Topline: Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty for Austin Robert Drummond in the killings of four people.
Published: August 14, 2025 8:30 am ET
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Austin Robert Drummond and baby W.W. Photos from TBI
TIPTONVILLE, TN — Austin Robert Drummond, 28, has been ordered held without bond as prosecutors seek the death penalty for the July killings of four family members.
Drummond was captured on August 6 after a week-long manhunt. He appeared by video feed from jail for his arraignment in a Tiptonville courthouse.
Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook read 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 a dangerous felony.
CNN reported that Drummond wore a black-and-white-striped prison uniform and showed no expression during the reading of the charges.
“At this time, the state intends to seek the death penalty,” Danny Goodman, the district attorney for Dyer and Lake counties, told the judge.
Cook entered a not guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf because he did not yet have an attorney. The judge appointed Bryan Huffman to represent him at a next hearing scheduled for August 14.
Cook ordered Drummond held without bond. The judge said state law allows him to deny bond in capital cases, and he must consider the safety of the community. Drummond was then remanded to the custody of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
The victims were found July 29 in Tiptonville, a town in northwest Tennessee’s Lake County, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. They were identified as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
Hours before the four victims were discovered, the seven-month-old daughter of Wilson and Adrianna Williams was abandoned. Authorities said the baby was left in a car seat in a front yard near Tigrett, about 40 miles southeast of Tiptonville.
According to the affidavit of complaint, Drummond is accused of kidnapping the infant with a firearm. The document does not provide details about the kidnapping or specify if Drummond was the person who abandoned the baby.
According to Goodman, Cortney Rose was the baby’s maternal grandmother and Braydon Williams was the baby’s maternal uncle.
Fox13 Memphis reported that Drummond’s girlfriend was Rose’s sister and had worked as a corrections officer when Drummond was in prison for aggravated robbery.
Drummond is a convicted felon with alleged ties to a street gang. He was out on bail at the time of the killings on an attempted murder charge. Authorities have not released any details that identify a motive for the killings.
Three other people have been charged with allegedly helping Drummond after the killings.
Drummond’s criminal history dates back to 2013 when, at 16, he robbed a convenience store with a pistol in Jackson. For that crime, he was convicted of aggravated robbery in 2014 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
After that trial, he made threats against the robbery victim and the jurors, according to court records. This resulted in a charge of retaliation for past action and three more years added to his sentence.
Drummond was released from prison last September. But he faced new charges related to his time in prison, including a drug arrest the day he was released. He was also charged in an attempted murder case in 2023.
Wilson’s mother, Kim Hamil, told The Associated Press that she and other relatives are letting justice take its course. She said they plan to attend Drummond’s hearings.
Hamil added that relatives are caring for her son’s baby girl. “It’s a whole family gone. It’s unbelievable,” Hamil said, describing her family as “just broken.”
Drummond has a right to a preliminary hearing within 14 days, which means the case could move forward soon. His past criminal record will play a major role in the proceedings if prosecutors seek the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Tennessee Man Could Face Death Penalty in Quadruple Murder Case
Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty for Austin Robert Drummond in the killings of four people.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 14, 2025 8:30 am ET
Austin Robert Drummond and baby W.W. Photos from TBI
TIPTONVILLE, TN — Austin Robert Drummond, 28, has been ordered held without bond as prosecutors seek the death penalty for the July killings of four family members.
Drummond was captured on August 6 after a week-long manhunt. He appeared by video feed from jail for his arraignment in a Tiptonville courthouse.
Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook read 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 a dangerous felony.
CNN reported that Drummond wore a black-and-white-striped prison uniform and showed no expression during the reading of the charges.
“At this time, the state intends to seek the death penalty,” Danny Goodman, the district attorney for Dyer and Lake counties, told the judge.
Cook entered a not guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf because he did not yet have an attorney. The judge appointed Bryan Huffman to represent him at a next hearing scheduled for August 14.
Cook ordered Drummond held without bond. The judge said state law allows him to deny bond in capital cases, and he must consider the safety of the community. Drummond was then remanded to the custody of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
The victims were found July 29 in Tiptonville, a town in northwest Tennessee’s Lake County, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. They were identified as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
Hours before the four victims were discovered, the seven-month-old daughter of Wilson and Adrianna Williams was abandoned. Authorities said the baby was left in a car seat in a front yard near Tigrett, about 40 miles southeast of Tiptonville.
According to the affidavit of complaint, Drummond is accused of kidnapping the infant with a firearm. The document does not provide details about the kidnapping or specify if Drummond was the person who abandoned the baby.
