The 88-year-old Russell Dermond, a World War II veteran, is believed to have been shot in the head and was beheaded afterward. Each of the Dermonds surviving children were interviewed by deputies about the case. Henry also had a hand in the 1997 murder-for-hire probe that sent Kelly Gissendaner to death row for arranging the stabbing death of her husband. The body of Shirley Wilcox Dermond, who was 87, turned up May 16, 10 days after her husbands. The case of Russell and Shirley Dermond remains unsolved. Updated May 05, 2021 8:25 AM For seven years, the killings of Russell and Shirley Dermond at Lake Oconee have gone unsolved, the motive unknown and the The youngest of four, 55-year-old Dermond, says his parents were very private people and that they would hate that he is talking about them at all. If Russell Dermond was shot in the head like we believe was the case, there is likely a bullet inside and if that weapon that was used to kill him was used to commit another crime and that case got solved, then the bullet from that weapon could be used to match it back to the killing of Russell Dermond, Sills said. The last time Russell was seen alive was on Thursday, May 1, 2014 when he ran some errands in town. WebView history The murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond occurred in early May 2014 in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. Brad Dermond flips through albums and shuffles through a handful of photographsremembering family road trips, golfing and how much his parents loved him and his siblings and adored their grandchildren. Crews searched for several days with no luck. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. A few weeks back, a tip from a college professor in another state seemed plausible until Sills ran it down. There was a problem saving your notification. (Jessica Noll / WXIA), Brad Dermond cherishes photos, like above, with his mom, Shirley Dermond. Sills, 59, professorial and occasionally profane, has explored all avenues, obvious and not so, including the circumstances surrounding the murder of the Dermonds eldest child, Mark C. Dermond. After growing concerned, a neighbor checked in on the Dermonds on Tuesday, May 6. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. After not hearing from the Dermonds for a few days, the friends went to the lakefront Dermond house that is nestled in a wooded cove on Carolyn Drive to check on the pair. WebHer body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee, weighed down with two 30-pound concrete blocks tied to her. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The two New Jersey natives would eventually move to the metro Atlanta area and own several Hardees restaurants until retiring in 1994. An autopsy found that she had died from either two or three deep wounds to the head from a blunt object. Accident or ambush? Im not exaggerating, Sills said. So, if somebody does know something they have the responsibility of coming forward, even if its just a shred of information. The neighbors who alerted the authorities about Russ death live about a mile from the Dermond place. Sills issued a statement saying investigators are using new technology to analyze phones: "Just last week I received some data, primarily cell phone data, that we have been waiting on for some time. They were just really down-to-earth.. Its still just as tough as day one. WebThe Lake Oconee Murders (2020 Podcast Episode) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro It looks like we don't have any Cast and Crew for this title yet. The Dermonds were expected to attend a party for the 2014 Kentucky Derby the following weekend with their neighbors, who grew concerned when the couple did not show up. Progress, gradual as it may be, has been made. It is possible that whatever the killer sought, if anything, was something the Dermonds didnt have. Dermond might have been taken and held against her will until some sort of demand was made. WebThe fisherman who had the misfortune of finding Shirley Dermonds body in Lake Oconee Source: Scoopnest.com. For seven years, the killings of Russell and Shirley Dermond at Lake Oconee have gone unsolved, the motive unknown and the culprit or culprits uncaught in a bizarre double slaying that has remained as baffling as it was heinous. I think the only chance we have at this point (is) that he trips himself up., This week, while Sheriff Sills declined to elaborate on what clue he may have in hand, he said the material was something I am actively working on.. Along with Shirley, he spoke with his son Brad over the phone later that day. On Friday, Sills said he recently received long-awaited cell phone data. EATONTON, Ga. Nearly every day for the past six years, Putnam County Sheriff Howard R. Sills has done some sort of investigative work concerning the unsolved double-murder case of Russell and Shirley Dermond. The Dermonds were living an idyllic life