Tennessee Family Massacre: Disturbing New Details & CHILLING Audio | Austin Drummond Arrested

Summary

Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield Episode: Tennessee Family Massacre: Disturbing New Details & CHILLING Audio | Austin Drummond Arrested Release Date: August 7, 2025

Ashleigh Banfield delves deep into one of Tennessee's most harrowing true crime cases in this gripping episode of Drop Dead Serious. Exploring the quadruple murder that has left a community in shock, Banfield unpacks new details, chilling audio evidence, and the complexities surrounding the arrest of Austin Drummond.

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1. The Quadruple Murder and Baby’s Abandonment

The episode opens with Banfield detailing the gruesome crime that shook rural Tennessee. On July 29, a seven-month-old baby girl was found abandoned in a stranger's front yard in Tigret, Dyer County. Just hours later, in a wooded area near Tiptonville, Lake County, authorities discovered the lifeless bodies of four family members:

• James Wilson, 21 years old
• Adrianna Williams, 20 years old (the baby's father)
• Courtney Rose, 38 years old (Adrianna's mother and the baby's grandmother)
• Brayden Williams, 15 years old (Adrianna's brother and the baby's uncle)

Banfield raises unsettling questions about the motive behind sparing the baby and the methodical nature of the murders:
“Why would anybody wipe out a whole family and then steal a baby in a car seat only to then just discard that baby at a stranger's house on the side of a highway?” (02:45)

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2. The Arrest of Austin Drummond

Banfield chronicles the intense seven-day manhunt that captivated the nation. Despite Austin Drummond's initial evasion, he was apprehended on August 5th, just 75 miles from where the murders occurred. The arrest was swift after crucial tips from the public:

Ricardo Contreras, a house painter, played a pivotal role in Drummond's capture:
“I saw someone moving in the middle of the wood... something hooded anyway. I knew that police were hunting for a quadruple murderer.” (10:32)
Contreras's timely 911 call led to Drummond's apprehension within minutes, showcasing the effectiveness of public involvement in the investigation.

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3. Austin Drummond’s Criminal History

To comprehend the gravity of Drummond's actions, Banfield delves into his extensive criminal background. A confirmed member of the Almighty Vice Lords, a notorious street and prison gang in Tennessee, Drummond's troubles began early:

• 2013: At 16, Drummond robbed a Circle K in Jackson, Tennessee, demanding money at gunpoint. He fled with $44, a seemingly minor theft that resulted in a 13-year aggravated robbery sentence in 2014.

• Prison Record: His time in incarceration was marked by over 25 disciplinary violations, including assault, weapons possession, gang activities, and refusing drug tests. Notably, during his parole hearing, Drummond admitted to making threats against jurors:
  “...I made a comment that I would be out soon and that I had the jury's information.” (19:19)

Despite his violent history, Drummond was released in September 2024 after serving nearly his entire sentence. This decision is particularly troubling given his subsequent actions just ten months later.

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4. The Manhunt: Nationwide Alert

Following the murders, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), along with the US Marshals, FBI, and local SWAT teams, initiated a massive search for Drummond. The TBI Director, David Rauch, emphasized the severity of the threat:
“Austin Drummond is extremely dangerous and urged people not to approach him under any circumstances.” (05:20)

The community lived in fear as Drummond remained at large, leading to widespread media coverage and public apprehension.

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5. Unraveling the Motive: Relationships and Betrayals

The case takes a twisted turn with the revelation of Drummond's personal relationships:

• Caitlin Speder, a former prison guard and sister to one of the victims, Courtney Rose, became romantically involved with Drummond while he was incarcerated.
  “He ended up in a relationship with the guard after meeting her while serving that 13-year sentence.” (16:45)

Upon his release, Drummond moved in with Speder, who is now pregnant with his child. This relationship raises suspicions about potential motives rooted in betrayal or revenge, especially since Speder’s father denies she was dating Drummond at the time of the murders.

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6. Chilling Audio from the Parole Hearing

Banfield presents disturbing audio excerpts from Drummond's past parole hearing, highlighting his lack of remorse and continued threats:

• Parole Board Member: “You've had about 27 incidents in total, seven of them Class A...” (17:15)

• Austin Drummond: “I was almost beat to death. That's where that came from... I robbed the gas station.” (18:12)
  His admission of past crimes and threats underscores his volatile nature and the danger he poses to society.

