GA GA - Shirley, 87, & Russell Dermond, 88, Putnam County, 2 May 2014 - # 1

[Plumeria5]

The house next door to the Dermond's does indeed have a detached garage as I found it on a website. Maybe Russell went out to get the morning paper near the garage. The murderer forced him into the garage. Then when he didn't come back, Shirley went out to see if he was ok and she too was forced into the garage and that is why the house was immaculate. I wonder how early they go out for the paper? I just can't see this happening in broad daylight but it could have.

Correction. It may not be right next door but is very close to the Dermond's.

 

[belimom]

Do you or anyone have a reference to a killing that someone was decapitated to remove bullet evidence or such . Not going there myself unless i hear background as don't think that at all
.
Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

It was just a wild guess, but I just did a google search to see if this had been done before. I found the one case below, but gave up searching because reading so many details about beheadings was really getting to me. Sadly, there are some very sick people out there. :no:

Three Held Over Beheading of Kiev Corruption Reporter

Some close to the inquiry believe he was decapitated because he was killed by a bullet that lodged in his head and could be traced to a government-issued firearm.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/172/30284.html

 

[Backwoods]

My parents live near there and said the guy who does their landscaping was working next door and heard voices inside the Dermond's house late Saturday afternoon, early evening. He reported this to the sheriff.
The houses are not isolated or far apart, the lots are relatively small, though theirs was a little more wooded than most.
There is a guard at the only entrance 24/7. You either have to have a current sticker displayed to be waved through or have a resident call the guard house to get a visitor's pass.

:welcome5:

Welcome to Websleuths, No names please!


If this report (what I bolded in quoting your post) is accurate, that seems important information.

Anybody -- do we know what time the Kentucky Derby party the Dermonds RSVPed but missed was supposed to take place?

 

[belimom]

Aside from the Mexican Cartel, the Mafia, Scuba-Diving Ninjas and such....Has anyone considered that the perp could have done this FOR Shirley? It's probably a long shot, but I have seen, heard and read much crazier things in my life and nothing would surprise me anymore.

Where is she?

I think Shirley is considered a victim here. Please don't blame her.

Also, I personally know friends/pastors of theirs. I don't believe that's the case - at all. Happily married for 68 years than having your husband murdered when you're both almost 90 years old? Doesn't really fit.

 

[mrsobrien]

I'm not sure she meant it that way, as "for" could be meant a few ways in this context. I took it to mean "for her", like to own/have her."I paid $200 "*for* my couch", as an example.

I think Shirley is considered a victim here. Please don't blame her.

Also, I personally know friends/pastors of theirs. I don't believe that's the case - at all. Happily married for 68 years than having your husband murdered when you're both almost 90 years old? Doesn't really fit.

 

[Tulessa]

I can't help but think that whoever did this, was known to the Dermonds - which is why there's no sign of forced entry.....because the (or one the perps) perp came to their door and being such sweet kind people, they wouldn't have hesitated to let them in (or let the one they knew in and the others were waiting in the wings).

Wondering too..........who were the thugs responsible for the previous identity theft and subsequent charges on the Dermonds' credit cards? Just some random or someone who knew the Dermonds and their financial position (wealth) and were only just getting started when they got caught? And it seems odd to me to call it a case of "identity theft" if someone somehow manages to get your CC #. I've had my CC # hacked and charges made....and I wouldn't have considered that "identity theft". So what lengths did the perp who did this to them in the past go to? What ever happened to that perp? - and could what have happened here lately been some sort of retaliation or revenge?

I don't think this was all a case of robbery/burglary..........but then again, if LE or family doesn't know what valuables they had in their home (jewelry, cash money hidden somewhere) then maybe it would not be so easy to say either way?

If the Dermonds didn't use debit cards, maybe they were like lots of seniors who prefer to mainly deal in cash and as such kept a good amount of cash in the home to have easy access to for day to day expenses? Maybe someone knew this?

Curious too, did any local realtor ever approach them about selling their home (maybe had a buyer from out of the area who was interested) and they of course weren't open to it.....and someone really wanted that home so went to the extreme of getting rid of them so that that would open up the eventual possibility? (a home in which someone was decapitated isn't exactly going to be a home that any local is going to want to buy).

So new reports mentioned here state that neighbors had heard talking/voices from the Dermonds' home either late Sat afternoon or early Sat evening. Would it be usual given the proximity of the homes for them to hear voices like this or not and that would indicate that voices were raised?

