I try to keep the blinders off, because I dont want to get tunnel vision on any one person or any one theory. Chad has not changed since he was a kid. It was on May 6, 2014, that the same neighbor walked up to the Dermonds front door, found it unlocked, walked in to investigate, and made a gruesome discovery inside the garage. Crews searched for several days with no luck. This story was originally published May 5, 2021, 5:00 AM. 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. It just always ends up with a big question mark, he said. There's no way one person did this," he said. "Im not going to say its absolutely physically impossible, but its highly unlikely.". [3] The neighbor found the door unlocked and entered the house. As the year progressed, the trail leading to those responsible grew cold. 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. "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. When asked if some of the technology was the way to go at this time, since other ideas have been exhausted, Sills quickly replied. Once I knew the backgrounds of Russell and Shirley Dermond, I have always thought that this was some sort of extortion, Sills told the newspaper. 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. Get personalized 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.. 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. This week on Killin Missin Hidden, we try to delve into what could have happened to Russell and Shirley Dermond.SHOW NOTEShttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Russell_and_Shirley_Dermond, https://www.williamsfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Russell-Dermond/#!/Obituary, https://www.williamsfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Shirley-Dermond/#!/Obituary, https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/gone-cold-the-murders-at-lake-oconee-4-years-later-elderly-couples-son-opens-up/67-549362307, https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/somebody-knows-and-there-s-more-than-one-person-involved/article_04992f3e-7198-11e9-acd7-d71d1b679da1.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Oconee, https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/years-later-murders-lake-oconee-couple-continue-confound/TozzJXuLvXXbu8f7zbWcPL/, https://medium.com/the-true-crime-times/the-macabre-murders-of-russell-and-shirley-dermond-322a46322706, https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/lake-oconee-double-murder-probe-turns-to-ny-for-clues/53946546, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/nyregion/lois-colley-murder-guilty.html, https://www.unionrecorder.com/news/new-technology-to-be-used-in-unsolved-murder-case/article_943dc312-971b-11ea-bcfa-875703a04928.html, https://www.lakeoconeenews.us/article/6-years-later. The murders of Russell Dermond, 88, and his wife, Shirley, 87, have Greene County deputies spotted Haufler, gun in hand, walking away from his home on Jones Bluff Court when they responded to the emergency call. Example video title will go here for this video. The unsolved double murder on Lake Oconee is one of the most unusual and horrifying in Georgia crime annals. 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.. For a decade and a half, from about the turn of the century on, the Dermonds had called Lake Oconee home. The Dermonds were living an idyllic life in retirement. 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. 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. For more of Georgia's cold cases, visit 11Alive's Cold Case page. His wife was found days later in a nearby lake having been weighed down. They dont even know how he was murdered, because we dont have his head, a frustrated Brad said about his fathers brutal death. Sills said Shirley Dermond was struck more than once and was dead when she was dropped in the lake. We got the call from my brother-in law, and he was a total mess. 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. It's been eight years since homicide detectives were called to investigate the murder of Russell and Shirley Dermond. Hes probably the nicest person I met in my entire life, said neighbor Mark OConnell, calling Haufler an honorable man.. Russ, once an avid golfer when he and Shirley lived near Roswell, had called it a career after more than 10 years in the restaurant business. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 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. 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. On Friday, Sills said he recently received long-awaited cell phone data. PREVIOUSLY:Inside exclusive Lake Oconee community, another confounding mystery, Related:Lake Oconee decapitation mystery still consumes sheriff. It was the last time she was seen alive. We looked back over some of the crime scene photographs and talked about a lot of things during our meeting, Sills said. They have merited days, weeks of inquiry. The two were both New Jersey natives, who relocated to Georgia in the 1980s so that Russell could manage a chain of Hardee restaurants in the Atlanta metropolitan area. He told Wilfon that even eight years later, the family remains optimistic the case will get solved. 