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7. Community Impact and Ongoing Questions

The episode concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of the case:

• Family of the Victims: The Tabor family expresses mixed emotions, relieved by the arrest yet troubled by unanswered questions regarding the motive and the choice of victims.

• Systemic Failures: Banfield questions how a known violent offender with a lengthy rap sheet and pending charges for attempted murder was granted bond, allowing him to commit further atrocities.
  “Why the hell was a known violent gang member and felon with a rap sheet a mile long out on bond for attempted murder in the first place?” (25:30)

As the investigation progresses, Banfield emphasizes the need for accountability within the legal system and a deeper understanding of Drummond's motives.

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8. Conclusion

Ashleigh Banfield meticulously unpacks a complex and disturbing case, intertwining factual reporting with incisive questions. Drop Dead Serious not only sheds light on the Tennessee Family Massacre but also challenges listeners to consider the systemic issues that allowed such a tragedy to unfold. As Banfield aptly puts it:
“The truth isn't just serious, it's drop dead serious.”

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Notable Quotes:

• “Why would anybody wipe out a whole family and then steal a baby in a car seat only to then just discard that baby at a stranger's house on the side of a highway?” — Ashleigh Banfield (02:45)

• “I saw someone moving in the middle of the wood... something hooded anyway. I knew that police were hunting for a quadruple murderer.” — Ricardo Contreras (10:32)

• “When I called 911 police, they got him immediately with the helicopter and everything. They really did a good job.” — Ricardo Contreras (17:15)

• “Why the hell was a known violent gang member and felon with a rap sheet a mile long out on bond for attempted murder in the first place?” — Ashleigh Banfield (25:30)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key elements of the podcast episode, providing listeners with a clear and engaging overview of the Tennessee Family Massacre and the intricate details surrounding Austin Drummond's arrest and background.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

Foreign.

[Ashley Banfield]