It's been reported that neighbors entered the home on Tuesday and upon search of the home and then garage, that's when they found Mr Dermonds........so does this mean the front door wasn't locked?
What caused these particular neighbors to be concerned about them such that they went to check on them?
What made them go inside to look as opposed to just ringing doorbell and if no answer just assuming they weren't home? Does that mean their vehicles were NOT in the garage but were somewhere in the driveway and that's what concerned neighbors...their vehicles where there but not answering the door?

Did these neighbors have a key to the Dermonds' home?....previously given to them by the Dermonds' for some reason? (to check on home or water plants/turn on house lights if Dermonds' gone away for a few days?). If they had a key, who else might have had access to that key?.........or known they had their key?

Welcome to WS!!
This right here, makes me think, that someone had to see something! And I'm not referring to you No Name.

 

[Backwoods]

I guess someone could have FELT that she was in a bad situation, domestic abuse or something (not saying she WAS, but that someone could at least have been deluded that that was the case) and considered themselves to be "rescuing" her ... maybe something like that was what was meant.

Doesn't seem likely to fit here, though, JMO.

 

[Plumeria5]

:welcome5:

Welcome to Websleuths, No names please!


If this report (what I bolded in quoting your post) is accurate, that seems important information.

Anybody -- do we know what time the Kentucky Derby party the Dermonds RSVPed but missed was supposed to take place?

The post time was a little before 6:30pm ET so just a guess that the party would have started a while before the big race. Maybe 4 or 5 pm? They probably all were to bring food and eat before the race.

 

[JLSChook]

I think Shirley is considered a victim here. Please don't blame her.

Also, I personally know friends/pastors of theirs. I don't believe that's the case - at all. Happily married for 68 years than having your husband murdered when you're both almost 90 years old? Doesn't really fit.

Excuse me? I wasn't blaming anyone. Perhaps you should read my post again. Wow.

I had an idea, and I shared it. I guess the Mafia, Mexican Cartel and Scuba divers make more sense. I'll leave you all to your wonderful sleuthing.

Have a great night. My apologies for trying to add my thoughts.

 

[Backwoods]

Since it's been reported that the Dermonds had "cars" or "vehicles" (plural), I'm kinda assuming that both of them were still driving...? We don't know for sure, though, right? (I know the photos came from driver's licenses, reportedly, but one or the other of them COULD have made a decision not to drive any longer, even if they still had a valid license.)

If both WERE still driving, I wonder if they ever went places separately? Just wondering if this might be a scenario where one, or both, were out -- one was home or came home and encountered the perp/s -- then the other came home.

I'm hoping maybe LE has been able to find out more about the Dermonds' activities in the relevant days -- when they were out and about. I think last we heard Russell had been seen shopping on Thursday and walking on Friday...? Has there been anything about Shirley's activities in the days leading up to the murder/disappearance?

 

[JLSChook]

I'm not sure she meant it that way, as "for" could be meant a few ways in this context. I took it to mean "for her", like to own/have her."I paid $200 "*for* my couch", as an example.

Thanks for trying to understand what I REALLY meant, mrsobrien. I appreciate your open mind and reading skills.

That's exactly what I meant.

 

[Backwoods]

The post time was a little before 6:30pm ET so just a guess that the party would have started a while before the big race. Maybe 4 or 5 pm? They probably all were to bring food and eat before the race.

Just was wondering if maybe they were heading out to the party when the perp/s made a move -- could explain voices heard?

 

[CHERIE.T]

I waited until I read the whole thread and since I didn't see an answer, I'll give you mine.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been to about four houses in Great Waters and ten or so in the original Reynolds Plantation development. Now I have not been to the Dermond's house, but every single place I have been to has had detached garages.

They are usually 3 car or larger and are set at an angle on the driveway catty-corner to the main house. (Remember, this is a lake front property and no one wants a garage visible from the lake)

Since the garage is detached, there is a normal type door on the side which runs on a [usually covered] sidewalk to the mud room entrance. Guests come through the front door.

Most of these garages are large enough that the guy can set up his hobby next to his cars. Most had woodworking stuff. Meaning..."decapitating" tools could very well be right there in the garage. No need to necessarily bring them with you.

My guess is that the poor man was taken in, or just in front, of his garage and the slight movement was to hide him behind the parked cars. Since there is (more than likely) a side door, no reason to have to run under a lowering garage door to get back out.

To touch on a few things I read on the thread along the way:

This is a long, relatively thin, finger shaped peninsula sticking quite a ways into the lake. The subdivision takes up ALL of the land. The only vehicle-capable way onto the peninsula is pass the guard station. No way there are campers anywhere near there.

