UPDATE: Special agents with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) says they have identified 29-year-old, Austin Robert Drummond, as a suspect in connection to the deaths of four people.
They have issued an arrest warrant for Drummond who was in prison and released last September according to TDOC (Tennessee Department of Correction).
Authorities say Drummond’s whereabouts are unknown and he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information concerning his whereabouts is asked to call 731-415-7962, 731-333-0811, or 1-800-TBI-FIND.
UPDATES ON THIS STORY CAN BE FOUND HERE
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The four people found dead in Lake County along Carrington Road in Tiptonville have been identified by authorities amid an abandoned baby girl investigation in Dyer County on Tuesday.
Investigators with the Dyer County and Lake County Sheriff’s Departments are now investigating the death of four people alongside the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI.
Authorities have identified the four people as
• James M. Wilson, 21
• Adrianna Williams, 20
• Cortney Rose, 38
• Braydon Williams, 15
It appears the incident involves the ongoing investigation of a baby found in someone’s front yard. The child was found in a baby seat at a residence on Old Highway 20 near the Tigrett area.
The local district attorney, Danny Goodman Jr., confirmed Wednesday that the baby was related to those who were found deceased.
The woman who discovered the baby answered her front door Wednesday, still visibly shaken up. She told WREG, with a trembling voice, that she did not want to go on camera because this is an active investigation.
A deputy said that a dark-colored minivan or white midsize SUV was reported to have dropped off a baby at a random person’s home. The baby was not hurt and was identified.
After the baby was identified, the sheriff’s office said they wanted to speak with Rose, Wilson, and Williams.
How they died is still very much a mystery, as well as how a home at an out-of-the-way location was chosen as a drop-off spot for a child too young to tell the story about how she ended up left behind in the middle of the county, in the middle of the day.
“This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served,” said Sheriff Box.
When asked whether there was any ongoing public safety threat, D.A. Goodman said he did not think so, saying he believes the findings will show this is an isolated incident, not a random attack.
“They’re devastated. We’re just thankful that the baby was spared, grateful for that,” said Amy Anderson, a family friend.
She knew the victims Adrianna Williams, her partner Matthew Wilson, Adrianna’s mother Cortney Rose, and Cortney’s teenage son.
“They were really good people, Adrianna was the sweetest person, she loved being a mama,” said Anderson.
She also talked to Matthew’s mother about him, “He was a wonderful daddy. He loved the baby. And Cortney, she loved her kids.”
“It’s tragic. It’s tearing everybody apart. Everybody don’t know what to think, there’s been rumors here and there, but I just wish everybody would slow down on the rumors and wait until stuff is actually put out there as far as the truth goes so that there’s no more heartache than what already is,” said Anderson.
Lake County is directly north of Dyer County in northwest Tennessee near the Kentucky border, about two hours north of Memphis.
“We knew we were dealing with something more than your typical homicide so I knew we were going to need the expertise of TBI,” said Goodman.
