GA GA - Shirley, 87, & Russell Dermond, 88, Putnam Co, 2 May 2014 - #13

  • #1,061
Evidently, Sills has always wanted to be the main spokesman, which is fine with the FBI. They are very careful not to "take over" investigations from local police.

I don't believe Sills has held much back, IMO he has consistently released most of the confirmed details.

JMO
Still the only updates are on the anniversary of the murders and scant revelations. You would think a crime with this much going on would garner his full attention and that of his deputies. Does this look like an active investigation to anyone? Not to me.

I think for whatever reason the Sheriff wants this to go away. I think he is haunted by the Nuwabian Cult.

This more recent shooting activity by the sheriff warrants consideration.

Door-to-door solicitors arrested at sheriff’s house
 
  • #1,062
Still the only updates are on the anniversary of the murders and scant revelations. You would think a crime with this much going on would garner his full attention and that of his deputies. Does this look like an active investigation to anyone? Not to me.

I think for whatever reason the Sheriff wants this to go away. I think he is haunted by the Nuwabian Cult.

This more recent shooting activity by the sheriff warrants consideration.

Door-to-door solicitors arrested at sheriff’s house

Even if it’s the Boy Scouts, for the good of everybody Sills should welcome any help available to settle this.
 
  • #1,063
Still the only updates are on the anniversary of the murders and scant revelations. You would think a crime with this much going on would garner his full attention and that of his deputies. Does this look like an active investigation to anyone? Not to me.

I think for whatever reason the Sheriff wants this to go away. I think he is haunted by the Nuwabian Cult.

This more recent shooting activity by the sheriff warrants consideration.

Door-to-door solicitors arrested at sheriff’s house
What does the article you shared (eta: men attempting to sell pine straw out of their truck) have to do with the nuwaubian cult???
 
  • #1,064
Still the only updates are on the anniversary of the murders and scant revelations. You would think a crime with this much going on would garner his full attention and that of his deputies. Does this look like an active investigation to anyone? Not to me.

I think for whatever reason the Sheriff wants this to go away. I think he is haunted by the Nuwabian Cult.

This more recent shooting activity by the sheriff warrants consideration.

Door-to-door solicitors arrested at sheriff’s house
I don't necessarily think that's a fair statement but it could just be imo, Sills has submitted DNA from the crime scene to othram in hopes to get a sample good enough to submit to codis... That was in the last couple years. And they have continued to offer a reward.
ETA: forgive me for saying detective sills... He's clearly sheriff!
 
  • #1,065
Would you please provide the source you are referencing, as well? too would love to read your information about the autopsy for myself! Tia!!

Looking forward to seeing this autopsy report.

Are you?

Then go back a page and click the link I already provided.
 
  • #1,066
The autopsy explicitly states: ‘No soot or gunpowder was noted by visual inspection of the body.’ That’s what I’m basing my view on. Media reports quoting Sills about residue on the shirt don’t contradict this — residue on clothing is not the same as evidence of a gunshot wound to the head.

At the end of the day, we’re all free to draw our own conclusions. I’m basing mine on the autopsy report, as well as the fact Shirley was killed by blunt force to the head, which makes a gunshot to Russell less consistent. In any case, this isn't a point that I see much use in debating further.

I'm interested in where the killer(s) may have entered the water.
 
  • #1,067
They have also said that the typical blood splatter you would expect with bft on Russell's clothing is not present. Its pretty much accepted as canon that he was shot in the head. Not sure where you are getting this from, its not consistent with this case.
What do you mean by ‘the typical blood spatter you would expect with blunt force trauma’? Head trauma doesn’t always create outward spray. It depends on the weapon, force, and location of impact. A crushing blow can cause catastrophic internal injury without producing the kind of spatter people imagine. So the absence of visible spatter on his clothing or on the garage wall doesn’t rule that out.

Do you have a source for where this was stated as ‘canon’?”
 