Hey everyone. I'm Ashley Banfield and this is drop dead Serious. And I am a little under the weather, so I apologize for my nasal sound, but there's a really serious story that I needed to get to you. So out of bed, Little zhuzh, little makeup, and here I am. Because there is a senseless quadruple murder that has me just confounded. It happened in rural Tennessee. The whole nation seems to be shocked by this. Right? An entire family has been wiped out. A baby was left in a stranger's front yard. And a seven day manhunt gripped the entire country. And even though a suspect has now been caught, Austin Drummond, there doesn't seem to be an answer to this mystery. Not yet anyway. And when I say answer, I mean the big question. Why? His arrest may only be the beginning of a bizarre mystery. Why? Like why would anybody wipe out a whole family and then steal a baby in a car seat only to then just discard that baby at a stranger's house on the side of a highway? Almost like it was just an afterthought. And what a pain in the ass. Out you go. Why would he go on the run for days on end amid a nationwide manhunt? Maybe that part is not such a mystery. Right? Because Austin Drummond may well know that Tennessee is a death penalty state. And the profound evil that he is accused of committing more than qualifies him for execution if he's found guilty of all of this. And the truth about Austin Drummond is actually quite disturbing. I have every detail that we know so far. From the moment that baby was found to the massive search to the arrest of three people who allegedly helped Austin Drummond while he was on the run. Even though he was an accused quadruple murderer. Austin Drummond is a self proclaimed member of the Almighty Vice Lord's gang with a violent prison rank record. There's disturbing audio from his past parole hearing and I'm going to play that for you in just a moment so you get a sense for yourself what this guy is like. And it gets even crazier. It is even alleged that he struck up a relationship with a former female prison guard. A guard who happens to be the sister of one of the murder victims. A guard who is now pregnant. So buckle up. Because what started as a murder case has exploded into something far darker and far more twisted than anybody expected. On July 29, in the quiet back roads of rural West Tennessee, a horrifying story began to unfold. A baby girl, just seven months old, found alone in a car seat. She was left in the front yard of a stranger's home in Tigret. That's in Dyer County, Tennessee. At first, nobody knew who this little baby girl was. But just hours later, 40 miles away, in a wooded area near Tiptonville in Lake county, police made a devastating discovery. Four dead bodies, all of them shot to death in the woods, all of them closely related to that abandoned baby girl. The victims names were James Wilson, 21 years old, and the father of that little baby, Adriana Williams, 20 years old. And the baby's mom, Courtney Rose, 38 years old, Adriana's mom and also the baby's grandma. And Brayden Williams, just 15 years old, Adriana's brother. And of course, the baby's very young uncle. We don't know a lot of details about this crime. Police haven't released how the victims ended up in the woods, but the victims were living in Dyersburg, Tennessee, which is in Dyer county, and that's about 30 miles away from where their bodies were found. So your mind goes to so many different possibilities. How did they end up, all four of them in the woods? Where was the baby? Why was the baby spared? Were they dumped there? Were they killed there? These are questions that eventually we will hear, but police are keeping a lot of these details close to the vest right now. An entire family has been wiped out. And by the very next day, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had their suspect, Austin Robert Drummond, 28 years old. The bureau told everybody to consider Austin Drummond armed and dangerous. And they quickly hit him with the most serious charges that the law allows. Four counts of first degree murder, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, along with multiple firearms related felonies. The manhunt began immediately, and it was massive. The tbi, Tennessee Bureau, the US Marshals, the FBI, the local SWAT teams, they were all called in to look for this guy. And in the days that followed, law enforcement held multiple press briefings, and their message to the public was crystal clear. The TBI director, David Rauch, called Austin Drummond, quote, extremely dangerous and urged people not to approach him under any circumstances. Officials also confirmed that the baby girl was unharmed, thank God. And they said that she's been placed under protective custody and that she's doing well, but she is orphaned. So with the suspect still at large and obviously a suspect capable of such extreme violence, the fear in the community only grew. It was pretty clear that this guy was running for his life. And anyone who could get in the way, anyone who could get between him and his freedom, well, their lives probably wouldn't matter a whole lot Given what he was just accused of doing days earlier, the pressure to find Austin Drummond was reaching a fever pitch. And the headlines about the manhunt to find him were splashed right across the country. And I'm going to break here a little bit because the True Crime audience doesn't miss a beat, right? They stay really close to the headlines and they often are a big help in the headlines, as is the case in this story, which I'm going to tell you in a moment. While Austin Drummond was on the run, police say that he had plenty of help staying hidden. And they weren't about to let anybody get away with that soon enough. Three people were under arrest for allegedly helping him while he was on the lam. Among them, Tanaka Brown, age 29, charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Javante Thomas, also 29, and Daria Sanders, age 23. Both of them charged with accessory after the fact to first degree murder. But even as those arrests were made, the manhunt was still massive. That is until day seven, because after seven days on the run, Austin Drummond was finally caught. It happened on a Tuesday. It was August 5th, just 75 miles away from where police say he committed those horrendous murders. Four members of the same family. But the arrest didn't come out of thin air. The police had been right on his tail for several days. Two days earlier, on Sunday night, August 3, about 11:00pm, surveillance video from a church in Jackson, Tennessee, showed him wandering around the property. The video is actually quite haunting if you look at it in the footage. He's wearing camouflage clothing, he's holding a rifle, and he's trying to open doors. The video was released by Jackson police the next day on Monday, August 4th, and that same night, Austin Drummond was spotted again. This time, it was home surveillance video. The cameras caught him in a residential neighborhood not. Not far away from the church where he'd just been spotted the night before. And even scarier, police say he was carrying multiple rounds of ammunition at the time. So, yeah, armed and dangerous, pretty fair description. This guy looked like he was loaded for bear and was carrying the ammo he might need. Once again, for anybody who might get in between him and his attempt at getting free. Because, need I remind you, Tennessee death penalty state and those crimes, it's what the death penalty was written for. So let's fast forward to Tuesday morning. The tips, they start flooding in. There's reports of a suspicious man wandering through a residential area. And then one crucial tip came in from somebody who was working in the neighborhood. A man named Ricardo Contreras, a house painter who was painting a home, just a. Butting up to some woods. And what did he see? He wasn't quite sure, but he spotted something that was strange right there in those woods. He wasn't sure if it was a person, maybe an animal, something hooded anyway. But he also knew something very important. He'd been listening to the headlines, just like you, and he knew that police were hunting for a quadruple murderer. So Ricardo picked up his phone and he called 911. And thank God he did, because the police, they jumped on it. And this was like lightning. They got the tip. And within 10 minutes of Ricardo's call, they had Austin Drummond in handcuffs. And just as Ricardo had said on the 911 call, he. He was out there skulking in the woods. But not before someone else had also reported that they'd seen a strange man lurking inside somebody's vacant pool house. Here's what ricardo Contreras told WSMV4 in Nashville.