No way there are drifters.
No way there are gangs.
No way there are meth heads.

As unreal as it may seem, these scenarios are the least likely to have happened in this puzzling case.

Exactly why did you say no way to drifters, gangs and meth heads TIA

 

[mrsobrien]

English is a tricky language and without expression of voice inflections and body language (here in the typed world!), and such, it can be hard to understand what is meant sometimes. I do try, thank you.

Thanks for trying to understand what I REALLY meant, mrsobrien. I appreciate your open mind and reading skills.

That's exactly what I meant.

 

[CHERIE.T]

Why such a horrific crime ?
Why decapitate someone and kidnap the wife if there was no robbery or theft?
No money seems to be missing...........what about artwork?

 

[Plumeria5]

Just was wondering if maybe they were heading out to the party when the perp/s made a move -- could explain voices heard?

Tax records show their garage is attached to the house. Strange though. They have 2 large areas both color coded as garages but the square footage doesn't add up. Still they both are attached to the house at least in the sketch in the records. The strange-shaped 2nd garage space might be a hobby room, shop?

That's true Backwoods. Still I wonder about the Saturday paper not brought in. Mr. Dermond's clothing would be very telling. Pajamas? Dressed for the party? Since her id, purse, etc were still in the house at least she hadn't headed out yet.

 

[CHERIE.T]

Another thing I just thought of, last night someone posted a link here at WS stating Mr. D's remains were put near his vehicle in the garage. Why? Why not put his body in the car, in the house, on the deck? Someone wanted him found imoo/

 

[Backwoods]

Tax records show their garage is attached to the house. Strange though. They have 2 large areas both color coded as garages but the square footage doesn't add up. Still they both are attached to the house at least in the sketch in the records. The strange-shaped 2nd garage space might be a hobby room, shop?

That's true Backwoods. Still I wonder about the Saturday paper not brought in. Mr. Dermond's clothing would be very telling. Pajamas? Dressed for the party? Since her id, purse, etc were still in the house at least she hadn't headed out yet.

That IS strange, about the two garages. Hmmm.

The paper not being brought in -- one thing I've thought is that, sometimes, folks who bring in the paper like clockwork on weekdays do things a bit differently on the weekends. Even though they were retired, maybe they didn't stick as much to routine on weekends when activities were planned, etc. Also -- we don't know what time they normally brought in the paper; it may have not been "in the driveway" (not SURE that was stated?) -- they could have had a paper tube or something.

The clothing. Yes, that would be helpful to know! Well, at least we know LE knows! (Although...the thought has crossed my mind--sorry to type-- that his clothes MIGHT have been removed, if the perp/s washed the body to remove trace evidence, or if the perp/s feared there might be trace evidence on the clothes themselves. Also possible for "shock value" if the body was posed, as someone suggested it might have been.)

ETA: Could that "second garage" be sort of a separate, small quarters with garage space? Something like a guest apartment? Or would that be obvious, if true, from the records you consulted?

 

[Plumeria5]

That IS strange, about the two garages. Hmmm.

The paper not being brought in -- one thing I've thought is that, sometimes, folks who bring in the paper like clockwork on weekdays do things a bit differently on the weekends. Even though they were retired, maybe they didn't stick as much to routine on weekends when activities were planned, etc. Also -- we don't know what time they normally brought in the paper; it may have not been "in the driveway" (not SURE that was stated?) -- they could have had a paper tube or something.

The clothing. Yes, that would be helpful to know! Well, at least we know LE knows! (Although...the thought has crossed my mind--sorry to type-- that his clothes MIGHT have been removed, if the perp/s washed the body to remove trace evidence, or if the perp/s feared there might be trace evidence on the clothes themselves. Also possible for "shock value" if the body was posed, as someone suggested it might have been.)

ETA: Could that "second garage" be sort of a separate, small quarters with garage space? Something like a guest apartment? Or would that be obvious, if true, from the records you consulted?

This is public record so should be ok to post?
Here is the sketch.

http://qpublic7.qpublic.net/cgi-bin/ga_putnam_sketch.cgi?parcel=R&building=8560

It is long and too skinny for a car. Just guessing it was his man cave, tools, lawnmower, and extra storage.
Good thoughts on the paper. It could have been at the mailbox in one of those tube things.

 

[Backwoods]

Seems as if the media is meeting with obstacles in trying to get (and give us) a look at the house/grounds (and garage!):

Security blocks home of Putnam County couple

http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/security-blocks-home-of-putnam-county-couple/vCZk9x/



Understandable. But frustrating!