Sat. Oct 11th, 2025

Suspect in family’s quadruple homicide in Northwest Tennessee captured

By Lydian Coombs

JACKSON, Tenn. (WMC) – The suspect accused of murdering four family members in Northwest Tennessee on July 29 has been captured, Jackson Police Department confirms.

Austin Drummond, 28, was wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of possessing a firearm during a dangerous felony in connection with a quadruple homicide near Reelfoot Lake in Lake County.

A man who was working in the area of Saddlebrook Drive and Bridlepath Drive says he saw a suspicious man walking in the woods and called police.

Before his phone call was even over, police were in the area taking Drummond into custody.

Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley issued a statement on the capture:

Drummond’s capture comes after he was sighted on surveillance video in Jackson, Tennessee, after dark on Sunday. Two days prior, his getaway vehicle was found empty in a wooded area, also in Jackson.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has charged two men and one woman in Jackson for allegedly helping Drummond after the murders: Derrah Sanders, 23, Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonti Thomas, 29.

All three are being charged with alleged accessory after the fact of first-degree murder. Brown is also charged with one count of tampering with evidence.

(Left to right) Tanaka Brown, 29, Giovonti Thomas, 29, and Dearrah Sanders, 23
(Left to right) Tanaka Brown, 29, Giovonti Thomas, 29, and Dearrah Sanders, 23(Lake County Sheriff’s Office)

The four victims were found dead Tuesday night, July 29, on Carrington Road in Tiptonville, approximately 40 miles away from where a seven-month-old girl was dropped off in a Dyer County yard earlier in the day.

The Dyer County District Attorney’s Office identified the victims as the baby’s father, 21-year-old Matthew Wilson; mother, 20-year-old Adrianna Williams; maternal grandmother, 38-year-old Cortney Rose; and maternal uncle, 15-year-old Braydon Williams.

(Left to right) James "Matthew" Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and...
(Left to right) James “Matthew” Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.(Facebook)

A previous family obituary lists Drummond as Rose’s brother-in-law.

A possible motive and the circumstances regarding the family members’ deaths remain unknown.

The manhunt for Drummond expanded across the state. Several law enforcement agencies came together to offer a combined reward of up to $37,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.

A GoFundMe is active to help the family pay for the funerals and legal expenses.

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