- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Tiptonville Today
By the People, for the People
Three co-defendants sentenced in Drummond murder case
Dearrah Sanders, Eric Wise Jr., and Michell Ovelis were charged with accessory after the fact for assisting suspect Austin Drummond.
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Three co-defendants were sentenced in Madison County Court for their roles in assisting Austin Drummond, the suspect in a quadruple homicide in Lake County, Tennessee. Dearrah Sanders and Eric Wise Jr. both pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact charges and received one-year sentences as part of plea deals. Michell Ovelis has a trial date set for May 5th after not accepting a plea deal. Drummond remains charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the July 2025 deaths of four individuals in Tiptonville.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the high-profile quadruple homicide in Tiptonville, Tennessee, and the efforts by authorities to hold all individuals accountable who may have assisted the primary suspect, Austin Drummond, in evading law enforcement.
The details
Dearrah Sanders, Eric Wise Jr., and Michell Ovelis were all charged with Accessory After the Fact for their suspected roles in helping Austin Drummond, the primary suspect in the Lake County quadruple homicide, avoid capture by authorities. Sanders and Wise Jr. both pleaded guilty to the accessory charges and received one-year sentences as part of plea deals, while Ovelis has a trial date set for May 5th after not accepting a plea offer.
- On July 29, 2025, four individuals - James Wilson, Adrianna Williams, Cortney Rose, and Braydon Williams - were killed in the Tiptonville area of Lake County, Tennessee.
- The three co-defendants appeared in Madison County Court on February 19, 2026.
- Sanders and Wise Jr. received their one-year sentences as part of plea deals.
- Ovelis has a trial date set for May 5, 2026.
The players
Austin Drummond
The primary suspect charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the July 2025 quadruple homicide in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
Dearrah Sanders
One of three co-defendants charged with accessory after the fact for assisting Drummond, who pleaded guilty and received a one-year sentence.
Eric Wise Jr.
One of three co-defendants charged with accessory after the fact for assisting Drummond, who pleaded guilty and received a one-year sentence.
Michell Ovelis
One of three co-defendants charged with accessory after the fact for assisting Drummond, who has a trial date set for May 5, 2026 after not accepting a plea deal.
What’s next
Drummond's next court appearance date was not available, and the proceedings for Michell Ovelis' trial on May 5, 2026 will continue.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing legal efforts to hold all individuals accountable who may have assisted the primary suspect in a high-profile quadruple homicide case, underscoring the complexities of such investigations and the importance of the justice system in addressing accessory charges.
