SUSPECT IN CUSTODY TN - 4 people found deceased, related to an infant abandoned in car seat in someone's yard (Dyer County, TN) 29 July 2025

[imstilla.grandma]

Drummond showed no expression as Lake County General Sessions Judge Andrew T. Cook read the charges to him.

“At this time, the state intends to seek the death penalty,” District Attorney Danny Goodman told the judge.

Cook entered a not guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf because he didn’t yet have an attorney, and appointed attorney Bryan Huffman to represent him at his next hearing scheduled for August 14.

Cook ordered Drummond, 28, held without bond because, he said, state law allows him to deny bond in capital cases and because “first and foremost, it’s the court’s responsibility to take into consideration the safety posed to the community.”

Prosecutors to pursue death penalty in quadruple murder of abandoned Tennessee baby’s family

(CNN) — Prosecutors plan to seek the execution of a man accused of shooting and killing four members of a family in rural Tennessee, including the parents of an infant

www.crossroadstoday.com

 

[KSwizzle]

How does a death penalty trial affect the other people's charges who helped him after the fact?

 

[JoeFromLB]

Next court hearing a week from today.
Unlike my state of California, where the "next hearing" might be months away. Death penalty cases here, or other egregious crimes such as this one, can take 3-7 years to even get to trial. Tennessee seems to move a lot quicker.

I hope his associates who helped him evade capture get slammed with serious prison time when this is all said and done.

 

[Leilei]

Affidavits for two of the three being held for accessory after the fact are out:

WBBJ obtains affidavits for 2 arrested in connection to Drummond case - WBBJ TV

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News has obtained affidavits for two individuals arrested in connection to the ongoing quadruple homicide investigation in which Austin Drummond was recently arrested.

www.wbbjtv.com

 

[Bounceycat]

Next court hearing a week from today.
Unlike my state of California, where the "next hearing" might be months away. Death penalty cases here, or other egregious crimes such as this one, can take 3-7 years to even get to trial. Tennessee seems to move a lot quicker.

I hope his associates who helped him evade capture get slammed with serious prison time when this is all said and done.

The difference may be in whether they waive their right to a speedy trial. The news articles indicated that AD affirmed his right for a speedy trial. That may change after he meets with his attorney, though.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[borndem]

WTDTF director comments on Bells bust, one suspect at large - WBBJ TV

Wednesday night a Bells patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle heading west bound on highway 412.

www.wbbjtv.com

This article is about Brandon Powell in March 2024.

During that tracking process, we discovered the backpack that he fled with. It had one pound of vacuum-sealed marijuana in the backpack,” said Carter.

But he stated that the car had even more.

“What was found in there was a drone, four mesh-like laundry bags, I guess you could call them. Several cell phones with charger cords, a Sony PsP game console, multiple fentanyl pills that were disguised like dirty 30’s,” said Carter.

Dirty 30’s are made to mimic a pharmaceutical grade 30-milligram oxycodone pill.

These pills are created using fentanyl.

Carter stated that the evidence concluded that the drone was equipped to drop the mesh laundry bags with marijuana into the Northwest Correctional Facility in Lake County.

He says, typically, you would see the light that is found on most drone devices, but the drone was tampered with.u

“They had placed electrical tape over the lighting of the drone so it would not shine. You wouldn’t be able to see it,” said Carter.

Ugh -- pot is one thing; fentanyl and oxycodone are quite another.
Fairly sophisticated, I'd say, but probably not as sophisticated as they may think. (Let's hope.) Grrr.
SMH.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

After the proceedings, the mother of one of the victims, 21-year-old James Matthew Wilson, spoke with WREG.

“That’s what I think people don’t understand, he took them all. It’s not just the loss of our son. It’s the loss of our daughter-in-law, Braden, and everybody. Courtney. It’s a whole family gone. It’s unbelievable. So we’re going to be here every chance we get. We’re going to be right here for our son because he cannot be here,” Kim Hamil, mother of James Matthew Wilson

https://whnt.com/news/tennessee-news/austin-drummond-held-in-jail-without-bond-state-seeks-death-penalty/

https://www.facebook.com/NickBeresNC5/posts/pfbid02RRJKHMqZ6nyDe9Z6yi1DCN8e8DgSXWkbGVSgvXdhb5rs1BuyVswe5H92zVx4TQu6l

 

[Absoluterubbish]

I haven’t seen one iota of anything that suggests these victims were drug users. Until it’s proven otherwise, I’m going to assume he killed this poor family to
a) hurt his girlfriend (revenge)
b) send a message to his girlfriend (you’re next)
c) gain access to money/valuables via his girlfriend
d) silence them because they threatened to turn him in for some crime

and/or

HE was high on drugs and killed them in a rage

JMO

Here’s the evidence regarding the drugs.

This doesn’t show that the victims were using drugs but that they were caught up in drugs.

Brandon Powell’s arrest on conspiracy and drug charges relating to a planned drop at the prison are directly related to this case. He has been arrested on those charges as part of this murder investigation.

