Quadruple murder suspect Drummond enters plea of not guilty; seeks change of venue

UPDATE:
Austin Drummond, accused in the quadruple murder of a Lake County family, entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Drummond is scheduled to return to court on March 24, where the defense is anticipated to file a motion for a change of venue.


ORIGINAL STORY:
Austin Drummond, the man accused of killing four people in Tiptonville, Tennessee in July, appeared in court for a three-hour preliminary hearing on Thursday in Lake County.

Drummond is facing four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping of a baby, and a weapons charge.

The state is seeking the death penalty.

Several witnesses took the stand for the prosecution to prove that there is enough evidence for the case to proceed. While the defense insisted no direct evidence proves Drummond pulled the trigger, prosecutors argued that cellphone data, license plate readers, and other surveillance tied him directly to the victims before and after the killings.

During the testimony, it was disclosed that the bodies of the victims were found under tarps, and that one of the victims was shot 11 times.

The defense did not present any witnesses.

The case will be presented to a grand jury on November 10, and Drummond is scheduled to appear before a Lake County judge on November 17.