in retirement. They could have come by boat., As for the number of assailants involved, Sills said, If one person did this, he spent the weekend. But the thing is, a lot of the times serial killers are very hard to catch. The FBI, who has assisted the Putnam County Sheriffs Office in the investigation, launched an intensified search, placing Shirley Dermonds photo on digital billboards throughout the area, but received no information. Shirley Dermond had been a homemaker who in her later years liked gardening, playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles. But he was also realistic. [4] Ten days later, Shirley's body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee. Russell Dermond, 88, was found beheaded in the garage at his home on Lake Oconee on May 6, 2014. Im not making excuses for the work Ive done. Follow us on -Instagram @kmh.podcastTwitter @kmhpodcastFacebook click hereTikTok @kmhpodcastThank you for listening! Credit: Photo provided by Ceciley Pangburn, Inside exclusive Lake Oconee community, another confounding mystery, Lake Oconee decapitation mystery still consumes sheriff. But you think there would be other crimes, Keith Dermond said. It weighs heavy on me, Sills said. We got the call from my brother-in law, and he was a total mess. Confident as they are in their fathers innocence, Chad Haufler s namesake admitted to unknowns that are still present.. Ive obtained some of it and I have reason to believe that when I obtain the rest of the data and sort it out that it may well lead me to a suspect or suspects in this case, Sills said. Hundreds of people were interviewed but investigators came up short. For the first time, Channel 2 Action News spoke with the Dermonds son, Brad. They had a huge retirement house overlooking a beautiful lake in Georgia. The murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond occurred in early May 2014 in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. Timeline | Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms possible, Woman convicted in husband's murder after stabbing him with butcher knife, Douglas County prosecutors say, Douglas County jury convicts woman in husband's stabbing death, Forecast | Shower and storms increase to finish the week. Its very hard to catch somebody when you dont even know their motive. Youngest son Blake is set to follow in his dads footsteps as a firefighter in Marion County. GONE COLD | A lake with no leads: Who killed the Dermonds. 2023 Cox Media Group. Subscribers and Viewers! WebRussell, 88, was found decapitated inside his garage on May 6, 2014, and two fishermen discovered 87-year-old Shirleys body 10 days later in Lake Oconee, about five miles They hope deputies are able to find their parents' killers. Almost eight years after Russell Dermond was found dead, the Putnam County sheriff said there's new evidence to consider. Potential evidence was gathered. He has passed up vacations, worked weekends and spent countless hours late at night trying to unearth a thread that leads to a suspect. Menu. Theres been a lot of brick walls in this case, Henry said. Please rate, subscribe, and share if you enjoy our work. Among locals who didnt even know the slain couple, an uneasiness set in. (FOX 5). Others figure the Dermonds fell prey to a cult. And, hes left at a loss all over againperplexed, because his parents, he said, had no dark side or secrets that would have resulted in their murders. Five years ago in 2016, one of the couples sons, Keith Dermond, who lived in Florida, told The Telegraph that he hadnt given up hope his parents killer might someday be caught. As of 2022, the murders remain unsolved and Russell's head has not been found. WebCheck out this great listen on Audible.com. The spot where her body, which had not been decapitated, was discovered is about five miles down the lake from the home the Dermonds, New Jersey natives, had retired to about a decade and a half prior. That, and unanswered questions. Russell Joseph Dermond, a WWII Navy veteran, married Shirley Wilcox on Dec. 15, 1950. The Dermonds were living an idyllic life in retirement. "That person with that little sliver of knowledge would come forward at this point lives -- (that would be) very much appreciated with our family," their son said. "The technology we are using was not in existence back in 2014. Like most days, he said, they just chatted about how their day went with each other. They also were not sure if the killers somehow got in through the gate or found their way to the home by boat. He was a hard worker and a succes Sills believes that Dermond was decapitated after he was murdered in an attempt to hide evidence, such as a gunshot wound and bullet. Forensic investigators said they found evidence as gunshot residue on his collar leading them to believe the head was taken to conceal ballistic evidence. New technology to be used in unsolved murder case. There's no way one person