Lake County, Tenn.–Accused murderer Austin Drummond pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first appearance in court since a grand jury indicted him for four murders in August.
Drummond is charged with nine counts altogether: four counts first degree murder, one count especially aggravated kidnapping, one count possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; four counts employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Drummond’s attorney Bryan Huffman said, “Not guilty on all counts”.
Prosecutors in the case are pursuing the death penalty. Drummond is scheduled to return to court March 24 and his attorneys are expected to file a motion for a change of venue.
Last month, a judge granted a motion to move Drummond to the custody of the Tennessee Department of Corrections after the Obion County Sheriff testified he was being disruptive and causing safety issues for jail staff.
Drummond is accused of murdering four members of the same family–the parents, grandmother and uncle of a baby that was found abandoned in a random front yard in Dyer County.