Four people were found dead late on Tuesday night in Lake County, Tennessee, just hours after an infant girl was abandoned in a car seat on a stranger’s front lawn during 100-degree heat.
The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the bodies were discovered at a separate crime scene believed to be linked to the abandoned baby case, prompting a joint investigation involving the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the FBI, and multiple local agencies.
‘This is a deeply saddening day for our community,’ Sheriff Jeff Box said in a statement. ‘We are committed to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice is served.’
Deputies were called to a home off Old Highway 20 near Tigrett, a quiet rural area in northwest Tennessee, just after 3pm.
A witness reported a dark-colored minivan stopping briefly before leaving an infant in a car seat on a front lawn.
The baby, believed to be about seven months old, was rescued and evaluated by Medical Center EMS and the Crockett County Ambulance Service.
Authorities say the child appeared to be in stable condition but had been left out in the brutal triple-digit afternoon heat.
‘We have no idea why they dropped the child off,’ said Chief Investigator Terry McCreight about the ordeal. ‘We’re now trying to locate that vehicle.’
An infant girl was abandoned in a car seat on a stranger’s front lawn during 100-degree heat. Hours later, four people were found dead late. The two incidents are believed to be connected
At the time the infant was found, temperatures had reached 96 degrees, with a heat index of 111 degrees, making the incident all the more harrowing.
Within hours, deputies identified the child and issued alerts seeking Cortney Rose, Matthew Wilson, and Adrianna Williams for questioning in connection with the abandonment.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any of these individuals are among the four people found dead in neighboring Lake County.
The identities of the deceased are being withheld until next of kin are notified.
Investigators are now attempting to piece together whether the Lake County deaths are directly tied to the infant’s abandonment.
Investigators credit social media with rapidly identifying the child.
A Facebook post from the sheriff’s office, shared more than 1,800 times, led to the breakthrough within 30 minutes.
‘Our information officer put a Facebook post up and immediately hit social media, and within 30 minutes we knew who the child was,’ McCreight said.
The sheriff’s office said it remains dedicated to ‘resolving both the abandoned infant case and the ongoing investigation at the crime scene in Lake County.’
The Tigrett community, a quiet rural area in northwest Tennessee, is in shock. The image of an infant, left helpless in sweltering heat on a stranger’s lawn, has become a symbol of the bizarre and deeply troubling series of events.
Residents gathered outside their homes on Tuesday night, watching in disbelief as law enforcement vehicles raced between counties.
‘We just can’t believe something like this would happen here,’ one neighbor told local news cameras, shaking her head.
As of Tuesday night, no arrests have been made, and investigators are tight-lipped about possible motives or connections between the infant and the four deceased adults. Sheriff Box has appealed to the public for tips and urged anyone with information to call 731-285-2802.
‘Please remember everyone in your prayers,’ Box said.