did this," he said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Married nearly 64 years, the couple did everything togetherincluding taking their last breaths. They spent their days playing golf, writing, going on walks, and spending time with their friends and family. His body was discovered by neighbors in the garage of the couples home. And despite some new revelations Tuesday at a bond hearing for suspect Chad Haufler, the prosecution is keeping tight-lipped about why they believe the retired firefighter intended to kill a man in the basement of the $1.9 million home purchased just one month earlier. And anytime you have that, then theres a greater chance for that information to leak, Brad Dermond said. Yet they have all, not unlike the villain whose misdeeds provoked them, faded into oblivion for the time being. At what point would you just have that sinking feeling, this is it? he said. In May 2014, Shirley and Russell Dermond were killed. WebIn 2014, a successful, retired couple living on a beautiful lake in Georgia hadnt been heard from for multiple days in a row. Its just my opinion that it would just be impossible for one person. Somebodys out there and theyre living in Hell. But he wakes up before it leads anywhere. Russ Dermond. The sheriff said he believes Russell Dermonds head was severed by some very sharp instrument.

In 2014, a successful, retired couple living on a beautiful lake in Georgia hadnt been heard from for multiple days in a row. The sheriff told Wilfon that unfortunately, leads in the case have really slowed down. The unsolved double murder on Lake Oconee is one of the most unusual and horrifying in Georgia crime annals. Someone who likes guns and knives, Sills said, recalling some contents of the FBIs report. I try to keep the blinders off, because I dont want to get tunnel vision on any one person or any one theory. Haufler had bruises on his back and elbows, according to his attorney. Oh, my God. The FBI is investigating the new data. But after some neighbors went over to their home searching for them, they were nowhere to be found. Thats why he hopes new evidence can breathe new life into the investigation. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. But he did receive one earlier this week that hes looking into. Russell and Shirley Dermond were supposed to attend a Kentucky Derby Party on May 3, 2014, at a neighbors home. The They dont even know how he was murdered, because we dont have his head, a frustrated Brad said about his fathers brutal death. The couple moved to Eatonton, Ga., and built their million-dollar Reynolds Plantation's Great Waters home in a cul-de-sac, overlooking Lake Oconee. The couple were married for 68 years and had four children and nine grandchildren. All rights reserved, Privacy Policy|Online Content Agreement, Man, 88, Beheaded, His Wife Missing From Home in Gated Georgia Community, Body confirmed to be Shirley Dermond; officials searching lake for husbands head, Phone records released in Dermond slayings on Lake Oconee, Son of slain couple in grisly Putnam case: Mystery just eats at you, New details as mystery reigns in year-old Dermond lake murders, Relentless: Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills chases a killer, Son of slain Dermond couple says Lake Oconee mystery haunts us, Vicious enemy may have killed Dermonds; Lake Oconee murders now 3 years cold. Aside from Sills, Henry knows more about the Dermond case than anyone. Last May, some of Sills news conferences about the Dermond killings were aired live on Atlanta news channels. He could have been shot, beaten or suffered some as-yet-unknown end. Everybodys got their own theory on what happened -- and a lot of them are possible., Anything that is halfway sane is a very plausible theory, Henry said, at this point.. It was a synthetic-type bag, Sills said. His wife, Shirley, was beaten to death and her body taken six miles away by boat to one of the deepest portions of Lake Oconee. The body of Shirley Dermond was found weighed down in Lake Oconee on May 16, 2014. made a gruesome discovery inside the garage, Kemp questions letting Buckhead leave Atlanta as vote looms, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, Tiffany Foster disappearance: Newnan mother missing for 2 years, Family remembers Clark Atlanta student killed in Catholic center parking lot, Fulton teacher accused of filming student using the bathroom, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Georgia elementary school principal charged with child cruelty, false imprisonment, Clayton County twin sisters make history rising the ranks in Georgia UPS facility, CAU sophomore killed in shooting near AUC Catholic Student Center, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K. Chad has not changed since he was a kid. The decapitated body of Russell Dermond (age The Dermonds eldest son, Mark, was killed while attempting to purchase crack cocaine in Atlanta. It originally had been thought by authorities that Shirley had possibly been abducted and taken from her home for ransom. Mrs. Submitted photo In At this point, maybes are about all the sheriff and his investigators have when it comes to potential culprits. Their killers have never been found. They werent gaudy, they werent pretentious. There have, since early in the probe, been developments or findings not shared publicly that, in the event of an arrest, could prove useful in convicting the killer or killers. The neighbors had hosted a Kentucky Derby party the previous Saturday, May 3. