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Like most days, he said, they just chatted about how their day went with each other. 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. WebLake Oconee Stock Photos - Free & Royalty-Free Stock Photos from Dreamstime 63 Lake Oconee Stock Photos, Images & Pictures Most relevant Best selling Latest uploads Within Results People Pricing License Media Properties More Safe Search lake allatoona lake lake sinclair virginia landscape ohio manufacturer oconee lake odell athens georgia In May 2014, Shirley and Russell Dermond were killed. The neighbors who made the 911 call did so on the Dermonds cordless phone. 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. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. It was 10 days before her fate was known. They dont even know how he was murdered, because we dont have his head, a frustrated Brad said about his fathers brutal death. For the first time, Channel 2 Action News spoke with the Dermonds son, Brad. 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. Ten days later, Shirley Dermonds body surfaced near where two men were fishing in a boat on the lake, just inside Greene County. From the street or the water, even in early spring, seeing anything distressing happening inside would have been all but impossible. 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. Shirleys phone and purse were still in the house. Murder or self-defense? That, and unanswered questions. WebIMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. The two-story Dermond home, a four-bedroom, four-bath, 3,500-square-footer in a wooded cul-de-sac overlooking a cove, is now on the market. 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. They have led investigators to other parts of Georgia and out of state. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are assisting by analyzing the new evidence, the sheriff said. 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. The body of Shirley, 87, was found in Lake Oconee, tied to concrete blocks. You have permission to edit this article. Come 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. PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. - New evidence might reinvigorate the investigation into a chilling murder mystery that still haunts a Lake Oconee community eight years later. On May 6, one neighbor went to the Dermonds' house to check on them. Follow us on -Instagram @kmh.podcastTwitter @kmhpodcastFacebook click hereTikTok @kmhpodcastThank you for listening! An investigators has said the Dermond home was kept so neat and clean that youd eat off the floors.. 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. Manslaughter shouldve been the highest charge they came up with.. Both were very religious, and Shirley was an avid writer, artist and crossword puzzle enthusiast. But he was also realistic. He recalls one tipster, though, who was convinced that the killer is an al-Qaida or Islamic State operative. 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. When you start involving more and more people, it increases the chances of information being shared. Because he lacks any ties to the area, Haufler was denied bond and returned to the Greene County jail. Indeed, the highlight of their life was spending time with their grandchildren, all nine of them. Both her and dad, total family people. Other friends testified theyd be willing to do the same. Stolen concrete truck leads to 60-mile chase along I-20, Former Wilco jail administrator indicted by grand jury, Employee helps makes cables used in his own rob, Owners passion for fashion fuels Js Fashion & More, CHILDRE, Phillip Ernest "Erny" Sep 16, 1961 - Jan 29, 2023, Authorities investigating attempted hijacking in Putnam County, 'BE A LIGHT': Annual fundraiser honors life of dedicated nurse by paying it forward, Trojan baseball looking for another long season, Winner comes forward to claim $1.35B Mega Millions jackpot, Shoplifting case leads to womans arrest on drug charge. 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. Oh, my God. "What we need more than anything is for someone to call us and tell us who is responsible for this savagery.". They spent their days playing golf, writing, going on walks, and spending time with their friends and family. 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 have the responsibility of coming forward., We may not like how long it takes, but it will be solved, Brad said with optimism. 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. Investigators said an elderly man was found beheaded in his home. So, if somebody does know something they have the responsibility of coming forward, even if its just a shred of information. He was shot in the neck and torso 15 years ago while buying crack cocaine in downtown Atlanta the night of his 47th birthday. Before joining Sills staff in 2012, he helped train police investigators in Iraq. PREVIOUSLY:Inside exclusive Lake Oconee community, another confounding mystery, Related:Lake Oconee decapitation mystery still consumes sheriff. At what point would you just have that sinking feeling, this is it? he said. Mauldin, the prosecutor, said the states case against him will be much clearer then. Psychopath: 5 years after grisly Lake Oconee murders, who killed the Dermonds and why? As of 2022, the murders remain unsolved and Russell's head has not been found. They went on to have four children and nine grandchildren. Despite that, Im confident in our case, he said. 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. As the year progressed, the trail leading to those responsible grew cold. 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. Haufler will return to court in two weeks for a preliminary hearing. "Theres about three persons in my house trying to kill me," he told the dispatcher. The Dermonds leave behind a daughter, two sons and nine grandchildren. WebThe unsolved murders of Shirley and Russell Dermond remain an ongoing and active investigation. Sills said he didnt know if he would describe the conversation as promising, but anything is a step forward at this point.. Murdered, beheaded and dumped into a lake: Who wanted the Dermonds dead? His brother-in-law put his son on the phone to relay the horrific news. Weighed down by a pair of 30-pound concrete blocks, her corpse bloated and surfaced facedown in 46 feet of water. Earlier this summer, Haufler invited Dimos to his home in Ocala, Florida. Haufler had bruises on his back and elbows, according to his attorney. Subscribers and Viewers! Her husband was impressed with the handmade knife Dimos had given him while visiting in June. Her body was anchored by two 30-pound cinder blocks that were placed into a nylon bag and then thrown into the lake, according to Sills. 