummond had committed the felony, and with the intent to hinder the arrest, trial and conviction of Austin Drummond.”

The date for Drummond’s arraignment hearing in Tiptonville has not been set at this time. It is expected to be this week or early next week. He faces four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses.

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