[Ricardo Contreras]

Well, we was there, you know, working, and one of my guys, we are painting a house right there, and one of my guys hear something on the wood. And at some point we thought it was like a deer or something like that. And I was like, ha. You know, I mean, it's just like that. But another guy came to me and told me, like, there's somebody back there. And I was like, somebody? And I was like, immediately, you know, it was like, it's him. And so I came back and I saw someone moving in the middle of the wood. And he had, you know, like a sweater with, you know, something on his head or something like that. But it was really hard to see if it was the person that was they looking for. But who else can be in the middle of the wood? So one of the guys told me, like, are you going to call the police? And I was like, no, I'm not going to call him. I don't want to get involved in that. And it was probably about six, six minutes that I was thinking, like, no, I need to call the police immediately. And one of the things that I did is call the police. And because we do a lot of work in this area, I know a lot of people. They. They are kind of like, customer, good customer to me. And after call the police, I called one of my customers who was in the. The other house and tell him to lock the doors and everything, because I. I told him, like, already called the police. And he. So you're gonna see a lot of them around Your house. And he said, like, okay, so in 15 minutes after that, he called me and tell me, like, they got him. Yeah, so talk about just.

[Unknown Host]

I think it was within.

[Ashley Banfield]

Within a matter of minutes after you called 911 police.

[Ricardo Contreras]

Oh, yeah. I mean, that was amazing. Cause I was like. When I called 91 1, I just told her, like, I don't want to make. I mean, big thing on this, but I know you've been working hard to get this guy. And I'm not sure if his. If it's him or not, but you need to know there is somebody back there. And she was like, hold on, hold on. So. And because I've been working since probably six or seven years around this area, I know all the location, address, and all that. And she told me, like, do you know where you are? And I was like, yes, I'm between from this address and this address. And she said, like, okay, I got it. And I think I was still on the phone when they got there immediately. And the helicopter and everything, that was. I mean, they move really quick, so they really did a good job.

[Unknown Host]

By 9am they had pleasant Plains extended closed. And there was a manhunt going on in my backyard, and it's terrifying, honestly.

[Shannon Tabor]

Shannon Tabor says just over her property line is where Austin Drummond was hiding out a pool shed belonging to her backyard neighbor. Neighbors that were out of town actually see the takedown, or did you see to see them, like, the area?

[Unknown Host]

I am actually comforted that I didn't see that because I might have been truly frightened. You know, you almost feel like stuff like this doesn't happen in your neighborhood.

[Shannon Tabor]

Taber says before police were called, a groundskeeper found Drummond hiding in the pool shed, a shock to both the worker and Drummond.

[Unknown Host]

I think that scared him off. Running in the direction of a neighborhood in the opposite direction.

[Shannon Tabor]

With Drummond's arrest, the Tabor family breathes a sigh of relief as they try to make a return to normal.

[Unknown Host]

It's a lot less stressful to, you know, think he's not running around here anymore. And the family of the people that were murdered, I hope that they feel at peace now knowing that the person who caused all this damage and their.

