TIPTONVILLE, Tenn. – Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the quadruple homicide of a family whose infant was found abandoned but alive last month, a case that has shaken this rural West Tennessee community. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced the arrests on Sunday, marking a significant development in a case where the primary murder suspect remains the subject of an ongoing manhunt.

Tanaka Brown, 38, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, were taken into custody and charged with accessory after the fact, according to a TBI statement. Investigators allege the two men provided assistance to the main suspect after the murders of the infant’s parents, grandmother, and uncle were committed. The charges suggest they may have aided the individual in evading capture. Both men are being held in the Tipton County Jail as the investigation continues.

A Complex and Tragic Case

The complex investigation began in late July when a newborn infant was discovered alone in a remote area near Tiptonville. The child was found to be unharmed and was taken into state custody. The discovery triggered a welfare check that led authorities to a nearby residence, where they found the bodies of four of the infant's family members.

The victims were identified as the infant's parents, grandmother, and uncle. The TBI has not yet released the names of the victims or the primary suspect, citing the active and sensitive nature of the investigation. The motive for the killings remains unclear, but the arrest of two alleged accessories suggests a widening scope in the search for answers and justice.

"Our agents and analysts have been working around the clock in cooperation with our local partners to pursue every possible lead in this horrific case," a TBI spokesperson said in a press release. "These arrests are a step forward, but we will not rest until the individual directly responsible for these murders is apprehended."

Search Continues for Main Perpetrator

While the arrests of Brown and Thomas are a breakthrough, law enforcement officials have stressed that the individual they believe carried out the murders is still at large and should be considered armed and dangerous. The TBI has urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any information, no matter how small, that might lead to the suspect’s location.

The charge of "accessory after the fact" is a serious felony in Tennessee. It applies to individuals who, knowing a felony has been committed, conceal or aid the offender with the intent of helping them avoid or escape arrest, trial, or punishment. The arrests indicate that investigators believe Brown and Thomas were aware of the murders and took deliberate actions to help the perpetrator.

Local residents have expressed a mixture of relief at the arrests and continued anxiety with the primary suspect still at large. The case has cast a dark shadow over the region, with the life of the rescued infant standing in stark contrast to the profound loss suffered by the family. State child services officials have confirmed the infant remains safe and is receiving care.

As the legal process begins for Brown and Thomas, the focus for law enforcement remains squarely on capturing the main suspect. The TBI continues to lead the multi-agency effort, appealing to the public for tips that could bring a conclusion to the tragic case.