Austin Drummond held in jail without bond; state seeks death penalty

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Austin Drummond, the man charged in the quadruple murder of a family in West Tennessee, had a Zoom arraignment in court on Thursday morning.

While in court, the judge entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Drummond since he has no attorney at this time.

Drummond is to be held in jail without bond. The state also says it intends to seek the death penalty.

Drummond had been on the run since July 29, when the bodies of James Wilson, 21, Adrianna Williams, 20, Cortney Rose, 38, and Braydon Williams, 15, were found along Carrington Road in Tiptonville.

An infant who was related to the victims was also found safe in front of a house in Dyer County. The baby is safe and healthy, authorities said.

A warrant charged Drummond with four counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Kidnapping, four counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.

On Tuesday, Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley said the department received several calls about possible sightings of Drummond beginning around 8 a.m. One of those calls came in at 8:57 a.m.— officers worked quickly and arrested Drummond at 9:05 a.m.

Drummond had been living in a vacant building, though it was unclear how long he had been there, Corley said. He confirmed that the building was a pool house.

Three others, Giovontie Thomas, 29, Tanaka Brown, 29, and Dearrah Sanders, 23, were all arrested and charged with Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder. Brown is also facing a Tampering with Evidence charge.

Austin Drummond is due back in court on August 14 at 9 a.m.

This story will be updated.