Hi there friend! LTNS!
Its been so long now that my memory fails me, but did the Sheriff bring in the FBI to assist on this case?
I still continue to believe this was either random by some sadistic serial killer/s who gets off by leaving the victim in a gruesome manner (for shock and awe) or it was someone the Dermond victims knew personally who may have had a jealousy or a resentment for one or both of them. If it was a random serial killer they could have just taken Shirley with them and dropped her body in the water on the way to the landing where they were going to take the boat out. If it was done by someone they both knew personally, I think the murderer lives in the vicinity they did....maybe not the same home area, but someone from the surrounding area that knew the property, and the waterways in that area very well . Its appalling how some can really resent the success of others even to the point of having murderous hatred in their heart towards them.
I don't think it had anything to do with sending a message because for that to be done someone would have to know what the message was, and their children are just as stumped as everyone else. I honestly think if any of the children knew anything they would immediately tell LE because it is obvious that they are haunted that they don't know who killed their loving parents or why and will always be devastated by their tremendous loss. Sometimes the unknown 'why' is as hard to endure as the murders themselves.
But nowadays people can murder for the most trivial of things with no rhyme or reason to their madness. No longer are gruesome overkills done by only those familiar with the victim/s. Total strangers are doing some of the most evil overkills to those they didn't know nor never met.
I see nothing in the background of the Dermonds nor their children that makes me think this was a hit. They had long been retired, and lived there peacefully for many years and were highly well thought of and respected. I think they were very close to their children and grandchildren. Iirc, they talked to their friends glowingly, and proudly about their children, and grandchildren.
I think that is one reason the Sheriff is stumped is because he couldn't find any enemies they had nor their children had, and you know he investigated that aspect thoroughly. Iirc this investigation included going to many states and not just in Georgia. He has his reasons for saying the idea that this was a Mafia type hit is absurd. IMO
This case like so many others may never be solved. If it was someone who had no attachment to either Dermond whatsoever those are the hardest to solve as you well know. The ones that are the easiest is when the murderer/s knew them well and others knew about resentment someone may have had for them. If they had an enemy or their children did that would long be discovered by now. Even before they decided to murder them they would have made degrading remarks around others talking about their disdain or resentment they had toward the parents personally or their children.
Frankly, I don't think either one of the victims had any enemies where someone would want to murder them nor do I think their kids do either.
No hit man I have ever heard about goes to all the trouble to take one of the victims out in a deep body of water to hide them. That just makes no sense to me. Hit men don't go through all that effort, and don't hide what they have done. The point is to leave them there in plain sight for everyone to see right where they were killed and leave as quickly as they came. So the hit man theory while interesting just doesn't ring true in this particular case for me at least. They don't take exaggerated chances of being seen and it would have taken time to do what he did to Shirley with chances of being seen not only on their property but leaving if they left by boat or vehicle and then going out to reach the deep waters is more chances a hit man wouldn't take, imo. In the old days the Mafia did take the head but that is no longer necessary when everyone has cell phones and can immediately send photos of the victims they have killed.
I just wish it could be solved for their children/grandchildren's sake. I know it will forever torment them if they never find out who did this and why. From the way the children talked their parents were very sweet loving parents and grandparents and I know they must miss them terribly.
IMO
