A weeklong manhunt for Austin Robert Drummond, 28, suspected of killing four people and kidnapping a baby in Tennessee, ended Tuesday when authorities arrested him in Jackson.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) confirmed Drummond’s capture after multiple residents recognized him and called 911, leading officers to a wooded area near a vacant building where he was hiding. Drummond, considered armed and dangerous, was taken into custody around 9 a.m. Tuesday without incident.
Drummond faces four counts of first-degree murder for the killings of 38-year-old Cortney Rose; her children, 20-year-old Adrianna Williams and 15-year-old Braydon Williams; and Adrianna’s boyfriend, 21-year-old James “Michael” Wilson. The victims were found dead along a rural road in Lake County on July 29. On the same day, the couple’s baby was discovered safely abandoned in a car seat at a nearby home in Dyer County.
Authorities say Drummond knew the victims through his girlfriend, who is Rose’s daughter and sister to the other victims. The motive remains under investigation.
Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley praised the swift response of officers and credited the community’s vigilance for the successful capture. “Today we find some peace knowing the suspect is no longer a threat,” Corley said.
The TBI announced charges against Drummond, including aggravated kidnapping and multiple firearm violations. Police recovered several guns believed to be connected to the crime.
During the investigation, four individuals were arrested for allegedly assisting Drummond after the killings.
A reward of up to $30,000 was offered for information leading to Drummond’s arrest, with law enforcement officials indicating the reward will be shared among those whose tips helped capture him.
