On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, a tragic sequence of events unfolded in northwest Tennessee, beginning with the discovery of a seven-month-old infant abandoned in a car seat in a stranger’s front yard on Old Highway 20 near the Tigrett area in Dyer County. Authorities were alerted around 3:11 p.m. when a witness spotted the child and called 911. The infant, unharmed, was evaluated by Medical Center EMS and the Crockett County Ambulance Service. A dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV was reported to have dropped off the baby before driving away, prompting an immediate investigation by the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office.

As deputies worked to identify the child and locate her family, the investigation took a grim turn. Later that evening, four individuals were found dead along Carrington Road in Tiptonville, Lake County, approximately 40 miles north of Tigrett. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), leading the case, confirmed that the deaths are being investigated as homicides. The victims were identified as James Matthew Wilson, 21, the baby’s father; Adrianna Williams, 20, the baby’s mother; Cortney Rose, 38, the maternal grandmother; and Braydon Williams, 15, the maternal uncle. Dyer County District Attorney Danny Goodman Jr. confirmed that all four were related to the abandoned infant.
The discovery of the bodies has shaken the small communities of Dyer and Lake Counties, located near the Kentucky border, about two hours north of Memphis. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death or the circumstances that led investigators to Carrington Road, a rural area near Reelfoot Lake known for recreational activities like hiking and canoeing. Two vehicles—a white SUV and a dark-colored sedan—were towed from the scene on Wednesday, July 30, as part of the ongoing investigation.

Multiple agencies are collaborating on this complex case, including the Tiptonville Police Department, Dyersburg Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Dyer County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Jackson Police Department, Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The TBI has taken the lead, with Public Information Officer Kim Wheeler emphasizing the active and fluid nature of the investigation. While the TBI is focused on the homicide investigation, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office is handling inquiries related to the abandoned infant.

District Attorney Goodman has stated that he believes the incident was targeted and does not pose an ongoing threat to public safety, describing it as an isolated event rather than a random attack. However, the TBI has indicated that a suspect or suspects remain at large, urging the public to report any suspicious activity or information. “There’s always concern when there is a suspect or suspects we have not caught yet,” Wheeler said during a press conference on July 30.

Local residents, unaccustomed to such violence in their quiet community, expressed shock and grief. Melissa Peal, a resident of Proctor City Community in Lake County, described the heavy law enforcement presence and the fear that has gripped the area. “Who could’ve done that? Who could have left a baby somewhere with strangers outside in this heat?” she said, noting the area’s usual tranquility. Another resident, William Thomas from Mayfield, Kentucky, called the situation “heartbreaking” and expressed hope that those responsible would be brought to justice.

The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Jeff Box, issued a statement reflecting the community’s sorrow: “This is a deeply saddening day for our community. We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.” Authorities are working tirelessly to piece together the events that led to the abandonment of the infant and the deaths of her family members, but many questions remain unanswered, including how the perpetrators chose the location to leave the child and the motive behind the killings.

Anyone with information related to the abandoned infant or the homicides is urged to contact the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office at 731-285-2802 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. The investigation remains active, with authorities committed to providing updates as new details emerge.