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said its a case he still thinks about every day, now eight years later. The body of Shirley Dermond was found weighed down in Lake Oconee on May 16, 2014. His wife was found days later in a nearby lake having been weighed down. Someone also reported seeing him the next day strolling the neighborhood golf course. Join our "Gone Cold" Facebook group and join our discussions about cases like these, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/gonecold/ and follow us on Twitter: @11AliveGoneCold. On May 6, 2014, neighbors of Russell and Shirley Dermond, an elderly couple who lived for 15 years inside the Reynolds Great Waters gated community, home to some of the countys wealthiest citizens, called 911 to report a gruesome discovery. Jessica Noll is a multimedia journalist, who focuses on in-depth, investigative crime/justice reports for 11Alive's digital platforms. He has been a Livingston Award finalist and won numerous Georgia Press Association and Georgia Associated Press awards. There was terror in her voice the morning the murder mystery came to light. When you can get it, TikToker slathers parents kitchen in peanut butter months after doing the bathroom, Macon man enters plea in fatal shooting that happened during domestic dispute in 2020, Young man killed in shooting last week faced murder charges in 2020 slaying of Macon teen, Macon man, 20, found fatally wounded Saturday evening by Bibb County deputies, Two charged with aggravated assault after shooting that fatally wounded Macon teen, A 14-year-old Macon boy is among 8 people indicted on murder charges in fatal Bibb shootings, Georgia man in bank lobby blasts explicit music from phone and shouts I am God. He was shot in the neck and torso 15 years ago while buying crack cocaine in downtown Atlanta the night of his 47th birthday. REAL LIFE This story was originally published May 5, 2021, 5:00 AM. Its not clear but theres been a couple where I almost feel like hes got some answers and hes trying to get me to see something, read something, that hasnt happened.. Despite that, Im confident in our case, he said. The Dermond case has all but consumed him. According to the National Institutes of Health, 80 percent of people stricken with the disease suffer from visual hallucinations that are typically realistic and detailed. Sometimes, they can be frightening or dangerous, states the NIH, citing, as an example, a person attempting to fight a perceived intruder. Channel 2 investigative Unless somebody comes forward and gives them a clue, what else do they have to go on? If you have a tip or story idea, email her at jnoll@11Alive.com or call, text at (404) 664-3634. Over a week later, Shirley's body was discovered floating in Lake Oconee, her body having been weighted down with concrete blocks. Russell, 88, was found decapitated inside of his garage on May 6, 2014. Indeed, the highlight of their life was spending time with their grandchildren, all nine of them. WebGREENE COUNTY, Ga. A man accused of killing his friend at a Lake Oconee mansion walked out of jail Monday evening, released on a technicality. He ran a chain of metro-Atlanta Hardees eateries. Sills said he has discovered no evidence indicating that the killings were carried out randomly by anyone driving through the gated area or coming up by boat to the couples million-dollar home. On Sunday, the likely anniversary of the couples death, Key planned to lead an afternoon memorial service at the church. It is not certain how Russ Dermond was killed, just that whatever caused his death was a traumatic head injury. When asked if some of the technology was the way to go at this time, since other ideas have been exhausted, Sills quickly replied. Arora suggested the two men tussled before the violence escalated. She was on the phone, gasping, breathless in the 11 seconds it took someone to answer and say, Putnam County 911., Yes, uh, I have an emergency, the woman, 68, said. I mean, just dead end after dead end.. I try to keep an open mind. Both were active members of the Oconee Community Church. Russell Joseph Russ Dermond, 88, had last been seen on May 2, the day before that years Kentucky Derby. After working in the fast food industry, including owning several Hardee's locations in Atlanta, Russell retired in 1994. We met and talked about three hours today about this case, Sills told The Union-Recorder earlier this week. Her husband was impressed with the handmade knife Dimos had given him while visiting in June. Russell's decapitated body was found on the floor of his two-car garage, lying in a small pool of blood. