Manhunt ongoing after two charged in Tennessee quadruple murder, abandoned baby investigation
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — Amid the investigation into a baby found abandoned in a Tennessee yard last month, two men are now facing charges in connection with the apparently related quadruple murder involving relatives of the infant. The manhunt for a third suspect is ongoing.
On July 29, authorities were notified of a baby found unharmed in a baby seat in the front yard of a home near Tigrett, a small town located along the Tennessee-Arkansas border. That same day, four people were found dead about 40 miles away in Tiptonville.
Local District Attorney Danny Goodman Jr. confirmed that the baby was related to the victims, who were identified Wednesday as James Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
How they died is still unknown, as well as how a home at an out-of-the-way location was chosen as a drop-off spot for a child too young to tell the story about how she ended up left behind in the middle of the county, in the middle of the day.
2 accused of being accessories arrested
The arrests of two Jackson, Tennessee, men on Saturday may help shed some light on the investigation.
Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas were each charged with one count of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced. Brown was booked into the Lake County Jail while Thomas, already in custody on an unrelated charge, was set to be transferred to the jail and arraigned on the new charges.
Search for murder suspect continues
According to authorities, Brown is an associate of Austin Drummond, 28, the main suspect identified in the quadruple murder. Drummond is wanted on warrants for four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
He was last seen on Wednesday in Jackson, where he has deep ties. A white Audi associated with him was found in the same town on Friday, while a pickup truck allegedly belonging to one of the victims was found Saturday in Dyer County. District Attorney Goodman confirmed that Drummond either was dating or had dated a relative of the victim, Adrianna Williams.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Drummond. That is in addition to a $7,500 reward TBI has offered for information in the case.
Drummond has a lengthy criminal history, was allegedly a member of the Vice Lords street gang, and was out on bond at the time of the killings, the local district attorney said.
According to the TBI’s criminal history that WREG Investigators uncovered, Drummond’s rap sheet dates back to 2011 when, as a teenager, he pleaded guilty to evading arrest and attempted burglary in Jackson. He received 24 hours of community service.
He was later convicted of robbing a convenience store when he was 16, and threatening to go after the jurors. Drummond later pleaded guilty to 13 counts of retaliation for past action. At a 2020 hearing in which he was denied parole, Drummond said he was on Xanax and doesn’t remember robbing the gas station.
The district attorney that covers Madison County, Jody Pickens, urged against early release for Drummond, calling him in a 2020 letter, “a dangerous felony offender and a confirmed member of the Vice Lords,” a street gang.
Drummond's combined 13-year sentence ended in September 2024, according to Tennessee Department of Corrections records. He was, however, arrested in December on charges of attempted first-degree murder and contraband in a penal facility.
“He had these new charges pending from [when] it occurred inside the prison,” Goodman said, adding that Drummond had been transferred to Lake County, where he made bond. Drummond had been appearing in court for dates set on those new charges.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said authorities believe the quadruple murder was a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the family. The baby is safe and being cared for, authorities have said.
The U.S. Marshals Service has asked anyone with information about Drummond or his current whereabouts to call 901-406-2044 or 901-661-2955.
WREG's Jessica Gertler and The Associated Press contributed to this report.