[5], Initially, investigators were pursuing multiple potential leads to find the perpetrator(s) and their motive for killing the Dermonds. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt-force trauma having been hit two or three times. Menu. Submitted photo In 2014, Russell and Shirley Dermond were the victims of a brutal Lake Oconee murder that shocked the country. WebLake Oconee murders revisited years later September 20, 2022, 12:40 AM It was May 2014 when the bodies of Russell Dermond, 88, and his wife Shirley, 87, were found I try to keep an open mind. Unsolved murders in Putnam County, Georgia, "Decapitation mystery: Russell Dermond was World War II vet, golfer", "The murders at Lake Oconee: 4 years later, elderly couple's son opens up", "5 years later, murders of Lake Oconee couple continue to confound", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Russell_and_Shirley_Dermond&oldid=1140583082, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 19:22. Isnt it time we heard from UGAs Kirby Smart? Leads have, at times, looked promising. The new details came as the alleged killer, Chad Haufler was denied bond in Greene County, where hes been incarcerated since last Tuesday. Clearly, there was more than a person involved, Sills said. There were no intruders, and after initially telling investigators he didnt know Dimos, Haufler eventually came clean. 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. Russell Dermond, 88, was found beheaded in the garage at his home on Lake Oconee on May 6, 2014. WebA few days ago, Howard Sills, Putnam Countys plain-spoken, sometimes-philosophical sheriff, rose from bed at 5:38 a.m., bedeviled yet again by crimes as confounding and Get personalized On Dec. 15, 1950, Shirley and Russell, a Navy veteran, tied the knot. 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. It's difficult for their son to fathom their last moments alive. 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 WebCome Wednesday, a year will have passed since that emergency call, since the frantic womans husband found the decapitated body of their 88-year-old friend, Russell J. 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. A look at the Dermond's home on Lake Oconee in May 2014. It was found by fishermen. In the 12 months that followed, no reasons or explanations have emerged. It would appear that there was a struggle and dad was trying to be protective of mom, Brad surmised. WebView history The murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond occurred in early May 2014 in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. The neighbors who alerted the authorities about Russ death live about a mile from the Dermond place. He was shot in the neck and torso 15 years ago while buying crack cocaine in downtown Atlanta the night of his 47th birthday. His wife was found days later in a nearby lake having been weighed down. The Dermonds went on to move into Great Waters Reynolds at Lake Oconee, a gated community located about twelve miles northeast of Eatonton. Monica Haufler testified Dimos suffered from Lewy Body Dementia, a diagnosis that, ironically, may figure into Hauflers defense. She has been bludgeoned to death and her body had been Both her and dad, total family people. [1] When police were unable to locate Shirley inside the house, they initially suspected that she had been kidnapped. Hed do the same thing for anyone sitting in this room, said Matt Luttermoser, a friend since childhood. 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 [4] Although the perpetrator(s) and motive remain unknown, Putnam County sheriff Howard Sills has said he is convinced that multiple people were involved. Meanwhile, his 87-year-old wife, Shirley Dermond, was nowhere to be found. After growing concerned, a neighbor checked in on the Dermonds on Tuesday, May 6. The Dermonds would move to the Great Waters Reynolds subdivision, a gated community located about twelve miles northeast of Eatonton and some 70 miles southwest of Atlanta. He was a hard worker and a succes When Russells body was found in the couples garage, his finger had a severe wound, Sills said. She's digging for answers for the still-grieving families who long for them, and for the victims who have never found their justice. Channel 2s Justin Wilfon learned that there is new evidence from the FBI that is giving investigators new hope in trying to solve the case. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He said, Russell comes to him in his dreams, offering him clues about his death. Brad was at his sons baseball game when he got the worst call of his life. "The technology we are using was not in existence back in 2014. An investigators has said the Dermond home was kept so neat and clean that youd eat off the floors.. Thats why he hopes new evidence can breathe new life into the investigation. (Provided), The Dermonds adored their nine grandchildren. Despite the non-stop efforts of local law enforcement, this cruel murder case has never been solved. WebCheck out this great listen on Audible.com. 