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. Its security cameras had been knocked out by a storm in the weeks before the killings and were of no use to the authorities. Chad has not changed since he was a kid. In fact, the grandchildren would go to Lake Oconee for summer camp and spend time with Shirley and Russell every year. Joe Kovac Jr. covers crime and courts for The Telegraph with an eye for human-interest stories. I got some data just last week, Sills said. How their killer or killers arrived is anyones guess. The murders of Russell Dermond, 88, and his wife, Shirley, 87, have 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. Their favorite time was to spend time with the family and grandkids, Brad said about his parents, who were both only children, themselves. "It's been eight years, I'm sorry," he said. 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. Married nearly 64 years, the couple did everything togetherincluding taking their last breaths. Babys dad is charged with murder, Whats coming to Middle Georgia? 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. [4] Although the perpetrator(s) and motive remain unknown, Putnam County sheriff Howard Sills has said he is convinced that multiple people were involved. Gone Cold is an ongoing series, where 11Alive Journalist Jessica Noll investigates some of the most infamous and lesser-known cold cases in Georgia. That data was downloaded into a program the FBI has and they are assisting us in analyzing the data now. The Dermond mystery still generates its share of sometimes-kooky tips, which investigators dutifully check out. They hope deputies are able to find their parents' killers. But Brad is confident in Sills ability to solve the only two homicides of his career that have gone cold. WebThe elderly Georgia couple was murdered four years ago and investigators still have no idea who is responsible. 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 By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. It was the last time she was seen alive. 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. Russell and Shirley Dermond were last seen alive on May 1, 2014, while running errands. 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. The couple were married for 68 years and had four children and nine grandchildren. He was determined not to let his money ruin him or his two sons, each of whom joined the Marines after high school. Russell was a thoughtful businessman, disciplinarian and Brads favorite golfing partner, according to their son. We met and talked about three hours today about this case, Sills told The Union-Recorder earlier this week. Hes probably the nicest person I met in my entire life, said neighbor Mark OConnell, calling Haufler an honorable man.. Shirley Dermond had been a homemaker who in her later years liked gardening, playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles. (Jessica Noll / WXIA), Held up by push pins, the Dermonds' unsolved murder poster is faded, but remains on the Putnam County Sheriff's bulletin board as soon as you walk inside. 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. Its still just as tough as day one. His killer remains in prison, and people on the slayings periphery -- relatives, friends and others -- appear to have played no role in his parents deaths. 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. Investigators believe they were searching for multiple suspects and the motive was robbery, but nothing appears to have been taken. So the neighbors, a few days later, went to check on them. Her body was found floating by fishermen on May 16. Movies. 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. Brad, who still talks to his golfing buddy nearly every day, has dreams about his dad as well. Such insight -- helpful as it may be down the road -- does little to narrow the field of suspects. Example video title will go here for this video. His body was discovered by neighbors in the garage of the couples home. He joined the Telegraph in 1991 after graduating from the University of Georgia. Jessica Noll is a multimedia journalist, who focuses on in-depth, investigative crime/justice reports for 11Alive's digital platforms. A $45,000 reward was offered. Submitted photo In 2014, Russell and Shirley Dermond were the victims of a brutal Lake Oconee murder that shocked the country. Investigators believe that there is no connection between this crime and the murder of Mark's parents. A man, the sheriff said, well just leave it at that, was seen on the property during the period that the murders could have occurred., Also, he said recently, Im considering some new forensic testing of evidence we have.. "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. "Im not going to say its absolutely physically impossible, but its highly unlikely.". A look at the Dermond's home on Lake Oconee in May 2014. It originally had been thought by authorities that Shirley had possibly been abducted and taken from her home for ransom. Two dozen of Hauflers friends, most of them firefighters, made the drive up from central Florida to testify on his behalf Tuesday. Perhaps, Sills says, but the usual things a burglar might steal -- televisions, jewelry, electronics -- were apparently not taken. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head. After several years in the fast food industry, in which Russell owned several Hardees restaurants in Atlanta, he retired in 1994. Both were active members of the Oconee Community Church. Russ Dermond. Confident as they are in their fathers innocence, Chad Haufler s namesake admitted to unknowns that are still present.. The neighbors, the woman and her 75-year-old husband, were no doubt the first people in the Dermond home after a crime that has puzzled and frustrated investigators from the outset. Thats why he hopes new evidence can breathe new life into the investigation. It just always ends up with a big question mark, he said. Howard Sills, Putnams homegrown, two-decade sheriff, knows the area as well as anyone. 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. Their front door was unlocked. Police discovered Russells headless body in the garage in between the couples two cars. 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. Aside from Sills, Henry knows more about the Dermond case than anyone. Channel 2 investigative This story was originally published May 5, 2021, 5:00 AM. Deputies followed hundreds of leads and possible motives, but they didnt lead anywhere conclusive. Among locals who didnt even know the slain couple, an uneasiness set in. His wife was found days later in a nearby lake having been weighed down. At this point, maybes are about all the sheriff and his investigators have when it comes to potential culprits. Menu. Sills had not until earlier this year wanted it known that the blocks were what Shirley Dermonds killer had apparently used to anchor her to the lake floor.
