BREAKING: Suspect Captured in Tennessee Family Quadruple Homicide; 7-Month-Old Baby Was Left Abandoned in Front Yard

BREAKING: Suspect Captured in Tennessee Family Quadruple Homicide; 7-Month-Old Baby Was Left Abandoned in Front Yard

JACKSON, TENN. — A horrifying chapter in Tennessee’s recent history reached a turning point this week as authorities confirmed the capture of Austin Drummond, the man accused of murdering four members of a single family and abandoning a 7-month-old baby in a stranger’s front yard.

The Jackson Police Department, along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), announced Drummond’s arrest after a dayslong manhunt that spanned multiple counties and gripped communities across Northwest Tennessee in fear and heartbreak.

Drummond, 28, had been on the run since Monday, July 29, when the unimaginable crime unfolded near Reelfoot Lake in Lake County. He was wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, four counts of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. The victims were found brutally murdered inside their home, sparking outrage and grief from local residents and law enforcement alike.

A Grisly Scene and a Shocking Discovery

The horrifying sequence of events began when a baby girl was found abandoned in a front yard in Dyer County, roughly 40 miles away from the Lake County crime scene. Surveillance footage showed an unidentified vehicle pulling up and leaving the infant, wrapped in a blanket, on a stranger’s lawn.

Hours later, authorities were called to a home in Lake County where they discovered the lifeless bodies of the infant’s mother, father, grandmother, and uncle. The victims, whose identities have not been publicly released pending full family notification, ranged in age from 15 to 38 years old. The connection between the baby and the victims was quickly established, with investigators confirming she was the child of two of the four victims.

Sheriff departments across the region, led by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, launched an immediate and aggressive investigation, working around the clock with the TBI and federal partners to track Drummond’s whereabouts. Tips from the public and evidence collected at both scenes helped narrow the search.

Aided by Accomplices

Authorities say Drummond did not act alone in evading capture. As the net tightened, three individuals were arrested and charged for allegedly helping him flee and conceal evidence:

• Dearrah Sanders, 23, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, accused by the TBI of “actively assisting” Drummond after the killings.
• Tanaka Brown, 29, faces the same accessory charge and an additional count of tampering with evidence. He was arrested last Friday and remains in custody without bond.
• Giovonti Thomas, 29, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

Their roles in helping Drummond avoid capture are still under investigation, but law enforcement believes their involvement significantly delayed the suspect’s arrest.

Community in Mourning

As details of this devastating case continue to emerge, the community is mourning the senseless loss of four innocent lives and grappling with the trauma of a baby being left alone in the aftermath.

Neighbors described the victims as a tight-knit family — kind, hardworking, and full of life. The home near Reelfoot Lake where the murders occurred was described as peaceful and quiet — until tragedy struck.

“This is the kind of crime that tears a hole in the fabric of a town,” said a Lake County official. “To lose an entire family like this — and for a child to be abandoned and left in the wake of that horror — is something we will never forget.”

Justice Ahead

Drummond is currently being held in custody and is expected to be arraigned in the coming days. Officials have not ruled out the possibility of further charges, including capital murder.

The TBI and local law enforcement have pledged to pursue full justice for the victims and their surviving family members. “This case has rocked our state,” said a TBI spokesperson. “But let it be known — we do not rest until justice is served.”

The 7-month-old baby, remarkably unharmed when found, is now in the care of child protective services and is reportedly in good health. She remains the sole survivor of this devastating tragedy.

If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or your local law enforcement office.

🕊️ Our thoughts are with the victims’ family, friends, and the broader Tennessee community during this incredibly painful time.