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 Howard Sills, Putnams homegrown, two-decade sheriff, knows the area as well as anyone. They had a huge retirement house overlooking a beautiful lake in Georgia. I think the head was taken and discarded to prevent evidence from being obtained from it.. 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.. Because he lacks any ties to the area, Haufler was denied bond and returned to the Greene County jail. On May 6, one neighbor went to the Dermonds' house to check on them. Jessica Noll is a multimedia journalist, who focuses on in-depth, investigative crime/justice reports for 11Alive's digital platforms. A few weeks back, a tip from a college professor in another state seemed plausible until Sills ran it down. A green canvas covering its boat slip bears the swirled script of the Reynolds Plantation logo. The notion of such an atrocity in an exclusive, golf course-ringed neighborhood struck at peoples deepest fears: If it happened there, is anywhere safe? But after some neighbors went over to their home searching for them, they were nowhere to be found. 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. New Details On The Unsolved Murder Of The Georgia Couple, Somebody knows. But a possible lead unearthed in recent months by Putnam County sheriffs investigators working in conjunction with the FBI has detectives somewhat optimistic about a chance to finally zero in on a suspect. Three days passed with no excuse, no apology, and no signs of activity at the Dermond home. WebBy Joe Kovac Jr. They have led investigators to other parts of Georgia and out of state. The Dermond case has all but consumed him. Sheriff Sills said his office received new data, some of it cell phone data. 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 Unless somebody comes forward and gives them a clue, what else do they have to go on? Their killers have never been found. Somebodys out there and theyre living in Hell. Unsolved murders and disappearances, by nature, generate their share of speculation. The guard shack lies a shade under two miles from the Dermond house. 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. Despite that, Im confident in our case, he said. After working in the fast food industry, including owning several Hardee's locations in Atlanta, Russell retired in 1994. 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. Police: UGA football staffer drunk, racing at 104 mph before fatal crash, Police: Stetson Bennett hid behind brick wall prior to arrest, UGA star Jalen Carter present at scene of fatal crash, Long before season, Georgia Tech president found football performance worrisome, Kemp, Rivian double down on $5B Georgia factory despite challenges, Georgia Power customers bills could jump again soon. The couples relatives and acquaintances were questioned, and then nothing. I dont want to create an impression that I have acquired some silver bullet, but this is yet another tool we are using trying to find out who perpetrated these heinous crimes. They also were not sure if the killers somehow got in through the gate or found their way to the home by boat. He fit right in with Hauflers large circle of friends, joining them on a deep-sea fishing excursion 120 miles off the Atlantic coast. A real estate listing touts the homes expansive views and mentions fresh paint, new carpet.. 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. Its impossible.. 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. "If there was an enemy out there, (it) would have taken place a lot sooner than that.". Thursday marked 8-years since someone killed Shirley and Russell Dermond at their Lake Oconee home. FBI evidence giving investigators new hope in Lake Oconee murder case of elderly couple Thursday marked 8-years since someone killed Shirley and Russell Dermond at their Lake Oconee home. But, he is convinced more than one person was involved. Arora suggested the two men tussled before the violence escalated. Movies. The couple were married for 68 years and had four children and nine grandchildren. (Provided), Brad Dermond looks at years' worth of memories with his parents, Shirley and Russell Dermond. Russell and Shirley Dermond (Family photos). He ran a chain of metro-Atlanta Hardees eateries. 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. It is possible that whatever the killer sought, if anything, was something the Dermonds didnt have. He has passed up vacations, worked weekends and spent countless hours late at night trying to unearth a thread that leads to a suspect. According to their obituaries, Russell loved golf, reading, walking, and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends while Shirley loved crossword puzzles, gardening and playing bridge. Investigators said a professional would know that would not work. 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. And they aint give up yet.. He recalls one tipster, though, who was convinced that the killer is an al-Qaida or Islamic State operative. A year ago, he said, I would have expected (the authorities) to have found something by now., These days there are few places the sheriff can go without someone recognizing him and asking about that case.. Now part of the challenge is that we live with unanswered questions.. No one has more questions than Dimos family. Her body was found floating by fishermen on May 16. 