UPDATE: The attorney for Austin Robert Drummond, accused of shooting and killing four family members of an abandoned infant, announced plans for a change of venue ahead of trial. This urgent development follows the July 29 shootings that shocked the small community of Tiptonville, Tennessee, where Drummond eluded authorities for a week.
In court on November 13, Drummond, who pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, faced Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes. His attorney, Bryan Huffman, stated he intends to file a motion for a jury from outside Lake County due to extensive pre-trial publicity, raising concerns about an impartial jury.
Prosecutors are poised to seek the death penalty if Drummond is convicted. The court appearance marked Drummond’s first since a grand jury indicted him on November 10. He appeared in orange jail clothing, shackled and wearing a protective vest, as he faced serious charges stemming from the tragic incident that left the community rattled.
The case centers around the deaths of the parents, James M. Wilson (21) and Adrianna Williams (20), along with Williams’ brother, Braydon Williams (15), and their mother, Cortney Rose (38). The infant, found abandoned in a car seat on a stranger’s front yard, is safe and being well cared for, according to Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box.
During the manhunt, Drummond was apprehended on August 5 in Jackson, approximately 70 miles from where the shootings occurred. Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley confirmed Drummond was found unarmed in a vacant building, although authorities recovered multiple firearms linked to the case.
An FBI agent testified that data from Drummond’s cellphone placed him near the wooded area where the victims were found, but Huffman contested that no direct evidence showed Drummond fired the shots that killed the victims.
As the situation unfolds, five individuals have been charged with being accessories after the fact to assist Drummond following the killings. Drummond’s criminal history includes previous convictions for robbery and threats against jurors while incarcerated, raising serious concerns about his mental state and public safety.
With a population of just 3,400, Tiptonville is grappling with the aftermath of this horrific event as it prepares for the next steps in a trial that could draw significant media attention. The court will announce scheduling details soon, and all eyes will be on the developments surrounding Drummond’s case.
Stay tuned for updates as this case progresses and impacts the community.
