Latest news with #JeffBox
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Yahoo
Austin Drummond captured in Tennessee after days-long manhunt
Austin Drummond, the man at the center of a days-long manhunt accused in a quadruple homicide in Tennessee, was arrested on Tuesday, August 5. Drummond was wanted in connection with the killing of four people in Lake County on July 29. He was taken into custody by the Jackson Police Department, according to the Dyer County Sheriff's Office. 'This would not have been achieved without the tireless work and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners," Sheriff Jeff Box said in a statement. "Their commitment to justice and public safety around the clock since Tuesday at 3 p.m. has been invaluable throughout this investigation. Also, our citizens have been extremely helpful and cooperative. Thank you so much for always being a willing partner with our deputies and investigators," Box continued. Drummond is facing several charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. More: Another arrest linked to Austin Drummond manhunt in Tennessee: What we know Drummond was spotted on surveillance cameras in Jackson The case began after a 7-month-old infant girl was found sitting in a car seat in a stranger's front yard near Tigrett, a community in Dyer County, on July 29. Hours later, authorities announced that they were investigating a crime scene where four people were deceased in Tiptonville, revealing there may be a connection between the cases. The victims were identified as 15-year-old Braydon Williams, 20-year-old Adrianna Williams, 21-year-old James Matthew Wilson and 38-year-old Cortney Rose. The victims were the baby's parents, uncle and grandmother, respectively. Drummond, who was considered armed and dangerous, was recently captured on surveillance footage amid the high-profile search to track him down. The 28-year-old was seen on surveillance videos in Jackson on August 3, donning a camouflage outfit with a brown backpack. He also appeared to be carrying a black rifle in his hand. Three others linked to Drummond's manhunt arrested Officials have charged three people in connection with aiding Drummond. Dearrah Sanders, 23, was arrested Aug. 4 on a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, according to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). They alleged that Sanders assisted Drummond after the murders took place. Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, were arrested on accessory after the fact to first-degree murder on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, respectively, the agency said in a pair of statements. An update added that Brown had been charged with one count of tampering with evidence. Thomas was already booked into the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge and was expected to be moved to Lake County Jail for arraignment, according to the statement. Drummond has a criminal history Drummond served a 13-year sentence for aggravated robbery and retaliation charges in 2014 – according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network. He was released in September 2024, despite several pending contraband charges, including allegations he had meth and a handgun. Contributing: James Powel, Sarah Best, USA TODAY Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Drummond captured in Jackson, TN after high-profile manhunt Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
01-08-2025
- Fox News
Tennessee authorities hunt for 29-year-old suspect in quadruple murder linked to abandoned baby
A manhunt is underway in Tennessee after law enforcement named a suspect in the murder of four people connected to a baby abandoned on someone's front lawn. The Dyer County Police Department said Thursday that 29-year-old Austin Robert Drummond killed James M. Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15. The four were found in Tiptonville, Tennessee, Tuesday. Police said the quadruple homicide is linked to the abandonment of an infant who was found in a car seat on the lawn of a "random" person's house. A witness saw the car seat on the lawn and called 911. According to FOX 13, the baby was related to all the victims. Drummond is wanted for first-degree murder, kidnapping, four counts of a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm furing the commission of a dangerous felony. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation. Authorities said Drummond should be considered "armed and dangerous" and may have altered his appearance. He's believed to be driving a 2016 Audi A3 with Tennessee plate RI 01896. "This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served," Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said. According to FOX 13, Drummond previously served time in prison for aggravated robbery and retaliation. He was in prison for 13 years and released Sept. 1, 2024. Anyone with information about Drummond's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Dyer County Police Department at 731-285-2802.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Time of India
Tennessee tragedy: Infant abandoned in front yard; four bodies found at nearby home, probe under way
Authorities in Tennessee are looking into a potential connection between two disturbing incidents after a seven-month-old baby was found abandoned in a car seat, and four people were discovered dead in a nearby home. According to a statement from the Dyer County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called out just after 3:00 pm on July 29 following reports of an infant left alone outdoors. The child was spotted in a car seat in the front yard of a residence near Tigrett, a community in western Tennessee near the Arkansas border. The homeowner, who is not the child's parent, contacted law enforcement after seeing the baby, local station WMC-TV reported. In a Facebook update, the Dyer County Sheriff's Office said, 'a dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV was reported to have dropped off' the infant. Later the same day, the Dyer County Sheriff's Office revealed they were also working with the Lake County Sheriff's Office to investigate a crime scene in Lake County, where four people were found dead. The identities of the infant and the four deceased individuals have not yet been released. However, officials say the two cases may be connected, USA Today reported. 'This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served,' Sheriff Jeff Box said in a statement. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are now involved in the ongoing investigation.
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Four people found dead after abandoning baby on front lawn
Four people were found dead late on Tuesday night in Lake County, Tennessee, just hours after an infant girl was abandoned in a car seat on a stranger's front lawn during 100-degree heat. The Dyer County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the bodies were discovered at a separate crime scene believed to be linked to the abandoned baby case, prompting a joint investigation involving the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the FBI, and multiple local agencies. 'This is a deeply saddening day for our community,' Sheriff Jeff Box said in a statement. 'We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.' Deputies were called to a home off Old Highway 20 near Tigrett, a quiet rural area in northwest Tennessee, just after 3pm. A witness reported a dark-colored minivan stopping briefly before leaving an infant in a car seat on a front lawn. The baby, believed to be about seven months old, was rescued and evaluated by Medical Center EMS and the Crockett County Ambulance Service. Authorities say the child appeared to be in stable condition but had been left out in the brutal triple-digit afternoon heat. 'We have no idea why they dropped the child off,' said Chief Investigator Terry McCreight about the ordeal. 'We're now trying to locate that vehicle.' At the time the infant was found, temperatures had reached 96 degrees, with a heat index of 111 degrees, making the incident all the more harrowing. Within hours, deputies identified the child and issued alerts seeking Cortney Rose, Matthew Wilson, and Adrianna Williams for questioning in connection with the abandonment. Authorities have not confirmed whether any of these individuals are among the four people found dead in neighboring Lake County. The identities of the deceased are being withheld until next of kin are notified. Investigators are now attempting to piece together whether the Lake County deaths are directly tied to the infant's abandonment. Investigators credit social media with rapidly identifying the child. A Facebook post from the sheriff's office, shared more than 1,800 times, led to the breakthrough within 30 minutes. 'Our information officer put a Facebook post up and immediately hit social media, and within 30 minutes we knew who the child was,' McCreight said. The sheriff's office said it remains dedicated to 'resolving both the abandoned infant case and the ongoing investigation at the crime scene in Lake County.' The Tigrett community, a quiet rural area in northwest Tennessee, is in shock. The image of an infant, left helpless in sweltering heat on a stranger's lawn, has become a symbol of the bizarre and deeply troubling series of events. Residents gathered outside their homes on Tuesday night, watching in disbelief as law enforcement vehicles raced between counties. 'We just can't believe something like this would happen here,' one neighbor told local news cameras, shaking her head. As of Tuesday night, no arrests have been made, and investigators are tight-lipped about possible motives or connections between the infant and the four deceased adults. Sheriff Box has appealed to the public for tips and urged anyone with information to call 731-285-2802. 'Please remember everyone in your prayers,' Box said.
