Drummond requests restraining order be lifted; court date set

TIPTONVILLE, Tenn. – Quadruple homicide suspect, Austin Drummond, appeared in Lake County General Sessions Court Thursday morning in Tiptonville. During his last hearing on August 7,  attorney Bryan Huffman was appointed to represent Drummond.

Drummond appeared on Zoom during the hearing.

At the court hearing on Thursday, Huffman requested a waiver of the 14 day rule and for a preliminary hearing to be set. Judge Andrew Cook agreed to the waiver request and set Drummond’s next court appearance for Thursday, September 4.

“They have a right to have a hearing within 14 days. We expected the attorney to waive that. This is a serious matter and they need a little bit more time to make sure they’re completely prepared before we do that, ” said Goodman, following the court hearing.

Goodman said they would need to get through the preliminary process, grand jury, and then they could look at the trial. He said it is anticipating that it would be a year or more before they get having a trial.

“There’s a lot of evidence in this case to pull together. We have a meeting yesterday for a couple hours just discussing the case,” said Goodman.

During Thursday’s hearing, Huffman requested Judge Cook to lift the restraining order that prevents him from having contact with his girlfriend, Kaitlyn Speed.

“At this time I asked for them to keep that restraining order in place,” Goodman said. “I don’t know that she wants to have contact. I would need to hear that from her before I were to agree to do anything like that. Previously, I don’t think she wants to have any contact with him.”

Goodman said the restraining order was important. “The restraining orders are to keep him from harassing family members but it’s also to prevent any type of conversation with witnesses, any thing that may inappropriate there that may affect the case,” said Goodman.

After the hearing, Drummond’s attorney Bryan Huffman said Drummond is doing well in jail at this time.

“He’s holding up pretty well under the circumstances; of course they are keeping him separate for obvious reasons, especially since it’s a capital case,” said Huffman.

The motive for the murders remains a big question.

“We have some ideas, but nothing we can release at this time,” said Goodman.

When asked about Kaitlyn Speed and her pregnancy, Huffman said he would not comment on it.

In his court hearing in August, Drummond asked the judge for a speedy trial. Goodman said the process would still take some time and that he did not know what Drummond’s motivation for asking for the speedy trial was other than “I don’t know if he just wants to get it over with.”

Drummond faces 4 counts of first-degree murder, 1 count of aggravated kidnapping, and multiple firearms charges. He is accused of murdering James Wilson (21), Adrianna Williams (20), Braydon Williams (15), and Cortney Rose (38).

The crime left a 7-month-old infant girl without her parents and other family members.

District Attorney Danny Goodman, 29th Judicial District, said he would seek the death penalty for Drummond.

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