[Ashley Banfield]

Families captured that arrest may have ended the manhunt, all right. But it opened the door to something far more disturbing. To understand just how dangerous Austin Drummond really is, you got to go back in time. Because Austin Drummond didn't just snap one day. He's been on law enforcement's radar for over a decade with a rap sheet that started when he was young, a rap sheet that got a hell of a lot worse. Drummond is a confirmed member of the Vice Lords, full name, the Almighty Vice Lords, a notorious street gang and prison gang with deep roots in Tennessee. Back in 2013, at just 16, Drummond walked into a Circle K, A convenience store in Jackson, Tennessee. He was waving his gun around and demanding money. And according to the court records, he pointed that gun right, right at the Circle K clerk and said, quote, I'm not playing with you. He made off with just $44. Just think about that for a second. $44, that kind of a crime that can land you in prison for 20 years. $44. But it was enough to land him in serious trouble. And he was convicted in 2014 of aggravated robbery, and his sentence was 13 years in prison. But it did not appear that prison helped him much. It certainly didn't stop him on the inside. Austin Drummond racked up over 25 disciplinary violations. Let me read out just a few. Assault, weapons possession, gang activity, and refusing drug tests. Police also say he threatened jurors who were involved in his conviction. So, yeah, dangerous guy. Not the kind of guy you want wandering around the streets. Right. But in 2020, after just six years in prison, Austin Drummond got his chance before the Tennessee Parole Board. Right. When you get a sentence and you have an opportunity for parole, you get your hearing. Whether you win, that's another question. The da, Jody Pickens, said that Drummond was a violent repeat offender and urged the parole board, don't do it. Do not get this guy any freedom. Deny the release. The DA cited serious safety concerns, you know, for people like you and me. Yeah. Perhaps to no one's surprise, the parole board stamped, no, they didn't let Austin Drummond out. He was denied parole. But now you're about to hear what was actually said during that parole hearing. The questions and Austin Drummond's answers, which are. Rich. Take a listen.

[Parole Board Member]

All right. Looking at your disciplinary, your write ups, I'm showing most recently, looks like you've got a couple of pending right now for drugs and a cell phone. Have those been to deboard yet?

[Austin Drummond]

No, those haven't been handled yet.

[Parole Board Member]

All right, let's move on to the ones that have. I'm showing May of this year a class A for possession of a deadly weapon, class A for assault with that weapon. Also a class B for refusing or altering a drug test. March of this year showing a class A for security threat group activity, as well as a class A for refusing to participate. Also have multiple others. Looks like you've had about 27 incidents in total, seven of them Class A. Seven Class Bs we've had threats, deadly weapons, violation of state law, drugs and etc. Does that sound right?

[Austin Drummond]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Member]

Anything you want to say? Any statements you want to make about your discipline?

[Austin Drummond]

Yes. I mean, the past few months, the assault and the deadly weapon, it came after I was. It was self defense. I was almost beat to death. That's where that came from. But before those recent ones, I went almost two years without any disciplinary.

[Parole Board Member]

Tell me about the aggravated robbery. What did you do to get this charge?

[Austin Drummond]

I robbed the gas station.

[Parole Board Member]

Were you armed?

[Austin Drummond]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Member]

What did you have?

[Austin Drummond]

It was a BB guy.

[Parole Board Member]

Was anyone injured?

[Austin Drummond]

No, sir.

[Parole Board Member]

How much money or what did you take?

[Austin Drummond]

I was like $40.

[Parole Board Member]

Why were you robbing a gas station?

[Austin Drummond]

Honestly, I was. I was on Xandex that night. I don't even remember doing it.

[Parole Board Member]

All right. Using any other drugs or alcohol around that time?

[Austin Drummond]

No, just Xanax, alcohol and marijuana.

[Parole Board Member]

All right, and then you've got 13 counts of retaliation for past action. Tell me about this.

[Austin Drummond]

Yes, sir. After my trial, after I was convicted, I was on the phone with my dad and I made a comment that I would be out soon and that I had the jury's information.

[Parole Board Member]

So you made threats to go after them?

[Austin Drummond]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Member]

I'm showing there is confidential opposition statements in your file as well as letters of opposition from the District Attorney Jody Pickens office that is strongly opposed to your parole. Based on the violent aggravated robbery as well as the threats made to harm the victim and the jurors after the trial. I do see that you've submitted a release plan for your parents, Greg and Andrea Drummond, that'll be in Jackson, Tennessee. And you're requesting a temporary job waiver, is that correct?

[Austin Drummond]

Yes, sir.

