Tennessee authorities are investigating a chilling series of events after a baby was found abandoned in a stranger’s front yard—just hours before four people were discovered dead nearby. Officials have since confirmed the two cases are connected.
On Tuesday, July 29, around 3:11 p.m., the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an infant left in a car seat outside a random home along Old Highway 20, near the Tigrett area. According to the sheriff’s office, a witness spotted the baby and immediately called 911.
The child was reportedly dropped off by someone driving either a dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV. The baby was unharmed and taken into care.
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Later that same day, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office announced that four individuals were found dead at a separate crime scene in neighboring Lake County, roughly 25 miles away. Investigators from both counties, along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, are now working together on the case.
“The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending family notifications,” the sheriff’s office said in a public update.
Sheriff Jeff Box confirmed the child had been identified and named three individuals—Cortney Rose, Matthew Wilson, and Adrianna Williams—as persons investigators wish to speak with in connection to the case.
“This is a deeply saddening day for our community,” Sheriff Box said. “We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.”
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While the motive and exact timeline remain unclear, officials say the infant’s abandonment and the deaths in Lake County are “actively linked.” The victims’ relationship to the child, if any, has not been disclosed.
Animal rights groups and local residents have expressed shock and grief as investigators continue to piece together what happened.
The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office has pledged to keep the public informed as more details emerge and urged the community to keep the victims and those affected in their thoughts.
Sheriff Box has not responded to further media requests for comment.