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. After working in the fast food industry, including owning several Hardee's locations in Atlanta, Russell retired in 1994. As of 2022, the murders remain unsolved and Russell's head has not been found. [2], Russell was last seen alive on May 1, 2014, as he was running errands in Eatonton. Haufler will return to court in two weeks for a preliminary hearing. Who Killed Russell And Shirley Dermond? WebBy Joe Kovac Jr. That, and unanswered questions. Neither his head nor his wife, Shirley (age 87), could be located in the house. Both her and dad, total family people. It was 10 days before her fate was known. "Theres about three persons in my house trying to kill me," he told the dispatcher. Ten days later, a pair of fishermen found Shirley, 87, dead near a Lake Oconee dam about five miles from their Eatonton lakefront home. Now part of the challenge is that we live with unanswered questions.. Investigators do not believe the two incidents are connected. From the street or the water, even in early spring, seeing anything distressing happening inside would have been all but impossible. Each of the Dermonds surviving children were interviewed by deputies about the case. But he was also realistic. WebPUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. There is new evidence in the murder of a Putnam County couple in their 80s. 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. But after some neighbors went over to their home searching for them, they were nowhere to be found. Another neighborhood woman described the circumstances of the case as horrible., Were sad, said the woman, 74. But he did receive one earlier this week that hes looking into. 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. Other friends testified theyd be willing to do the same. Yet they have all, not unlike the villain whose misdeeds provoked them, faded into oblivion for the time being. 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. Psychopath: 5 years after grisly Lake Oconee murders, who killed the Dermonds and why? Anyone with information is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, at (706) 485-8557. A local sheriff says data provided to the FBI might help them solve the grisly double homicide of an elderly pair eight years ago. 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. WebIMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Ill just say that there was valuable evidence that we have yet to match up to anything.. The biggest roadblock is motive. (FOX 5). Web703K views, 717 likes, 10 loves, 118 comments, 309 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from HLN: Whoever killed Russell & Shirley Dermond is still out there. Married nearly 64 years, the couple did everything togetherincluding taking their last breaths. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is combing over new cell phone data connected to an 8-year-old murder mystery. Oh, my god.. WebThe Oconee County Sheriff's Office says 41-year-old Adam Robert Cabe, of Candler, turned himself in on Monday, Feb. 28, 2023, on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct Arora does not know what compelled his client to lie. Unless somebody comes forward and gives them a clue, what else do they have to go on? 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. The neighbors who alerted the authorities about Russ death live about a mile from the Dermond place. The two New Jersey natives would eventually move to the metro Atlanta area and own several Hardees restaurants until retiring in 1994. Isnt it time we heard from UGAs Kirby Smart? Accident or ambush? Such insight -- helpful as it may be down the road -- does little to narrow the field of suspects. The Dermond case has all but consumed him. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. In the video, he can be seen wearing dark glasses, khaki shorts, a green polo shirt and dark gym shoesthe same clothes police found in his bedroom when they searched the Dermonds residence after his murder. Nor any suspects. Oldest son Chad is now a sheriffs deputy in Florida. Were very, very sad. Im not exaggerating, Sills said. Over a week later, Shirley's body was discovered floating in Lake Oconee, her body having been weighted down with concrete blocks. Follow us on -Instagram @kmh.podcastTwitter @kmhpodcastFacebook click hereTikTok @kmhpodcastThank you for listening! "The technology we are using was not in existence back in 2014. In the 12 months that followed, no reasons or explanations have emerged. 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. Marc Dimos will be laid to rest Thursday in Ohio. Because gunshot residue was found on Russell's collar,[5] Sills believes he was decapitated after having been shot in the head in an attempt to prevent police from finding the bullet,[6] and that the perpetrator(s) went to the Dermonds' home intending to obtain money, despite the fact that nothing in the home was stolen.