A CONSTRUCTION worker has opened up about the moment he reportedly spotted a fugitive accused of murdering four family members.
Ricardo Contreras played a crucial role in ending the intense week-long search for the 28-year-old habitual offender, Austin Robert Drummond, by reporting a sighting of him on Tuesday.
Drummond was apprehended by US Marshals after a construction team spotted him dashing into the forest near Jackson, Tennessee, approximately 90 minutes from Memphis.
The fugitive had spent a week avoiding authorities after allegedly abducting a seven-month-old infant, leaving her in the yard of an unknown person, and subsequently killing four individuals.
The murder victims included Adrianna Williams, 20, and Matthew Wilson, 21, who were the parents of the baby. The others were Adrianna’s mother, Cortney Rose, 38, and her younger brother, Braydon Williams, 15.
Moments after the mystery finally came to an end, Contreras revealed the bizarre behavior that ultimately revealed Drummond’s identity.
Speaking to local radio station WNWS, the worker said that people spotted someone walking into the woods while they were on a job and found it odd.
“We thought, ‘Nobody wants to walk in the middle of the woods, in the middle of this stuff,'” he said.
Because of the strange area, Contreras said that he felt “very sure” the man was Drummond.
The brave bystander said that first responders raced over before he even had the chance to hang up after calling 911.
He called the law enforcement “heroes” and said, “I’m really glad they got him.”
TENSE SEARCH
The hunt intensified on Monday night following Drummond’s appearance on video surveillance prowling in Jackson, about 90 minutes from Dyer County, where the infant was located.
The town was put on lockdown, as the suspect, armed with a rifle, was seen trying doors and seemingly attempting to break into buildings.
The reasons behind these actions or Drummond’s connection to the victims remain largely unclear. Nonetheless, some relatives suggest he may have had a romantic involvement with one of Rose’s sisters.
Drummond served 13 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping and was released in September 2024.
In December, he was slapped with an attempted murder charge over a fight with an inmate that he had behind bars, but he was bailed out of jail.
He’s also faced charges for allegedly having drugs in prison and is said to be a part of the dangerous Chicago-based gang Almighty Vice Lords.
Three other people have been arrested and accused of helping Drummond pull off the sick crime.
VICTIMS MOURNED
Wilson and Adrianna were remembered as dedicated parents who loved their new baby girl, according to a GoFundMe started by Wilson’s sister.
Rose was a single mother and sole provider to her children.
Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said that Tuesday’s arrest came after the “tireless work and dedication of our local, state, and federal partners.”
The sheriff’s office said that they were mourning with the families who had suffered such an immense loss.
“Our focus now shifts to honoring the lives lost and providing support to their grieving families,” Box said in a statement.
“We urge the community and the media to respect their privacy as they navigate through this tragic loss.”
Quadruple murders timeline
Tuesday, July 29: A seven-month-old baby girl was found abandoned in a car seat in the front yard of a residence in Tigrett, Dyer County, Tennessee, at around 3 pm.
Hours later: Four individuals were found dead in Lake County approximately 40 miles from where the baby was located.
Wednesday, July 30: Investigators identify the victims as:
- Matthew Wilson, 21, (the baby’s father)
- Adrianna Williams, 20 (the baby’s mother)
- Cortney Rose, 38, (the baby’s grandmother)
- Braydon Williams, 15, (the baby’s maternal uncle)
Thursday, July 31: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation name Austin Drummond, 28, as a suspect in the quadruple homicide.
Friday, August 1: Cops locate Drummond’s damaged Audi A3 abandoned on a road in Jackson. Tanaka Brown has been arrested and is accused of being an accessory to first degree murder after the fact and tampering with evidence.
Saturday, August 2: Agents arrest second man Giovontie Thomas for accessory to first degree murder after the fact. They also locate a Ford pick up truck believed to be connected to Drummond in Dyer County.
Monday, August 4: Dearrah Sanders is the third person to be arrested and charged for accessory to first degree murder after the fact.
Jackson cops also release surveillance footage of Drummond, wearing camouflaged gear, stalking a neighborhood and trying to get into a church building.
Tuesday, August 5: Drummond taken into custody after being captured in Jackson. He was arrested after cops issued a shelter-in-place order following a suspected sighting.
