Tennessee Father Spots Fugitive in Woods, Leads to Dramatic Capture [WATCH]

A Tennessee man who called 911 after spotting a suspicious figure in the woods is being credited with helping law enforcement capture fugitive Austin Drummond, a convicted felon accused of murdering four people in July, as reported by The New York Post.

Ricardo Contreras, a house painter working in Jackson, Tennessee, on Tuesday, noticed what he first believed was an animal moving through nearby woods. Upon closer inspection, he realized it could be a person — and possibly the suspect authorities had been searching for.

They got him. We hadn’t talked about this case yet, but I was watching and taking notes on EVERY MOVE. FFS this was insane.#AustinDrummond pic.twitter.com/wuH2JiJZHx

— Julez with True Crime Reactions (@Julez_TrueCrime) August 5, 2025

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“I saw someone moving in the middle of the woods, and he had like a… sweater with something on his head,” Contreras told WMC. “It was really hard to see if it was the person they were looking for, but who else could it be?”

Contreras had been following reports of the ongoing manhunt for Drummond, who was wanted in connection with a quadruple homicide in Tiptonville, about 40 miles away from where he was captured.

Without hesitation, Contreras contacted police. “When I called 911, I told her, like, I don’t want to make a big thing on this, but I know you have been working hard to get this guy,” he said. “And I’m not sure if it’s him or not, but you need to know that it’s somebody back there.”

TENNESSEE: The manhunt for quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond came to an end this morning after he was captured by a Jackson resident, identified as Ricardo Contreras Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/n9TjBxAnH0

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) August 5, 2025

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Police responded immediately, and within 15 minutes of the call, Drummond was arrested at the location. A helicopter was also deployed in the area during the operation.

“I was still on the phone when they got there immediately,” Contreras recalled. “They moved really quick.”

This man trusted his gut, and Jackson, Tennessee, is sleeping better tonight!

I just talked to Ricardo Contreras. He saw Austin Drummond while he was working on a house today and called police. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/rryWTSKX7u

— Chris Stewart (@CStewartNews) August 6, 2025

Drummond had been the subject of a week-long manhunt after allegedly killing Matthew Wilson, 21; Adrianna Williams, 20; Braydon Williams, 15; and Cortney Rose, 38, on July 29.

Wilson and Williams’ seven-month-old daughter was found abandoned but unharmed in a car seat in a front yard in Tigrett.

Here’s alittle mappy map in case you need it… #austindrummond pic.twitter.com/pO2hwJDRSP

— Duchess of Meme (@DuchessOfMeme) July 31, 2025

Authorities say the motive remains unclear but do not believe the killings were random.

Surveillance footage from Sunday night showed Drummond in Jackson holding a rifle and wearing camouflage with a brown backpack. He appeared to be attempting to enter a building.

Well well well. Austin Drummonds is roaming around my town with an AR pistol and a drum mag. Killed 4 people last week. pic.twitter.com/hdnwDbPpPI

— Colton Hunt (@coltonhuntmusic) August 5, 2025

Three suspected associates — Derrah Sanders, 23; Tanaka Brown, 29; and Giovonti Thomas, 29 — were also arrested. All three face charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Brown is also charged with tampering with evidence.

Drummond had a prior conviction for aggravated robbery and had been released from a 13-year prison sentence in September 2024. He was out on bond for an attempted murder charge at the time of the killings.

He now faces ten charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and possession of a firearm as a felon.

See ya later Austin Drummond! pic.twitter.com/D8kiaoA5J3

— Keifer Bagwell (@KeiferBagwell) August 5, 2025

Police had offered a $37,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Contreras said he was not motivated by money. “I mean, we can sleep better tonight,” he said. “I got two little ones… they’ve been sleeping in our bed because they are scared about this.”

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