Their killers have never been found. Im not exaggerating, Sills said. 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 Sills said he didnt know if he would describe the conversation as promising, but anything is a step forward at this point.. In fact, the grandchildren would go to Lake Oconee for summer camp and spend time with Shirley and Russell every year. A lot of what we talked about concerning technology was about what is available today that wasn't available primarily then.. They hope deputies are able to find their parents' killers. Theyll say, They never came up with nothing on that murder, did they? Ill say, Well, youre looking at they. Sills said Shirley Dermond was struck more than once and was dead when she was dropped in the lake. Forensic investigators said they found evidence as gunshot residue on his collar leading them to believe the head was taken to conceal ballistic evidence. Someone who likes guns and knives, Sills said, recalling some contents of the FBIs report. The city had a record-high 70 homicides in 2022. Haufler and Dimos were, by all accounts, close friends, even though they just met last fall, on a hunting trip. In the years since, the Putnam County Sheriffs Office would re-interview several times hoping something new would emerge. Two dozen of Hauflers friends, most of them firefighters, made the drive up from central Florida to testify on his behalf Tuesday. Ten days later, Shirley Dermonds body surfaced near where two men were fishing in a boat on the lake, just inside Greene County. 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. Marc Dimos will be laid to rest Thursday in Ohio. Her body was found floating by fishermen on May 16. Perhaps, Sills says, but the usual things a burglar might steal -- televisions, jewelry, electronics -- were apparently not taken. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. I think I have somebody dead. The new details came as the alleged killer, Chad Haufler was denied bond in Greene County, where hes been incarcerated since last Tuesday. "What we need more than anything is for someone to call us and tell us who is responsible for this savagery.". But, he is convinced more than one person was involved. And thats the information were looking for.. 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.. The murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond occurred in early May 2014 in Putnam County, Georgia, United States. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Ill just say that there was valuable evidence that we have yet to match up to anything.. On May 6, one neighbor went to the Dermonds' house to check on them. An investigators has said the Dermond home was kept so neat and clean that youd eat off the floors.. He could have been shot, beaten or suffered some as-yet-unknown end. The guard shack lies a shade under two miles from the Dermond house. Manslaughter shouldve been the highest charge they came up with.. "Theres about three persons in my house trying to kill me," he told the dispatcher. To contact writer Joe Kovac Jr., call 744-4397. WebOn May 16, two fishermen on Lake Oconee found her body near a dam, nearly five miles away from the house. Russ, who would have turned 89 last June, was seen at the Publix grocery store near his house the Thursday of Shirleys bridge outing. Gone Cold is an ongoing series, where 11Alive Journalist Jessica Noll investigates some of the most infamous and lesser-known cold cases in Georgia.
In 2014, a successful, retired couple living on a beautiful lake in Georgia hadnt been heard from for multiple days in a row. Crews searched for several days with no luck. It was a synthetic-type bag, Sills said. 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. Others figure the Dermonds fell prey to a cult. The Dermonds had said theyd attend but never showed. 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. Later that evening, before dinner, Brad spoke to his parents on the phone. Arora suggested the two men tussled before the violence escalated. As of 2022, the murders remain unsolved and Russell's head has not been found. After several years in the fast food industry, in which Russell owned several Hardees restaurants in Atlanta, he retired in 1994. Its still just as tough as day one. Theres been a lot of brick walls in this case, Henry said. 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. On May 16, two fishermen on Lake Oconee found her body near a dam. The body of Shirley, 87, was found in Lake Oconee, tied to concrete blocks. The sheriff said he believes Russell Dermonds head was severed by some very sharp instrument. A green canvas covering its boat slip bears the swirled script of the Reynolds Plantation logo. Murder or self-defense? Not long ago, Sills was at a restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when a woman walked up and asked, Are you a police officer?, Yes, maam, he replied before emphasizing where. The unsolved double murder on Lake Oconee is one of the most unusual and horrifying in Georgia crime annals. I still think they came by car, but there is no question whatsoever that Mrs. Dermonds body was, in my opinion, disposed of by boat, Sills said. There was no evidence of a struggle or forced entry and the couples home left little clues as to what happened. Hes probably the nicest person I met in my entire life, said neighbor Mark OConnell, calling Haufler an honorable man.. They dont even know how he was murdered, because we dont have his head, a frustrated Brad said about his fathers brutal death. Nor any suspects. Russell, 88, was found decapitated inside of his garage on May 6, 2014. "What we need more than anything is for someone to call us and tell us who is responsible for this savagery," he said Friday. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The biggest roadblock is motive. The infamous, unsolved case still haunts Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills. The FBI is investigating the new data. 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. (FOX 5). Thursday marked eight years since someone killed Shirley and Russell Dermond at their Lake Oconee home. His brother-in-law put his son on the phone to relay the horrific news. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. I mean, just dead end after dead end.. This was technology that was not available eight years ago.. WebThe Lake Oconee Murders (Podcast Episode 2020) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. [4] Although the perpetrator(s) and motive remain unknown, Putnam County sheriff Howard Sills has said he is convinced that multiple people were involved. 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. 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. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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. According to store and bank surveillance videos, obtained only by 11Alive, Russell transferred money from the drive-thru lane at the Lake Oconee branch of the Peoples Bank at 2:15 p.m. Russell's decapitated body was found on the floor of his two-car garage, lying in a small pool of blood. 2023 Cox Media Group. We feel that theres a very strong likelihood that it was done by more than one person. 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. 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. They had a huge retirement house overlooking a beautiful lake in Georgia. That said, it points out a daunting truth. Both were active members of the Oconee Community Church. 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. Arora does not know what compelled his client to lie. Thats why he hopes new evidence can breathe new life into the investigation. 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. [2], Russell was last seen alive on May 1, 2014, as he was running errands in Eatonton. The professor claimed that a psycho love interest she had met online was responsible for killing the Dermonds. He has passed up vacations, worked weekends and spent countless hours late at night trying to unearth a thread that leads to a suspect. Autopsies revealed that the Dermonds, whod been married for 68 years, died of head wounds, but exactly how or what they were killed with is unknown. 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]. 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.. Web5 years later, murders of Lake Oconee couple continue to confound. This story was originally published May 2, 2015, 8:37 PM. I know damn well that Im the man responsible for this. 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. 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. Indeed, the highlight of their life was spending time with their grandchildren, all nine of them. The 88-year-old Russell Dermond, a World War II veteran, is believed to have been shot in the head and was beheaded afterward. (Jessica Noll / WXIA), The Dermonds owned a house, above, on Lake Oconee. 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 After growing concerned, a neighbor checked in on the Dermonds on Tuesday, May 6. Accident or ambush? Greene County deputies spotted Haufler, gun in hand, walking away from his home on Jones Bluff Court when they responded to the emergency call. 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. Russell was a thoughtful businessman, disciplinarian and Brads favorite golfing partner, according to their son. WebHer body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee, weighed down with two 30-pound concrete blocks tied to her. 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. But upon checking the house again days later, neighbors found one of them brutally slain in the garage, and the It was also believed the head was not taken as a trophy. PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. - New evidence might reinvigorate the investigation into a chilling murder mystery that still haunts a Lake Oconee community eight years later. Were very, very sad. 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. 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. It just always ends up with a big question mark, he said. The FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit has provided Sills with a broad description of the culprit. "Im going to defend myself.. But the memories are bittersweet, because that is all that remains. Weighed down by a pair of 30-pound concrete blocks, her corpse bloated and surfaced facedown in 46 feet of water. 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. 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. Her body was found by fishermen on Lake Oconee, weighed down with two 30-pound concrete blocks tied to her. On Sunday, the likely anniversary of the couples death, Key planned to lead an afternoon memorial service at the church. Henry spent most of his years as a homicide detective at agencies in Gwinnett County. Earlier this summer, Haufler invited Dimos to his home in Ocala, Florida. Henry is 62, a slim, deep-voiced, Vidalia-born career cop. Anyone with information about this unsolved double-murder is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriffs Office at 706-485-8557. Joe Kovac Jr. covers crime and courts for The Telegraph with an eye for human-interest stories. Four years after his elderly parents' brutal murders, their son believes it's time to talk and hopefully break someone else's silence, uncovering a clue into who killed Russell and Shirley Dermond. Investigators said they believe the towels were put down around the decapitated body to keep the blood from seeping out under the garage door. The sheriff told Wilfon that unfortunately, leads in the case have really slowed down. Russell Dermond, 88, was found beheaded in the garage at his home on Lake Oconee on May 6, 2014. The headless body of 88-year-old Russell Dermond was on the floor surrounded by towels. [5], Initially, investigators were pursuing multiple potential leads to find the perpetrator(s) and their motive for killing the Dermonds. He was shot in the neck and torso 15 years ago while buying crack cocaine in downtown Atlanta the night of his 47th birthday. For every theory about the shooting death of an Ohio man by his friend inside the exclusive Reynolds Lake Oconee community, significant holes remain. And since that demand could not be satisfied, both she and her husband were killed. But what led the two men to fight in the first place? A local sheriff says data provided to the FBI might help them solve the grisly double homicide of an elderly pair eight years ago. They spent their days playing golf, writing, going on walks, and spending time with their friends and family. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. 2023 FOX Television Stations. I cant imagine this happening.. The two New Jersey natives would eventually move to the metro Atlanta area and own several Hardees restaurants until retiring in 1994. Submitted photo In 2014, Russell and Shirley Dermond were the victims of a brutal Lake Oconee murder that shocked the country. 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