Inside Tennessee’s Most Terrifying Mystery: Abandoned Infant + Four Brutal Slayings Linked by One Chilling Fugitive

In a terror-stricken rural town, what should have been a heartbreaking abandonment quickly spiraled into a quadruple murder mystery straight out of true-crime nightmares.

Everything began on July 29, 2025, when a 7-month-old baby girl was found left in a car seat on a stranger’s front porch in Tigrett, Dyer County. Worried neighbors called 911 — but no one could have guessed what horrors the day would bring next.

Abandoned Baby Shocks Tennessee — Then the Dead Bodies Surface

A witness reported a dark minivan or white SUV dropping off the child. The police arrived at approximately 3:11 p.m., discovering the girl alive and unharmed.

But the nightmare had just begun.

By 10:26 p.m., a 911 caller reported several missing family members. Hours later, in Lake County—about 25–40 miles north—the bodies of the baby’s parents, grandmother, and uncle were discovered along Carrington Road, prompting a homicide investigation.

Who They Were: A Perfectly Innocent Family Torn Apart

The victims have been identified as:

James M. “Matthew” Wilson, 21 (baby’s father)
Adrianna Williams, 20 (baby’s mother)
Cortney Rose, 38 (maternal grandmother)
Braydon Williams, 15 (maternal uncle)

Described as loving and devoted, the family’s gruesome end has devastated their tight-knit community.

“This was not random,” Tennessee DA Danny Goodman Jr. emphasized to People—confirming authorities are treating the murders as a premeditated atrocity.

The Fugitive: A Manhunt for Austin Robert Drummond

Police have identified 29-year-old Austin Robert Drummond as the primary suspect. Wanted for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and weapons charges, Drummond is described as 5’10″, 190 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes, with a goatee, and considered armed and dangerous.

He was last seen in a white Audi A3—Tennessee license plate RI 01896—reportedly damaged on the driver’s side. Authorities warn the community not to approach him.

The Terrifying Questions That Haunt Officials

Why was the baby abandoned far from her family?

Did Drummond drop the child off deliberately to delay discovery? Or was it a twisted message?

What was the motive?

Was the family targeted specifically, or was this part of a larger, darker conspiracy in rural Tennessee?

Did anyone see him?

Witnesses reported that minivan or mid-size SUV—but no one knows who was behind the wheel.

Could there still be more victims?

With FBI, TBI, and local agencies on the case, investigators are urgently asking: Who else knows something?

Authorities have set up tip lines (731‑415‑7962, 731‑333‑0811, or 1‑800‑TBI‑FIND) and offered a $2,500 reward for any information.

Community Left Reeling — Fear and Distrust Spread

For residents of Tigrett and Lake County, grief quickly turned to anxiety and suspicion.

Local eyewitness Melissa Peal, who has lived near Carrington Road for 40 years, said:

“Who could have done that? Who would abandon a baby in this heat…and let four die miles away?”

Sheriff Jeff Box affirmed that although the acts were isolated, residents are in shock and seeking closure.

What We Don’t Know Could Be the Key to This Crime

Investigators haven’t released details on the cause of death or any potential connection between Drummond and the family—only that the slayings were intentional.

The baby’s identity is public, but authorities continue to appeal for anyone who spoke to or saw the infant’s parents or grandparents in the days leading up to the violent events.

Could This Be the Start of a Wider Conspiracy?

True crime watchers are speculating feverishly:

Was Drummond romantically involved with a family member?
Is this linked to trafficking or organized crime?
Why abandon the baby alive if that was part of the plan?

If even a single clue leaks, conspiracy theories will explode.

Stay Tuned — Tennessee Is Now the Scene of America’s Most Terrifying Crime

With a baby abandoned safely—but four lives brutalized in the woods—the world is watching. What happens next hinges on catching Austin Robert Drummond, uncovering his motive, and tracing every moment between 3 p.m. and midnight on July 29.

This isn’t just a crime story — it’s a moral puzzle wrapped in tragedy, suspense, and mystery. And the answers could rewrite what rural America thought it knew about itself.

WATCH THIS SPACE. Because one desperate call, one abandoned infant, and one fugitive on the run are about to expose a horror that no one saw coming.