[5]. If you have a tip or story idea, email her at jnoll@11Alive.com or call, text at (404) 664-3634. They hope deputies are able to find their parents' killers. Im not making excuses for the work Ive done. Before that, he spent most of his working years as an executive for a New York-area clock company. The decapitated body of Russell Dermond (age But he wakes up before it leads anywhere. Example video title will go here for this video. The last time Russell was seen alive was on Thursday, May 1, 2014 when he ran some errands in town. [4] Although the perpetrator(s) and motive remain unknown, Putnam County sheriff Howard Sills has said he is convinced that multiple people were involved. At this point, maybes are about all the sheriff and his investigators have when it comes to potential culprits. In May 2014, Shirley and Russell Dermond were killed. 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. Almost eight years after Russell Dermond was found dead, the Putnam County sheriff said there's new evidence to consider. I think I have somebody dead. For every theory about the shooting death of an Ohio man by his friend inside the exclusive Reynolds Lake Oconee community, significant holes remain. They could have come by boat., As for the number of assailants involved, Sills said, If one person did this, he spent the weekend. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 2023 FOX Television Stations. They went on to have four children and nine grandchildren. Sills said he believes he knows the answer. Investigators believe they were searching for multiple suspects and the motive was robbery, but nothing appears to have been taken. He recalls one tipster, though, who was convinced that the killer is an al-Qaida or Islamic State operative. Its impossible.. How their killer or killers arrived is anyones guess. When Russells body was found in the couples garage, his finger had a severe wound, Sills said. Murder or self-defense? Investigators said an elderly man was found beheaded in his home. 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. 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. It is possible that whatever the killer sought, if anything, was something the Dermonds didnt have. 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. In the sheriff's last update on the case, he said there were no fingerprints, foreign DNA or eye-witnesses. Russ, who would have turned 89 last June, was seen at the Publix grocery store near his house the Thursday of Shirleys bridge outing. 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. WebHer body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee, weighed down with two 30-pound concrete blocks tied to her. [1] When police were unable to locate Shirley inside the house, they initially suspected that she had been kidnapped. (FOX 5). And they aint give up yet.. Though Sills declined to elaborate, he mentioned the sighting of a potential suspect outside the Dermond house at 147 Carolyn Drive. Dermond might have been taken and held against her will until some sort of demand was made. (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/. He was determined not to let his money ruin him or his two sons, each of whom joined the Marines after high school. The husband who found Russ slain can be heard on the recorded line in the background searching the house in vain -- apparently for Shirley. 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. 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 couples relatives and acquaintances were questioned, and then nothing. 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. Movies. These days, he relies on the FBI, Sills and the public to come forward and shed light on who did this to his family. Heres a look at new, renovated stores and restaurants, Burger King brings back fan-favorite sandwich but not for long. 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. Arora suggested the two men tussled before the violence escalated. She has been bludgeoned to death and her body had been weighted down with cinder blocks. No one has more questions than Dimos family. Among this self-described band of brothers, there is no doubt about Hauflers innocence. Haufler and Dimos were, by all accounts, close friends, even though they just met last fall, on a hunting trip. We feel that theres a very strong likelihood that it was done by more than one person. Nothing was out of placejewelry and medications were seemingly as the Dermonds had left them. There is none. 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. And since that demand could not be satisfied, both she and her husband were killed. It would appear that there was a struggle and dad was trying to be protective of mom, Brad surmised. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Mrs. But, he is convinced more than one person was involved. He could have been shot, beaten or suffered some as-yet-unknown end. Her husband was impressed with the handmade knife Dimos had given him while visiting in June. Weighed down by a pair of 30-pound concrete blocks, her corpse bloated and surfaced facedown in 46 feet of water. Russell Dermond, 88, was found beheaded in the garage at his home on Lake Oconee on May 6, 2014. They also were not sure if the killers somehow got in through the gate or found their way to the home by boat. Low 66F. The Dermonds leave behind a daughter, two sons and nine grandchildren. 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. 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