  • #1,068
What do you mean by ‘the typical blood spatter you would expect with blunt force trauma’? Head trauma doesn’t always create outward spray. It depends on the weapon, force, and location of impact. A crushing blow can cause catastrophic internal injury without producing the kind of spatter people imagine. So the absence of visible spatter on his clothing or on the garage wall doesn’t rule that out.

Do you have a source for where this was stated as ‘canon’?”
Good lord. You really don't follow this case at all do you? This is old news. Stop wasting everyone's time with rubbish.

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  • #1,069
Are you?

Then go back a page and click the link I already provided.
As fun and easy as it might be for you or anyone else to make things personal, chill.

I've provided you links that have been provided pages back. Please exhibit understanding and respect that has been easily offered to you. Things get lost in these threads and no ego should be fluffed by producing information they've provided a dozen times. Respectfully.

ETA: it's strange Mrs. Dermonds clothing is listed and not Mr. Dermonds. I can see how you might reach your conclusion, but even if his personal affects aren't listed on the autopsy with the results of gsr, doesn't mean it never happened. I can't imagine a single reason sills would say it existed if it didn't.
 
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  • #1,070
Good lord. You really don't follow this case at all do you? This is old news. Stop wasting everyone's time with rubbish.

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Sorry, but did you try to post a smoking gun video? The link isn't working for me.

I'll continue to post my opinions if I want to, as I've been doing here for the past seventeen years.

If you have a problem with that then keep scrolling. Or you're wasting your own time.
 
  • #1,071
Sorry, but did you try to post a smoking gun video? The link isn't working for me.

I'll continue to post my opinions if I want to, as I've been doing here for the past seventeen years.

If you have a problem with that then keep scrolling. Or you're wasting your own time.
That's great advice. Follow it.
 
  • #1,072
As fun and easy as it might be for you or anyone else to make things personal, chill.

I've provided you links that have been provided pages back. Please exhibit understanding and respect that has been easily offered to you. Things get lost in these threads and no ego should be fluffed by producing information they've provided a dozen times. Respectfully you made things personal. I wasn't even quoting anyone, I just posted details from the autopsy. not lost in the thread, it's literally a page or so bayou still came at me twice in like. They're literally a page back.
Huh? I don't even know you and I didn't quote you or make anything personal.

You quoted me twice since I posted that last night, requesting (a bit aggressively) that I provide you with a link.

The link is quite literally a page back. It isn't lost in the mix. It's quite alright to disagree, but the rules at Websleuths require sources be provided when stating a fact.

Hence me asking you.
 
  • #1,073
That's great advice. Follow it.
Please don't take me not agreeing with your theory as personal. You seem upset, and I'm not sure why. In any case, I don't want to continue this back and forth. I'm interested in discussing the case. Thank you for understanding.
 
  • #1,074
Huh? I don't even know you and I didn't quote you or make anything personal.

You quoted me twice since I posted that last night, requesting (a bit aggressively) that I provide you with a link.

The link is quite literally a page back. It isn't lost in the mix. It's quite alright to disagree, but the rules at Websleuths require sources be provided when stating a fact.

Hence me asking you.
I apologize for you feeling I was addressing for asking twice for link you provided already. I provided the links your requested up thread, I surely didn't mean any aggressiveness, but I see what you mean and I appreciate you. Google provided the links I needed anyway. So no sweat. Thank you
 
  • #1,075
I apologize for you feeling I was addressing for asking twice for link you provided already. I provided the links your requested up thread, I surely didn't mean any aggressiveness, but I see what you mean and I appreciate you. Google provided the links I needed anyway. So no sweat. Thank you.

Anyway. Back to the hopefully civil conversation... The autopsy of Mr. Dermond for not have his clothing listed, or am I missing that too? But Mrs dermonds does?
Thank you, and no worries, I didn’t mean to come across as defensive either. I just like to see sources so I can verify things for myself; it’s the English teacher in me.

To answer your question, here's what the autopsy says about his clothing: "The body is received clad in a red short-sleeve shirt and a pair of striped shorts. Both items appeared to be free of defect."

