Austin Drummond, suspect in a quadruple homicide, taken into custody in Tennessee: How the manhunt unfolded
Austin Drummond, the 28-year-old accused of killing four people and abandoning an infant in Tennessee, was taken into custody Tuesday, ending a weeklong manhunt that kept the state on edge.
'Fugitive Austin Drummond is now in law enforcement custody, after having been caught in Jackson,' the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced in a Facebook post early Tuesday. 'We'll provide more details soon, but a hearty thanks to the public for staying vigilant these past few days.'
The announcement included a photo of clean-shaven Drummond in a wooded area moments after he was taken into custody, the agency said in a post on X.
A second photo posted by the Jackson Police Department showed Drummond with his hands behind his back, being held by two officers.
An hour earlier, police said he had been spotted in a residential area of Jackson, Tenn., asking residents to shelter in place and keep their doors and windows locked.
Drummond was wanted in the deaths of James Matthew Wilson, 21; Adriana Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
How the manhunt unfolded
The search for Drummond began July 29, when police said an infant was found in a car seat in "a random individual's front yard" in Dyer County near Tigrett.
A witness reported seeing a vehicle drop off the child in the person's front yard.
Authorities were able to identify the infant, and police initially sought to speak with Wilson and Williams, who were the infant's parents, and Rose, the infant's maternal grandmother.
Their bodies, along with Braydon Williams, were discovered the same day along a road in Tiptonville in Lake County. Their causes of death have not been disclosed.
On July 31, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an alert asking the public for help in finding Drummond, who was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping.
According to police, Drummond was believed to be driving a 2016 Audi A3 with Tennessee plates and damage to the driver's side, and 'should be considered armed and dangerous.'
The vehicle was later found abandoned in Jackson. A second vehicle believed to be used by Drummond — a white and red 1988 Ford pickup — was found in Dyer County.
How police believe he evaded capture
On Aug. 2, authorities announced the arrests of two men described as 'associates' of Drummond's — Tanaka Brown and Giovontie Thomas, both 29 — who were charged with helping the fugitive after the killings. Brown was also charged with tampering with evidence. Two days later, the agency announced that Dearrah Sanders, 23, was also taken into custody on a charge of accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Drummond after the murders.
On Monday, authorities released surveillance video of Drummond in Jackson the night before. In the footage, he was seen walking wearing camouflage and armed with a rifle.
"Drummond is considered armed and dangerous," the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. "Please exercise extra caution as you come and go from your homes. Drummond is believed to still be in the area, and it's crucial to stay vigilant. Ensure all doors, garages, sheds, and outbuildings are securely locked to prevent unauthorized access."
A reward of $32,500 had been offered by local, state and federal authorities for information leading to Drummond's arrest.
What's next?
Authorities have yet to announce a motive for the murders.
TBI Director David B. Rausch had previously told reporters that there was 'a familial relationship' between Drummond and the victims.
The investigation is ongoing.
'Our focus now shifts to honoring the lives lost and providing support to their grieving families,' Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said in a statement. 'We urge the community and the media to respect their privacy as they navigate through this tragic loss.'
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