Abandoned Baby, Four Relatives Murdered: Manhunt Deepens for Suspected Killer Austin Drummond
Tennessee is gripped by fear and disbelief as the manhunt intensifies for Austin Robert Drummond, 28, accused of brutally killing four relatives of a baby found abandoned but alive last week. What began as a horrifying tragedy has now morphed into a multi-layered investigation involving gang affiliations, multiple arrests, and a community desperate for justice.
Authorities announced Monday the arrest of Dearrah Sanders, 23, now the third person accused of helping Drummond evade capture. She’s been charged as an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, joining Tanaka Brown and Giovontie Thomas, both 29, who face similar charges. Brown also faces an additional count of tampering with evidence.
Law enforcement officials haven’t disclosed the exact actions these individuals took to shield Drummond, but the implications are deeply unsettling. A source close to the investigation says Drummond has ties to the Vice Lords, a notorious street gang involved in violent crime, which has only heightened fears that he’s not running alone—but being protected.
On Monday afternoon, heavily armed officers scoured a wooded area near a private university in Jackson, Tennessee, searching for any signs of the fugitive. But as of now, Drummond remains at large, and the community remains on edge.
