Austin Robert Drummond in custody following arrest
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Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing four family members in Tipton, Tennessee, and dumping the baby of two of the victims in a yard miles away.

Austin Robert Drummond appeared by video feed in court Thursday for the first time since he was taken into custody earlier this week, following a week-long manhunt.

The 28-year-old is facing four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, four counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony after four family members were discovered dead in rural Tennessee on July 29.

Prosecutors announced during the Thursday hearing that they believe the four victims were killed as part of a premeditated attack, according to WBBJ.

District Attorney Danny Goodman also announced his intention to seek the death penalty in the high profile case, according to The Associated Press

During the hearing, the judge entered a guilty plea on Drummond’s behalf, and granted him a court-appointed attorney, according to the AP.

He also ordered that Drummond, who wore a black and white striped uniform, be held without bond due to the capital offenses he was facing.

Baby dropped off in front yard 

On June 29, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office announced that someone had been seen that day around 3:11 p.m. dropping an infant in a car seat off at “a random individual’s front yard” on Old Highway 20 near Tigrett, Tenn. The homeowner quickly spotted the child and called 911. 

As authorities attempted to locate the seven-month-old baby’s family, they discovered the bodies of the child’s parents James M. Wilson, 21, and Adrianna Williams, 20, along with her grandmother Cortney Rose, 38, and uncle Braydon Williams, 15, in Tiptonville, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Goodman said that the bodies were discovered in the woods after a relative called 911 to report finding two vehicles abandoned in a remote area, according to the AP. They had been shot to death. 

Although no motive has yet to be announced, Goodman identified Drummond as the boyfriend of Rose’s sister. 

Austin Robert Drummond had prior record

At the time of the murders, Drummond was out on bond for charges of attempted murder for a crime allegedly carried out behind bars while he was serving prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening jurors. 

The TBI identified Drummond as a possible suspect in the quadruple homicide days after the murders and had launched a manhunt to find him. He was taken into custody on the morning of August 5 on Windwood Drive in Jackson. 

Wilson’s mother, Kim Hamil, told the AP on Thursday that the family was “just broken” by the tragedy.

“It’s a whole family gone,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.” 

According to Hamil, the family plans to be in court to represent the victims whenever they can.

Along with Drummond, Dearrah Sanders, 23; Tanaka Brown, 29; and Giovonte Thomas, 29; are also facing charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in connection with the case. 

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