Maybe there was later lab testing on his clothing (separate from the body exam), or maybe Sills was intentionally trying to misdirect or hold back information as an investigative strategy. I don’t know. But he also says in that article that they can't determine (for certain) if the gunpowder was from Russell being shot.

For the gun theory to hold, we’d have to assume: that the bullet lodged in Russell's skull, that there was no visible brain matter or much blood evidence at the scene, and that the medical examiner and investigators initially missed the gunpowder residue. That’s a lot of assumptions stacked on top of one other just to explain why someone would go to the extreme of decapitation only to remove a bullet. I'm not saying that its impossible. JMO.

The killers were clearly calculated; they brought weights, mesh, and rope to sink Shirley, and (presumably) the blunt object used on her. If they were that careful, why introduce a firearm that could create problems severe enough that they felt their only option was to remove Russell's head? If the argument is they feared the bullets would be traced, why bring the gun in the first place? Why not use an untraceable one, or just kill him how they killed Shirley?

Just some of my thoughts, I'm open to hearing alternate theories. Maybe there's something that I'm missing, but I just don't think the decapitation was to remove a bullet. Of course, it's all JMO
 
  • #1,076
Also, not sure about detective sills looking like Mr. Dermond, the detective looks more like the actor Walter Brimley to me. I think that's what the detective is going for too.


It also seems like SS always has his mustache, from what I can tell? And doesn’t appear that RD was in the habit of having one. That’s a noticeable difference between men.

I don’t think RD was confused for SS and SS was the target. I mean those situations do happen but if you’re really after someone you KNOW them: their face, their car, where they live, their spouse if they have one etc. Unless you’re strung out or something, you wouldn’t mix up the two men. And if you’re a hitman I imagine it’s along the same lines; you want to be dang sure you get the right person or you’re in deep in poo so you need to be given all that info and make sure you know it

MOO
 
  • #1,077
August 30, 2025
1756906333260.webp

''In 2024, investigators got a potential break when testing on Russell’s clothing revealed an unknown DNA profile. The sample was analyzed by private labs in Texas and Utah, and if it doesn’t match anyone already in CODIS — the national DNA database used by law enforcement — investigators say they may turn to advanced genealogical techniques to try to identify the source.

In early 2025, Atlanta News First reported that Sheriff Howard Sills was awaiting further lab results.
Investigators have re-mined phone records and cell-tower data over the years, and the FBI has publicized a tip line. The reward stands at $25,000 — $20,000 from the FBI and $5,000 from Putnam County — as reported by 11Alive and reflected in FBI materials.''
 
  • #1,078
I'm thinking he introduced a firearm because Russell tried to escape. And then he had to shoot him as he was running away. Otherwise you're right, there would be no reason to use a firearm which would make a very loud sound.
 
  • #1,079
August 30, 2025
View attachment 612306
''In 2024, investigators got a potential break when testing on Russell’s clothing revealed an unknown DNA profile. The sample was analyzed by private labs in Texas and Utah, and if it doesn’t match anyone already in CODIS — the national DNA database used by law enforcement — investigators say they may turn to advanced genealogical techniques to try to identify the source.

In early 2025, Atlanta News First reported that Sheriff Howard Sills was awaiting further lab results.
Investigators have re-mined phone records and cell-tower data over the years, and the FBI has publicized a tip line. The reward stands at $25,000 — $20,000 from the FBI and $5,000 from Putnam County — as reported by 11Alive and reflected in FBI materials.''
Interesting that they're raising the reward again. I don't think that sounds like a good sign for the case, cuz I don't think they would raise it if they had good info.

I wonder how that works with the reward, do you need to actually solve the case to get the reward, or just give some small tip that eventually leads to help solving the case. I would imagine you would actually have to actually help solve the case.
 
  • #1,080
What does the article you shared (eta: men attempting to sell pine straw out of their truck) have to do with the nuwaubian cult???
Sheriff Sills over reacted, pulled his gun and shot the tires out from the pickup truck the men were driving. He was exonerated of course, but what else would you expect.
 

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