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 The Dermond mystery still generates its share of sometimes-kooky tips, which investigators dutifully check out. Henry is 62, a slim, deep-voiced, Vidalia-born career cop. Search continues for person who decapitated elderly man at Lake Oconee home Richard Elliot reports. You have permission to edit this article. The sheriff told Wilfon that unfortunately, leads in the case have really slowed down. 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. WebBy Joe Kovac Jr. Other friends testified theyd be willing to do the same. They spent their days playing golf, writing, going on walks, and spending time with their friends and family. Youngest son Blake is set to follow in his dads footsteps as a firefighter in Marion County. Brad, who still talks to his golfing buddy nearly every day, has dreams about his dad as well. There's no way one person did this," he said. Web5 years later, murders of Lake Oconee couple continue to confound. He could have been shot, beaten or suffered some as-yet-unknown end. For more of Georgia's cold cases, visit 11Alive's Cold Case page. The new details came as the alleged killer, Chad Haufler was denied bond in Greene County, where hes been incarcerated since last Tuesday. Im the sheriff of Putnam County, Georgia., Yeah, the woman said, youre the one with that case.. There have been 11 violent homicides in Macon this year, including five in February, Heres how to qualify for medical marijuana in Georgia, Pregnant woman shot in the head, Georgia cops say. [2], Russell was last seen alive on May 1, 2014, as he was running errands in Eatonton. Hauflers attorney, Manny Arora, has been equally circumspect, floating possible explanations for the fatal shooting of 51-year-old Marc Dimos but not yet settling on a fixed defense. He has passed up vacations, worked weekends and spent countless hours late at night trying to unearth a thread that leads to a suspect. Before that, he spent most of his working years as an executive for a New York-area clock company. WebPUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. There is new evidence in the murder of a Putnam County couple in their 80s. Brad Dermond, center, with his parents at his wedding. Russell and Shirley Dermond (Family photos). Investigators believe they were searching for multiple suspects and the motive was robbery, but nothing appears to have been taken. 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. (FOX 5). On Sunday, the likely anniversary of the couples death, Key planned to lead an afternoon memorial service at the church. But the thing is, a lot of the times serial killers are very hard to catch. On a recent afternoon, Putnam sheriffs Detective Dave Henry was in Sills office. He became the face of an unsolved crime that fascinated viewers and newspaper readers across the region. Theyll say, They never came up with nothing on that murder, did they? Ill say, Well, youre looking at they. Show Going West: True Crime, Ep The Lake Oconee Murders // 121 - 18 May 2021. The unsolved double murder on Lake Oconee is one of the most unusual and horrifying in Georgia crime annals. Henry spent most of his years as a homicide detective at agencies in Gwinnett County. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt-force trauma having been hit two or three times. 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. Mrs. Ten days later, a pair of fishermen found Shirley, 87, dead near a Lake Oconee dam about five miles from their Eatonton lakefront home. Unsolved murders and disappearances, by nature, generate their share of speculation. Murder or self-defense? But four years after their brutal murders, Russell and Shirley Dermond's son believes its time to talk and hopefully break someone elses silence, uncovering a clue into who killed his parents in rural Putnam County, Ga. READ MORE: Putnam County murder mystery: Why the sheriff won't ask the GBI for help. 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. 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. For a decade and a half, from about the turn of the century on, the Dermonds had called Lake Oconee home. Sills did not offer other details about the cell phone data, or if it belonged to anyone from the small, rural community where the couple was found dead. They were lovely people from all I know. Meanwhile, his 87-year-old wife, Shirley Dermond, was nowhere to be found. And since that demand could not be satisfied, both she and her husband were killed. In recent months, the eldest of the Dermonds surviving three children, Keith Dermond, who lives in Florida, recalled how his parents moved to the lake in the late 1990s to get away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta., They made some great friends and loved when family visited, Keith Dermond, 56, said in February, adding that he hadnt heard from the sheriff or anyone in months.. WebNew technology to be used in unsolved murder case Billy Hobbs May 16, 2020 Comments Submitted photo In 2014, Russell and Shirley Dermond were the victims of a brutal Lake Heres a look at new, renovated stores and restaurants, Burger King brings back fan-favorite sandwich but not for long. It's difficult for their son to fathom their last moments alive. Russell and Shirley Dermond were last seen alive on May 1, 2014, while running errands. New Details On The Unsolved Murder Of The Georgia Couple, Somebody knows. Joe Kovac Jr. covers crime and courts for The Telegraph with an eye for human-interest stories. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Within hours of the May 6, 2014, discovery there in the Great Waters subdivision, a dozen miles northeast of downtown Eatonton, investigators concluded that Dermonds wife of 68 years had disappeared. Anyone with information is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, at (706) 485-8557. 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. Each also voluntarily took polygraph tests and passed. I would ride my bicycle from here (Eatonton) to McIntyre (in Wilkinson County) backward with thumbtacks in my butt if I thought it would solve this case, Sills said. [They were] just the most wonderful people youd ever want to meet, Brad gushed. It was the last time she was seen alive. The body of Shirley Dermond was found weighed down in Lake Oconee on May 16, 2014. David W. Key Sr. of Lake Oconee Community Church, where the Dermonds were members, says shock and despair linger. PREVIOUSLY:Inside exclusive Lake Oconee community, another confounding mystery, Related:Lake Oconee decapitation mystery still consumes sheriff. Their killer, a stranger whod abducted them at a park south of Atlanta, was sentenced to life without parole. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But theres no way for us to search all of Lake Oconee to try to find the missing head. His message, he said, would touch on coming to grips with something that should not have happened., Thats what makes it even a stranger story. Their killers have never been found. 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. This story was originally published May 5, 2021, 5:00 AM. A look at the Dermond's home on Lake Oconee in May 2014. When asked if some of the technology was the way to go at this time, since other ideas have been exhausted, Sills quickly replied. Sills narrowed the timeframe of Russells murder to somewhere between 4:30 p.m., on May 1when the mail was deliveredto 6 p.m., on May 4, when the couple failed to show up for the party. The Heres why, Study shows colorectal cancer showing up more in younger people, Atlanta neighbors want to reclaim and revitalize the Joyland neighborhood, Kemp administration deals blow to Buckhead cityhood push, Georgia Power proposes steep rate increase for customers - How it affects what you pay. Arora does not know what compelled his client to lie. WebView history The murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond occurred in early May 2014 in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. And now, thats my gut feeling, and do I have any evidence to support that no.
In 2014, a successful, retired couple living on a beautiful lake in Georgia hadnt been heard from for multiple days in a row. Shirley Dermond had been a homemaker who in her later years liked gardening, playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles. But after some neighbors went over to their home searching for them, they were nowhere to be found. They have the responsibility of coming forward., We may not like how long it takes, but it will be solved, Brad said with optimism. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. They could have come by boat., As for the number of assailants involved, Sills said, If one person did this, he spent the weekend. I got some data just last week, Sills said. A $45,000 reward was offered. Its two years later. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. She described two bloodlettings Dimos was bludgeoned, sustaining multiple lacerations to his face, before Haufler, 45, allegedly shot his friend in the face. They werent gaudy, they werent pretentious. Dimos also confided in his new friend about his poor health. And anytime you have that, then theres a greater chance for that information to leak, Brad Dermond said. 2023 FOX Television Stations. But you think there would be other crimes, Keith Dermond said. [3] The neighbor found the door unlocked and entered the house. The decapitated body of Russell Dermond (age Police discovered Russells headless body in the garage in between the couples two cars. Sills talked with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday about the case and how technology that wasnt yet developed six years ago might be useful to authorities in solving the case. "Im going to defend myself.. Still others wonder if the slayings were a plot by religious zealots to embarrass the sheriff for sending Nuwaubian leader Dwight York to federal prison for life in a heralded case from a decade ago. We used some of the most advanced underwater electronic equipment that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division has in an attempt to find Shirley Dermonds body, as well as the head of her husband, Sills said. When asked how residents were coping in the year since the killings, a 77-year-old woman who lives a few doors down from the Dermond house told a reporter that she didnt want to discuss the matter. Her body was found floating by fishermen on May 16. Investigators have since scoured the couples financial and other records for clues to anything that might put them on the killers trail, but so far nothing has helped. She even emailed Sills hundreds of pages of notes supporting her claim, which Sills debunked. He was decapitated after he died, likely on May 3 or the day before. No one has more questions than Dimos family. She has been bludgeoned to death and her body had been Heres a list of the homicides in Macon in 2023. Unless somebody comes forward and gives them a clue, what else do they have to go on? They had a huge retirement house overlooking a beautiful lake in Georgia. 