DYER COUNTY, Tenn. – A reward totaling $15,000 has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect in the deaths of four family members related to an abandoned 7-month-old baby girl.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is offering $7,500, with the U.S. Marshals Service offering up the other $7,500, for any information leading to the arrest of the man authorities believe to be responsible for these four deaths: 28-year-old Austin Drummond.
PHOTOS: Jail pictures show life behind bars of man wanted for murder of Tennessee family
The TBI asked the public to help them find 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond. State authorities said Drummond is wanted by the TBI and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony.Â
The TBI added Drummonds to the Tennessee Most Wanted list. Any information leading to Drummond’s arrest could be worth up to $2,500.Â
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Investigators found 20-year-old Adrianna Williams, 21-year-old Matthew Wilson, 38-year-old Cortney Rose, and 15-year-old Braydon Williams dead in Lake County on Tuesday night shortly after a baby was discovered in a car seat in a front yard in Dyer County. Authorities said all four of the deceased were related to the abandoned baby.Â
A Facebook post made by a family member provided a little clarity on the history between Drummond and the deceased. According to the post made by Brier-Ashley Childress, an in-law of the victims, Drummond previously dated the sister of Cortney Rose.Â
“Yes, he was close to our family. Yes, we cared about him and thought he cared about us. He has  literally been nothing short of amazing to us and our kids every time he has been around us up until this point. He has been amazing to our niece.  We NEVER expected him to cause ANY harm to ANYONE, much less anyone in our family. We are heartbroken. We are confused. We are devastated. We are MORTIFIED. We are hurting. OUR KIDS ARE HURTING. If you think for one second that people only get hurt by strangers, look up 90% of murder cases. A lot of times it’s by someone close to them that at one time showed love and support to them. Sometimes it’s even their own spouse. So PLEASE think before you comment something ugly. Yes, we THOUGHT we knew him. (Cortney’s sister) THOUGHT she knew him. Cortney, Adrianna, Braydon, and Matthew THOUGHT they knew him. We all trusted him. *** We want justice for my sister in law, niece, nephew, and nieces boyfriend more than ANY ONE OF YOU that had never even met OUR LOVED ONES,” Childress wrote, in part, in the post.Â
FOX13 Investigates discovered that Drummons spent 13 years in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Corrections on convictions of aggravated robbery and retaliation for past action. Those crimes occurred in Madison County, Tennessee, home of Jackson, Tennessee. That prison sentence expired on September 1, 2024.Â
FOX13 reached out to Drummond’s attorney, Drew Farmer, for a statement on the latest allegations against Drummond. Farmer said, “No comment.”Â
The TBI said Drummond is about 5-foot-10, 190 pounds and may be driving a 2016 Audi A3 with the Tennessee plate RI 01896. The vehicle has damage to the driver’s side.Â
The TBI believes Austin Robert Drummond may be driving this 2016 Audi A3 with Tennessee plates RI 01896.Â
Photo Credit: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Authorities said Drummond should be considered armed and dangerous. If you have any idea where he is, the TBI urged you to call authorities immediately at 911, 731-415-7962, 731-33-9811, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.Â
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