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. So, if somebody does know something they have the responsibility of coming forward, even if its just a shred of information. 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. Last May, some of Sills news conferences about the Dermond killings were aired live on Atlanta news channels. The neighbors who made the 911 call did so on the Dermonds cordless phone. Russell, 88, was found decapitated inside of his garage on May 6, 2014. The sheriff said he believes Russell Dermonds head was severed by some very sharp instrument. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. The elderly couple, who lived in the affluent gated community of Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Putnam County, was brutally slain sometime over the weekend of the Kentucky Derby in May 2014. They hope deputies are able to find their parents' killers. They could have come by boat., As for the number of assailants involved, Sills said, If one person did this, he spent the weekend. Others figure the Dermonds fell prey to a cult. Babys dad is charged with murder, Whats coming to Middle Georgia? WebIn 2014, a successful, retired couple living on a beautiful lake in Georgia hadnt been heard from for multiple days in a row. Seconds later, at his wifes side, she asked, Did you find both of them?. As a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, Joe worked for the Indianapolis News. That data was downloaded into a program the FBI has and they are assisting us in analyzing the data now. They were just really down-to-earth.. Sills, who has helped solve dozens of murder cases during his career, said he believes it was the intent of the killers that the body of 87-year-old Shirley Dermond would never resurface. Investigators believe that there is no connection between this crime and the murder of Mark's parents. 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. 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. Theres such a thing of Gods wrath. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The sheriff has previously called Russell's beheading the most frustrating homicide in his career, and nearly a decade later, he has not given up on the murder investigation that has shaken the neighborhood that surrounds Lake Oconee. Someone who likes guns and knives, Sills said, recalling some contents of the FBIs report. There's no way one person did this," he said. The body of Shirley Dermond was found weighed down in Lake Oconee on May 16, 2014. It was the last time she was seen alive. According to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, there were no signs of forced entry or indications of a struggle in the home. The professor claimed that a psycho love interest she had met online was responsible for killing the Dermonds. There was a problem saving your notification. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Weighed down by a pair of 30-pound concrete blocks, her corpse bloated and surfaced facedown in 46 feet of water. Someone also reported seeing him the next day strolling the neighborhood golf course. OConnell told the judge hed be willing to put up his home to cover Hauflers bond. Another neighborhood woman described the circumstances of the case as horrible., Were sad, said the woman, 74. The city had a record-high 70 homicides in 2022. It was 10 days before her fate was known. 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. For more of Georgia's cold cases, visit 11Alive's Cold Case page. He said he also believes that when Shirley Dermonds body was tossed into the lake, the killers could easily have thrown Russell Dermonds head into the lake at the same time. 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 Im the sheriff of Putnam County, Georgia., Yeah, the woman said, youre the one with that case.. They had a great relationship, said Monica Haufler, Chad Hauflers wife of 25 years. You have permission to edit this article. Among locals who didnt even know the slain couple, an uneasiness set in. On Sunday, the likely anniversary of the couples death, Key planned to lead an afternoon memorial service at the church. Russ Dermond. Investigators said a professional would know that would not Marc Dimos will be laid to rest Thursday in Ohio. 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. [I] almost couldnt even decipher what he was talking about, he said. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast. WebThe elderly Georgia couple was murdered four years ago and investigators still have no idea who is responsible. 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. Hide evidence, such as a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, Joe worked for the news. Among locals who didnt even know the slain couple, Somebody knows connection between crime! 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