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Another arrest linked to Austin Drummond manhunt in Tennessee: What we know


A third arrest has been made in connection to the Tennessee manhunt sparked by the deaths of four people and a 7-month-old infant girl found alive in a car seat.

Dearrah Sanders, 23, was arrested Aug. 4 on a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, according to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The statement alleges that Sanders "assisted" the still at-large suspect, Austin Drummond, after the murders but did not specify how. It is unclear if Sanders has legal representation as of Monday afternoon, Aug. 4.

Sanders' arrest follows two announced by the TBI on Aug. 2.

Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, were arrested on the same charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, respectively, the agency said in a pair of statements. An update added that Brown has been charged with one count of tampering with evidence. Brown and Sanders were booked into the Lake County Jail.

Thomas was already booked into the Madison County Jail on an unrelated charge and was set to be moved to Lake County Jail for arraignment, according to the statement.

Found baby sparks murder investigation

The case began after a 7-month-old infant girl was found sitting in a car seat in an unconnected person's front yard near Tigrett, a community in Dyer County, on July 29.

Hours later, authorities announced they were investigating a crime scene where four people were dead, revealing there may be a connection between the cases.

The victims were later identified as 20-year-old Adrianna Williams, 21-year-old James M. Wilson, 15-year-old Braydon Williams and 38-year-old Cortney Rose. They were the baby's parents, uncle and grandmother, respectively.

In a press conference at TBI headquarters in Jackson on Aug. 1, TBI Director David Rausch said investigators believe it was a targeted attack.

A massive law enforcement presence was deployed in Jackson, Tennessee on Aug. 4 as authorities followed up on a lead about the whereabouts of Drummond, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, part of the Paste BN Network.

A little before noon local time, dozens of state and local law enforcement agencies gathered on the lawn of West Jackson Baptist Church, deploying drones and K-9s in search of Drummond.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said around 12:15 p.m. CT that Drummond had not been arrested, but that the police presence was related to the search.

The Commercial Appeal reported that an Aug. 1 affidavit filed by the U.S. Marshals Service in federal court showed Deputy Marshal Darrel Weldon writing that "it is believed that Austin Drummond possibly fled the state of Tennessee."

Who is Austin Drummond?

Drummond, 28, is currently on the state's most wanted list on charges of first-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

"This individual has shown a propensity for violence, and he needs to be taken off the streets," Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, said.

Drummond served a 13-year sentence for aggravated robbery and retaliation charges in 2014 – according to the Commercial Appeal. He was released in September 2024, despite several contraband charges, including having meth and a handgun.