Manhunt Intensifies in Tennessee Quadruple Homicide as Two Charged with Aiding Suspect

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DYERSBURG, Tenn. — Authorities in Tennessee have charged two men with aiding a murder suspect accused of killing four people and abandoning a baby on a stranger’s lawn, as the search continues for the alleged killer still at large.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced that Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, have each been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of four individuals in rural Dyer County. Brown was also charged with tampering with evidence. Both men are accused of assisting 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond, who remains a fugitive.

The investigation began Monday afternoon after Dyer County deputies responded to reports of a seven-month-old infant being left in a car seat on the front lawn of an unsuspecting homeowner. The child, now in protective care, was unharmed. Authorities quickly linked the child to a broader and more disturbing crime scene.

Later that day, four people were found dead in what officials have described as a targeted attack. The victims were identified as James Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Cortney Rose, 38; and Braydon Williams, 15. Wilson and Adrianna Williams were the parents of the abandoned baby, while Rose was Adrianna and Braydon Williams’ mother.

Investigators say Drummond had a prior relationship with the family, and authorities believe the killings were not random. While specific details about how the victims died have not yet been released, the scope of the violence and the manner in which the infant was left have stunned the local community.

The TBI issued a warning over the weekend stating that Drummond should be considered armed and dangerous. He has an extensive criminal background, including a prison sentence for robbing a convenience store, threatening jurors, and even facing an attempted murder charge while incarcerated. On Friday, officials recovered the vehicle they believe Drummond used during or after the crimes.

Brown was taken into custody Friday and is being held in the Lake County Jail. Thomas, already jailed on unrelated charges in Madison County, will be transferred to Lake County to face the new accusations. Authorities have not disclosed the specific actions Brown and Thomas allegedly took to assist Drummond, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Warrants have been issued for Drummond, charging him with four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and multiple weapons offenses. No lawyer has stepped forward on his behalf, and attempts to reach Drummond or his previous legal representatives have been unsuccessful.

Law enforcement continues to urge the public to remain vigilant. Anyone with information regarding Drummond’s whereabouts is urged to contact the TBI immediately.