2023 Cox Media Group. How their killer or killers arrived is anyones guess. 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. 5 years later, murders of Lake Oconee couple continue to confound On May 6, 2014, the body of Russell Dermond, 88, was found inside the garage of the couple? They dont know the case theyre making, the defense lawyer said. 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. If you have a tip or story idea, email her at jnoll@11Alive.com or call, text at (404) 664-3634. Russell and Shirley Dermond were supposed to attend a Kentucky Derby Party on May 3, 2014, at a neighbors home. Along with Shirley, he spoke with his son Brad over the phone later that day. Despite what the listing describes as large windows found in every room, the house sits in a tree-shrouded lot. They had a huge retirement house overlooking a beautiful lake in Georgia. The neighbors had hosted a Kentucky Derby party the previous Saturday, May 3. (Jessica Noll / WXIA), 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, Putnam County murder mystery: Why the sheriff won't ask the GBI for help, Sheriff: Beheading is most frustrating homicide in his career, Justice for Love: A mothers relentless pursuit to find her daughters killer, https://www.facebook.com/groups/gonecold/. For the first time, Channel 2 Action News spoke with the Dermonds son, Brad. It is not certain how Russ Dermond was killed, just that whatever caused his death was a traumatic head injury. Haufler had bruises on his back and elbows, according to his attorney. [1][3] In 2000, their oldest son Mark was murdered in Atlanta while attempting to purchase crack cocaine. Investigators said an elderly man was found beheaded in his home. The neighbors who alerted the authorities about Russ death live about a mile from the Dermond place. Investigators said a professional would know that would not On Dec. 15, 1950, Shirley and Russell, a Navy veteran, tied the knot. This story was originally published May 2, 2015, 8:37 PM. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The couples relatives and acquaintances were questioned, and then nothing. Hundreds of people were interviewed but investigators came up short. It just always ends up with a big question mark, he said. Others figure the Dermonds fell prey to a cult. Her body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee, weighed down with two 30-pound concrete blocks tied to her. Sills said he could not elaborate on what was discussed with FBI agents from the Macon field office, however. Its the horror that they must have gone through, from the beginning until it was finished thats whats difficult to overcome.. WebEATONTON, Ga. A cold case is warming up as the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said there is new evidence in their search for who murdered an elderly couple, then dumped Forensic investigators said they found evidence as gunshot residue on his collar leading them to believe the head was taken to conceal ballistic evidence. In May, 2014 an elderly couple, Russell and Shirley Dermond, were murdered at their home in a gated community on Lake Oconee in central Georgia. Murdered, beheaded and dumped into a lake: Who wanted the Dermonds dead? It is possible that whatever the killer sought, if anything, was something the Dermonds didnt have. Looking at all the couples, they would have been the last you would have picked out, Key said. Sheriff Howard Sills, who is personally spearheading the probe, earlier this week declined to publicly divulge what evidentiary avenue was being pursued, but told The Telegraph that the effort could prove promising. So, if somebody does know something they have the responsibility of coming forward, even if its just a shred of information. Russ, who would have turned 89 last June, was seen at the Publix grocery store near his house the Thursday of Shirleys bridge outing. 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. Oh, my god.. Search continues for person who decapitated elderly man at Lake Oconee home, WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta facebook feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta twitter feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta instagram feed(Opens a new window), WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta youtube feed(Opens a new window), UGA star charged in connection to crash that killed teammate, staffer, UGA football staffer had blood alcohol level twice the legal limit before crash that killed 2, 9 elementary school students sickened by unknown substance at metro Atlanta school, 16-year-old reported missing found dead at Gwinnett home, police say, TIMELINE: Investigation into crash that killed UGA football player, recruiting staff member. The concern of it may have diminished in the public, because time, of course, erodes all things., I travel all over the United States of America and the first thing (people) ask me no matter where I go is about the Dermond killings, he said.
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