Four Members of Family Killed, 7-Month Baby Abandoned in Heat
- A manhunt intensified across Tennessee after a 7-month-old baby was found abandoned in scorching heat, sparking a chilling murder investigation
- Authorities identified Austin Robert Drummond as the prime suspect in the slaying of four relatives, including the infant’s parents
- With warrants issued and a community in mourning, officials have vowed to uncover the truth and bring justice to the victims’ families
Authorities in Tennessee confirmed that a suspect had been identified in the killings of four relatives, including the parents of an infant who was later found alive in a remote area. The case, which drew national attention, continued to unfold as law enforcement intensified their efforts to apprehend the suspect.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced on Wednesday that 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond had been named as a suspect in the deaths of James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. The victims were members of the same family and hailed from Dyer County.
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Warrants had been issued charging Drummond with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and additional offences. Officials warned that Drummond “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Infant found alive in Tennessee heat after family slaying
The case began on Tuesday when a 7-month-old girl was discovered in a car seat in a front yard near Tigrett, Tennessee—some 40 miles from where her family members were killed. The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office reported the heat index had reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit when the baby was found.
A 911 caller alerted authorities, who later revealed they were investigating witness accounts of a “dark-coloured minivan or a white mid-size SUV” seen near the location where the baby was abandoned.
The girl’s parents—Wilson and Williams—as well as her maternal grandmother and uncle, were found dead hours later along Carrington Road in Tiptonville, close to the Missouri border.
Investigation expands across Tennessee
Nearly a dozen agencies, including the FBI, joined the search for suspects and evidence as the probe extended across northwest Tennessee. Dyer County District Attorney Danny Goodman Jr. said, “The victims were all from Dyer County, and we suspect the person that killed them knew all of them.”
Despite widespread speculation, authorities had yet to release details regarding the cause of death, possible motives, or how the bodies were discovered.
The TBI maintained in its statement that “The investigation, including efforts to identify and apprehend the suspect or suspects, remains active and ongoing.”
Sheriff Jeff Box addressed the community’s grief in a Facebook post: “This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.”
The baby was reported to be safe and in protective custody.
Source: Legit.ng