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. "Obviously mom and dad at that point were in their mid-to-late 80s," Brad Dermond said. He was determined not to let his money ruin him or his two sons, each of whom joined the Marines after high school. In fact, the grandchildren would go to Lake Oconee for summer camp and spend time with Shirley and Russell every year. How their killer or killers arrived is anyones guess. Sills said they re-examined aspects of the case, as well as timelines to see whether some of the technology in place today might help going forward with the investigation. Because he lacks any ties to the area, Haufler was denied bond and returned to the Greene County jail. What played out over the next month would leave more questions than answers in their usually sleepy neighborhood. It would appear that there was a struggle and dad was trying to be protective of mom, Brad surmised. The decapitated body of Russell Dermond (age 88) was found on May 6, 2014, in the garage of the house he owned on Lake Oconee. Investigators said a professional would know that would not [4] Although the perpetrator(s) and motive remain unknown, Putnam County sheriff Howard Sills has said he is convinced that multiple people were involved. She's digging for answers for the still-grieving families who long for them, and for the victims who have never found their justice. His brother-in-law put his son on the phone to relay the horrific news. The victims younger brother, Jeff Dimos, watched the proceedings Tuesday in silence, declining an interview request but offering a brief statement to the media mourning the passing of the father of six. A neighbor had invited the Dermonds to a Derby party, but they never showed up. He fit right in with Hauflers large circle of friends, joining them on a deep-sea fishing excursion 120 miles off the Atlantic coast. She described two bloodlettings Dimos was bludgeoned, sustaining multiple lacerations to his face, before Haufler, 45, allegedly shot his friend in the face. Other friends testified theyd be willing to do the same. But, I cant find anyone who had an ax to grind with them and I cant find any connections to any kind of criminal enterprise or other activity, whatsoever.. You have permission to edit this article. The FBI was called in. I am currently trying to obtain data of a highly technical nature that I believe will be fruitful. Some have suggested professional hit men as the culprits. Shirley, the sheriff says, appears to have been up and dressed for the day, while Russ, in a robe, T-shirt, boxer shorts and slippers, may have, when the killer arrived, just been into his morning coffee-drinking and reading routine. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. WebMay 7On Friday, eight years to the day that investigators began probing the grisly deaths of Shirley and Russell Dermond, the county sheriff hunting their still-at-large killer or That bag was tied to her feet.. Russell Dermonds head has never been found. Murder or self-defense? But guesses abound about what befell the Dermonds: Why Russ was left lying in his homes two-car garage with his head cut off; why his wife, Shirley, 87, was beaten to death, her corpse sunk in Lake Oconee, only to surface a week and a half later. Sills said he believes he knows the answer. Haufler will return to court in two weeks for a preliminary hearing. [5], Initially, investigators were pursuing multiple potential leads to find the perpetrator(s) and their motive for killing the Dermonds. "I don't want to create the impression that I have acquired some silver bullet, but this is yet another tool we are using to find out who perpetrated these heinous crimes.". Mauldin, the prosecutor, said the states case against him will be much clearer then. Seems like every free minute Ive got, my mind is rehashing stuff, trying to think of things we may have missed or overlooked, Henry said. Investigators said they believe the towels were put down around the decapitated body to keep the blood from seeping out under the garage door. When you start involving more and more people, it increases the chances of information being shared. Marc Dimos will be laid to rest Thursday in Ohio. Murdered, beheaded and dumped into a lake: Who wanted the Dermonds dead? And now, thats my gut feeling, and do I have any evidence to support that no. Thursday marked eight years since someone killed Shirley and Russell Dermond at their Lake Oconee home. Investigators arrived and began to comb over the scene. Weighed down by a pair of 30-pound concrete blocks, her corpse bloated and surfaced facedown in 46 feet of water.