[Parole Board Member]

Is there anything else you'd like to submit? Give me just a few minutes. Let me look over your file and I will have your recommendation. Your file today. I do need to make Note. All right, Mr. Drummond, we've gone over your file today. Released until August of next year. We've also gone over your custody level as maximum recent and discipline ongoing throughout this incarceration. I'm going to recommend that you be.

[Ashley Banfield]

Declined while locked up. Drummond wasn't exactly roughing it either. There are reports that show he was living shockingly well while he was behind bars. He showing off what looked like a luxury prison setup on social media. We're talking two cell phones, videos of him gaming, and pizza delivery. You heard me. Pizza delivery. And I have absolutely no idea how he pulled that off, but I sure hope if guards were involved, they were caught. And then In September of 2024, Austin Drummond was released after serving almost his entire sentence. That was just 10 months before these recent gruesome quadruple murders. And by the way, the victims bodies were found in the same city as the prison where Austin Drummond served time, Tiptonville. But it gets worse. At the time of the quadruple homicide, Drummond was out on bond. And not for something small either. He was facing a brand new trial for attempted murder. That one is in Lake county. And let me repeat this. He's awaiting trial for attempted murder when he allegedly slaughters four people and left their baby in a random yard off the side of the highway. Lake County DA Danny Goodman confirmed it saying quote, he has some drug charges we indicted him for. And shortly after that, he was charged with attempted murder in Lake county, which happened inside the prison. And this is where I stop to say what the actual. If you attempt a murder in prison, you can be charged in prison, you can be actually adjudicated while in prison and then when your current prison sentence ends, your new one can begin. But somehow don't ask me how this charge came. And he's out on bond. So yeah, what the actual fuck? And just when you think the story couldn't get any more twisted, it turns out that Austin Drummond was reportedly dating a prison guard. A guard who's not only pregnant with his child, but a prison guard who is related to four murder victims he's accused of killing. Drummond ended up in a relationship with the guard after meeting her while serving that 13 year sentence. This is the former corrections officer we're talking about, Caitlin Speder. Here she is pictured with 28 year old Austin Drummond and she's pregnant. Caitlin is the sister of Courtney Rose. And of course Courtney Rose is the oldest of the murder victims. And get this, Caitlyn was reportedly fired for being in that relationship with Austin Drummond while he was serving time. I guess that's not a surprise. But when Austin Drummond was released in September, where do you think he went? He reportedly moved right in with that former prison guard, Caitlin Speder. There's no shortage of pictures of the couple. They regularly posted stuff on social media. Very lovey dovey. Out on the town together, living their lives. In fact, one of the family members of the four victims said they never feared Austin Drummond. They thought Austin Drummond had been nothing but terrific to the family. They never for a moment imagined they that this could ever be possible. So yeah, the mystery gets even deeper. But the social media posts from Caitlyn Speeder's ex seem to indicate that he wasn't one bit happy about her relationship with Austin Drummond. And here's a twist that no one saw coming. And maybe something that might explain motive for these unspeakable murders. Caitlyn Speeder's father said that his daughter was not dating Austin Drummond at the time of the quadruple murders. So was it revenge, anger over a breakup, jolted love? Or was it something else completely? Obviously there are so many unanswered questions as this case continues to unfold. What really happened in those final moments before four people were executed, maybe in the woods, maybe executed at home, their bodies dragged and dumped in the woods. And why these four? A whole family again, James Wilson, age 21. The baby's dad, Adrianna Williams, age 20, the baby's mom, Courtney Rose, age 38. Adriana's mom and the baby's grandma, and Brayden Williams, just 15 years old and Adriana's brother and the baby's young uncle. Why did they all have to die? This wasn't just a quadruple homicide. It was a mass killing that wiped out an entire family and left a seven month old baby orphaned. A little girl with no parents, no family. And maybe the biggest question of all, why the hell was a known violent gang member and felon with a rap sheet a mile long out on bond for attempted murder in the first place? That's the kind of question that demands answers not just from the prosecutors, but from the entire system that let this happen. Hopefully we're going to get some of those answers soon as the investigation now moves into a brand new phase. Thank you so much for watching everyone. Thanks for listening as well. I'm going to follow this one closely. You can bet on it. I'm Ashley Banfield and remember, the truth isn't just serious, it's drop dead serious.