According to Goodman, Cortney Rose was the baby’s maternal grandmother and Braydon Williams was the baby’s maternal uncle.
Fox13 Memphis reported that Drummond’s girlfriend was Rose’s sister and had worked as a corrections officer when Drummond was in prison for aggravated robbery.
Drummond is a convicted felon with alleged ties to a street gang. He was out on bail at the time of the killings on an attempted murder charge. Authorities have not released any details that identify a motive for the killings.
Three other people have been charged with allegedly helping Drummond after the killings.
Drummond’s criminal history dates back to 2013 when, at 16, he robbed a convenience store with a pistol in Jackson. For that crime, he was convicted of aggravated robbery in 2014 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
After that trial, he made threats against the robbery victim and the jurors, according to court records. This resulted in a charge of retaliation for past action and three more years added to his sentence.
Drummond was released from prison last September. But he faced new charges related to his time in prison, including a drug arrest the day he was released. He was also charged in an attempted murder case in 2023.
Wilson’s mother, Kim Hamil, told The Associated Press that she and other relatives are letting justice take its course. She said they plan to attend Drummond’s hearings.
Hamil added that relatives are caring for her son’s baby girl. “It’s a whole family gone. It’s unbelievable,” Hamil said, describing her family as “just broken.”
Drummond has a right to a preliminary hearing within 14 days, which means the case could move forward soon. His past criminal record will play a major role in the proceedings if prosecutors seek the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Tennessee Man Could Face Death Penalty in Quadruple Murder Case
Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty for Austin Robert Drummond in the killings of four people.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 14, 2025 8:30 am ET
Austin Robert Drummond and baby W.W. Photos from TBI
TIPTONVILLE, TN — Austin Robert Drummond, 28, has been ordered held without bond as prosecutors seek the death penalty for the July killings of four family members.
Drummond was captured on August 6 after a week-long manhunt. He appeared by video feed from jail for his arraignment in a Tiptonville courthouse.
Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook read 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 a dangerous felony.
CNN reported that Drummond wore a black-and-white-striped prison uniform and showed no expression during the reading of the charges.
“At this time, the state intends to seek the death penalty,” Danny Goodman, the district attorney for Dyer and Lake counties, told the judge.
Cook entered a not guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf because he did not yet have an attorney. The judge appointed Bryan Huffman to represent him at a next hearing scheduled for August 14.
Cook ordered Drummond held without bond. The judge said state law allows him to deny bond in capital cases, and he must consider the safety of the community. Drummond was then remanded to the custody of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
The victims were found July 29 in Tiptonville, a town in northwest Tennessee’s Lake County, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. They were identified as James M. Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15.
Hours before the four victims were discovered, the seven-month-old daughter of Wilson and Adrianna Williams was abandoned. Authorities said the baby was left in a car seat in a front yard near Tigrett, about 40 miles southeast of Tiptonville.
According to the affidavit of complaint, Drummond is accused of kidnapping the infant with a firearm. The document does not provide details about the kidnapping or specify if Drummond was the person who abandoned the baby.
According to Goodman, Cortney Rose was the baby’s maternal grandmother and Braydon Williams was the baby’s maternal uncle.
Fox13 Memphis reported that Drummond’s girlfriend was Rose’s sister and had worked as a corrections officer when Drummond was in prison for aggravated robbery.
Drummond is a convicted felon with alleged ties to a street gang. He was out on bail at the time of the killings on an attempted murder charge. Authorities have not released any details that identify a motive for the killings.
Three other people have been charged with allegedly helping Drummond after the killings.
Drummond’s criminal history dates back to 2013 when, at 16, he robbed a convenience store with a pistol in Jackson. For that crime, he was convicted of aggravated robbery in 2014 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
After that trial, he made threats against the robbery victim and the jurors, according to court records. This resulted in a charge of retaliation for past action and three more years added to his sentence.
Drummond was released from prison last September. But he faced new charges related to his time in prison, including a drug arrest the day he was released. He was also charged in an attempted murder case in 2023.
Wilson’s mother, Kim Hamil, told The Associated Press that she and other relatives are letting justice take its course. She said they plan to attend Drummond’s hearings.
Hamil added that relatives are caring for her son’s baby girl. “It’s a whole family gone. It’s unbelievable,” Hamil said, describing her family as “just broken.”
Drummond has a right to a preliminary hearing within 14 days, which means the case could move forward soon. His past criminal record will play a major role in the proceedings if prosecutors seek the death penalty.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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