Drummond pleads not guilty to 9 charges. What to know from his court appearance

3 hours ago

Jordan Hubbard,

LAKE COUNTY, Tenn. — A Tennessee man accused of a quadruple homicide in Lake County faced a judge Monday for the first time since being indicted by the grand jury on nine charges.

Austin Drummond was arraigned Monday on nine charges and pleaded not guilty to all 9 charges. Drummond originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in a lower court, but the judge ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to the grand jury.

When presented before the grand jury, Drummond was indicted on 4 counts of first degree murder, 1 count of especially aggravated kidnapping, 1 count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and 4 counts of employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

The state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty on November 10. Since Drummond is facing the death penalty, Judge Mark Hayes verified that Drummond’s court appointed attorney Bryan Huffman was certified to be lead counsel on a death penalty case.

Additionally, Judge Hayes informed the prosecution and the defense that he preferred any discussions of a request for change of venue to happen sooner. Judge Hayes also said he would have a hearing on a protective discover order involving the homicide case during his next scheduled appearance.

Drummond will be back in Lake County Circuit Court soon for a preliminary hearing on his attempted murder and introduction of contraband into a penal facility charges.

Drummond received those charges for actions that took place inside the Tennessee Department of Correction Prison prior to his release before the murders.

Drummond’s next appearance is Monday, November 24 at 1pm at the Lake County Court House. He will return back to court on the quadruple homicides on March 24, 2026.

We will have continuing coverage of the hearings on-air and online. See documents filed in this case and our past coverage below: