The Dermond murders: Sheriff, community still searching for answers 4 years later
Russell Dermond was found beheaded inside his waterfront home, his wife Shirley's body was recovered from Lake Oconee.
4 years later
It's been four years since the gruesome murder of two Putnam County grandparents. But as the years pass, the number of questions grow. Who committed this terrible crime, and why?
Russell Dermond was found beheaded inside his waterfront home, and his wife Shirley's body was recovered from Lake Oconee.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills says he thinks about it every day. Who would kill a well-loved couple in their late 80s?
It's also something the Dermonds' former pastor, David Key, says he's had a difficult time coping with and explaining to his congregation.
"I do know they're at peace, I've no question whatsoever of that," says Key. "They were actually sitting here in this location the Sunday prior to their murder."
Key says the Dermonds were active members of his congregation at Lake Oconee Community Church.
"They were just one of those couples that was here almost every Sunday," says Key.
That is, until May of 2014 when they were brutally murdered.
"We've yet to solve this case"
"It gives me no pleasure to think about the anniversary of this terrible crime," says Sills. "It certainly bothers me still today as much as it did 4 years ago because we've yet to solve this case."
Sills calls the case "a perfect storm," commenting that anything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Mr. Dermond was dead for at least 3 days before anyone found his body, Mrs. Dermond dead for around 10. Sills says no weapons or blood splatters left in their home, and the neighborhood surveillance cameras were broken.
PHOTOS: Sheriff, community still searching for answers in Dermond murders 4 years later
Online, people have taken to message boards, blogs, and podcasts, creating their own conspiracy theories about the couple.
"There's been no evidence at all, whatsoever, that Mr. and Mrs. Dermond had criminal ties, much less any mafia ties or things like that," says Sills. "It worries me. It's embarrassing to some extent. I mean, I realize there are literally hundreds and hundreds of unsolved murders right here in Middle Georgia. I know that. But they're not mine -- they're not my responsibility, so it bothers me very, very much."
"It's a very difficult, difficult question to answer -- why is there evil in this world?" says Key.
It's a question Sills can't answer either. "We can't find an enemy they had in the world."
So as time passes, Sills continues searching for a killer, and Pastor Key continues praying for a break in the case.
"There is this kind of lingering unknowing uncertainty that just kind of hangs within the community and within all of our lives that were impacted. They continue to be a part of our community and our conversation," says Key.
Sheriff Sills is asking anyone with information on this case to call the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at 706-485-8557.
He that callers can remain anonymous. and there is still a $25,000 reward available for information leading to an arrest.