Cortney also has 2 ex husbands in jail currently on drug charges.

https://www.wbbjtv.com/content/uploads/2025/08/c/n/SANDERSPOWELL-DRUMMOND.pdf

 

[Wishbone]

His girlfriend/ex-girlfriend (conflicting stories on that) was not arrested. Her name is Kaitlyn Speed, and has been very silent since the murders. She is the sister of Cortney.
Dearrah Sanders is the woman who was arrested.
IMO.

Since she is the ex correctional officer that provided him with contraband while he was in prison and is now assumed pregnant with his child it would seem she could answer a lot of the questions we have as to why he slaughtered her family.Waiting to hear what LE has to say. JMOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

https://www.facebook.com/whntnews19/posts/pfbid02pSB6jobvQQorufZeTMsSLRBJYs8knF8FHfGV2zwczZmSqQZSErGZNAbLZtXV1myXl

“It’s just a really bad situation that we’re in here, and it’s just, we know that we’re going to get justice for our kids, for this whole family,” said Kim Hamil, mother of victim James Matthew Wilson. “Matthew was a good father, a good boy, he was a good brother, he was a damn good son,” said Matthew Wilson’s father

Thursday morning, Drummond was denied bond, and District Attorney Danny Goodman plans to move forward. “Well, I’m pleased with the judge’s decision. We are going to see the death penalty in this case, so that was the reason for asking for no bond, and I’m pleased that he did that,” said District Attorney Danny Goodman, 29th Judicial District.

“We’re going to be here every chance we get, we’re going to be right here. For our son, because he cannot be here,” said Goodman.

The judge has appointed Bryan Huffman of Huffman/Mason Law Firm to represent Austin Drummond. Drummond is scheduled to appear back in court in Lake County on August 14

https://wreg.com/news/local/family-of-victims-in-lake-co-quadruaple-murder-speaks-out/

 

[maskedwoman]

Here’s the evidence regarding the drugs.

This doesn’t show that the victims were using drugs but that they were caught up in drugs.

Brandon Powell’s arrest on conspiracy and drug charges relating to a planned drop at the prison are directly related to this case. He has been arrested on those charges as part of this murder investigation.

Cortney also has 2 ex husbands in jail currently on drug charges.

https://www.wbbjtv.com/content/uploads/2025/08/c/n/SANDERSPOWELL-DRUMMOND.pdf

Thank you that's helpful. I just read an article asking some of the same questions we've asking. They're not saying why the baby was spared, what that house might have to do with the case, or how they linked the baby to the murders. Sounds like lots of information to come later.

Why did he spare the baby? What were his motives? Questions remain about Austin Drummond

A man accused of killing four family members of a baby girl that he left unharmed in a western Tennessee front yard miles from the crime scene last week was cap

newschannel9.com

 

[Wishbone]

FOX13 previously reported that a family member confirmed that Drummond was in a relationship with Kaitlyn Speed, the sister of Cortney Rose, one of the Lake County murder victims. Photos posted to Drummond's Facebook page after his release show the two on top of the Memphis Pyramid.


Throughout the week long manhunt, law enforcement did not name Speed as an accomplice and has provided no information on her location.

Manhunt for man accused of killing Tennessee family ends after he was captured in Jackson

A massive manhunt ended Tuesday morning after a man accused of killing four family members and abducting a 7-month-old girl and abandoning her was captured in Jackson, Tennessee.

www.fox13memphis.com

 

[Leilei]

Since she is the ex correctional officer that provided him with contraband while he was in prison and is now assumed pregnant with his child it would seem she could answer a lot of the questions we have as to why he slaughtered her family.Waiting to hear what LE has to say. JMOO

Do we know for sure that Kaitlyn provided him with the contraband there?
And you're right, she could answer a lot of questions about what happened in prison and since he's been released. I'm sure LE/TBI has talked to her several times. Curious to know if she knew anything about why her family was executed.
Just a terrible mess that seems to get messier every day.
IMO.

 

[JoeFromLB]

It is truly a terrible, and tragic mess. Ex-husbands in prison, alleged killer dating Cortney's sister who worked in the prison, multiple drug and crime associates inside and outside prison... unbelievable. On top of that, a violent gang that almost seems to be running several counties. SMH.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[Absoluterubbish]

I am really surprised by his demeanour at his court appearance. He was incredibly polite to the judge.

I’m also interested to know why he wants a speedy trial. One might assume it’s because he thinks he’s going to get found not guilty but I’m wondering if it’s to spare the families a drawn out legal process.

There is absolutely NO way his defence attorney could prepare a good defence or possibly Any defence in a quadruple homicide case within 70 days of being appointed.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[Doesitmakesense]

I would love to know how and why LE we on to AD so quickly

 

[rogue ant]

I would love to know how and why LE we on to AD so quickly

Could he have told his (ex?) gf KS and she contacted the police?