An infant was found abandoned. Then, police discovered 4 people dead.
Editor's note for July 31: There is an update on the abandoned infant case and four people found dead.
Tennessee officials are investigating a potential connection between two disturbing incidents: An infant was found abandoned in a car seat outdoors, and four people were found dead in a nearby home.
According to a news release from the Dyer County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a call about the reported 7-month-old just after 3:00 p.m. on July 29. Dyer County is located in western Tennessee, on the border with Arkansas.
Witnesses contacted the sheriff's office after seeing the infant sitting in a car seat in a person's front yard near Tigrett, a community in Dyer County. According to local station WMC-TV, the homeowner, who is not the child's parent, called law enforcement.
In a post on the Dyer County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, officials shared that "a dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV was reported to have dropped off" the child.
'Deeply saddening for our community'
In an update on July 29, the Dyer County Sheriff's Office announced that it was also working with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and investigating a crime scene in Lake County where four people were found dead.
The baby and the four victims' identities have not been publicly released. Investigators say they believe there may be a connection between the abandoned infant and the deceased individuals.
"This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served," Sheriff Jeff Box said in the news release.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI were tapped to assist with the case.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.