GA GA - Shirley, 87, & Russell Dermond, 88, Putnam County, 2 May 2014 - #11

[dancinunderthemoon]

Yes when Foxfire was alive, he was adamant that Sheriff Call in GBI< he has refused.....there is so much confusion now, its a disaster in the public eye...…..we have been saying the same thing, he needs new eys on this case, one man cant do it all...….not sure the need of someone to do that, this is clearly a complicated case or unusual to say the least

The DA has NOTHING to say about it

I have a feeling the only way this case will be solved is if a totally new, totally detached team of investigators form a task force to look at ALL the evidence bit by bit. I occasionally watch youtube videos about a cold case team who start at the beginning and try to solve (with a lot of success) nothing but cold cases.

 

[Deleted member 162919]

SS called in a cold case team a few months after the killings and I suspect that was a coverup to check on the family who just so happened to be living in the same city as the cold case team, SS not asking for other law enforcement help baffles me and the DA not making any statements about this murder also baffles me but him and SS could be good friends. It certainly seems like they are covering something up like a botched investigation , tainted evidence etc. I miss foxfire's input but I don't believe this was done by a cult. I think it was someone close to the Dermonds who felt they were owed something. SS constantly lying over the years about evidence he has or doesn't have tells me he's playing a game with us to keep this crime in our minds but not providing any real info for fear we might find out who the real killer is ( convinced he knows who the killers are) Another thing about witness protection ( and i'm not saying this was a mob hit) the whole family would be protected so SS wouldn't know if they were in the witness protection program because the U.S marshals would never give that information out even after death if they thought the rest of the family could be in danger. Once again this was very well planned now we just have to figure out the WHO AND WHY

 

[kirkassoc]

The most perplexing details about this case to me are:
1. Age of the couple
2. Bodies disposed of in two entirely different locations
3. A decapitation of one body (with missing head) and blunt force trauma on the other
4. NOTHING MISSING from crime scene and crime scene contained solely in the garage

Feel free to add to this. I believe it must be a "they" and not a he or she who committed this crime.

 

[Deleted member 162919]

Great list . The age of the couple really says this was personal . The bodies being disposed of in 2 different locations tells me they were only planning on killing 1 of them but ended up killing both
Decapitation - This tells me this was an act of rage or revenge
Nothing missing - This tells me this was not a robbery or extortion attempt they had a plan and they executed the plan perfectly, they had a backup plan ( Shirley ) and they executed that but not perfectly . The main focus here certainly was Mr Dermond and they did what they set out to do. definitely was more than 1 person i'd say 3 people and they had skills to complete this murder without any evidence being left behind. I keep thinking FoxFire was onto something but instead of a cult i'm thinking someone with prior military as they are trained to leave no evidence behind this could also be an officer

 

[Deleted member 162919]

I would love to know what the locals think of this crime not being solved after 4 years. SS must have told them something to ease their fears. Odd how no locals have commented on this horrible crime and nobody in that area is pushing for this to be solved. The DA in my area has been in office about 2 years and he's already solved 2 cold cases from 20 plus years ago. Maybe down south the DA doesn't have as much power as they do here in New England

 

[wildebeest]

The most perplexing details about this case to me are:
1. Age of the couple
2. Bodies disposed of in two entirely different locations
3. A decapitation of one body (with missing head) and blunt force trauma on the other
4. NOTHING MISSING from crime scene and crime scene contained solely in the garage

Feel free to add to this. I believe it must be a "they" and not a he or she who committed this crime.

Great post!

The age of the Dermonds is a fact that haunts me. It would be extremely rare for a couple this age to be victims of a random murder. We know it wasn’t a robbery. And lastly, the upclose, very personal, means of death, shows it was someone who just wanted them gone.

Only my opinion...

 

[Deleted member 162919]

Another thing I often wonder about and I think I've said it before is who was the 1st unanswered call and what time was that call placed. I wonder this because it helps establish a timeline.

I was just rewatching some interviews and SS passed the guard shack and I wondered if the storm really knocked out the camera or was it broken by someone . Since I believe this was very well planned this could have been done to set up the murders. Did SS ever investigate the damage to the camera? It must have been quite a storm to knock out a camera did it get hit by lightning? well that would be rare since most outdoor cameras can handle tough weather conditions. These days people have trail cameras set up in wooded areas and some even have them in their yards to animal watch it's hard to believe nobody in or around that community had a camera.

There must be a main road to this place and i'm sure there's a camera the killers passed . They had to launch their boat ( if they came by boat) from somewhere and i'm sure they can trace the areas of each boat launch site and check local police cameras or residential

Also I heard SS mention Shirley was dumped in the middle of the lake which leads me to believe this was definitely done at night since nobody is that stupid to dump a body in a lake during daylight hours. So the killers spent a good amount of time in the house according to the description of Mr Dermond's clothing. If i'm right this also means the killers were dropped off and picked up again because nobody is going to park their boat or car near where they are committing a crime especially murder. So this brings up another question. SS said he went through all calls originated in the area during that weekend so how did the getaway driver know when to come back ? I think SS has missed something here or it was overlooked. Maybe he checked calls but there could have been a text or the call could have been made over wifi. My point being the getaway driver isn't going to come to the scene of the crime and hang out for fear of being spotted or attracting attention he's going to arrive on time and get them out quickly without drawing attention. Did they use smoke signals? doubtful . Also if my theory is right this driver had to go somewhere during the time of the killings and i'd assume he was no more than a few minutes away 15 minutes at the most. Did the driver just sit in a parking lot waiting for a call/text?

They made a mistake we just have to catch it. I would love to hear thoughts on my theories . Maybe i'm over thinking this

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

Definitely atleast 3
Age of the couple killed in this manner and scattered to me implies they definitey knew their perps and they didn't shoot and leave, they lingered, they were familiar with the home and the area and the lake

I feel the separation was to confuse LE so they'd have 2 things to deal with investigating rather than concentrating on the one murder and beheading

but we've discussed this same stuff for 4 years now, Their age is why it appears to be a relative

The most perplexing details about this case to me are:
1. Age of the couple
2. Bodies disposed of in two entirely different locations
3. A decapitation of one body (with missing head) and blunt force trauma on the other
4. NOTHING MISSING from crime scene and crime scene contained solely in the garage

Feel free to add to this. I believe it must be a "they" and not a he or she who committed this crime.

I would love to know what the locals think of this crime not being solved after 4 years. SS must have told them something to ease their fears. Odd how no locals have commented on this horrible crime and nobody in that area is pushing for this to be solved. The DA in my area has been in office about 2 years and he's already solved 2 cold cases from 20 plus years ago. Maybe down south the DA doesn't have as much power as they do here in New England

Great post!

The age of the Dermonds is a fact that haunts me. It would be extremely rare for a couple this age to be victims of a random murder. We know it wasn’t a robbery. And lastly, the upclose, very personal, means of death, shows it was someone who just wanted them gone.

Only my opinion...

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

SS never mentioned a timeline based on any calls

That was discussed very early on, about the cameras quite possibly being tampered with, I would HOPE TO GOD that SS had someone check that equipement or something to be sure as well, that it was struck and not just cut somewhere or something....A resident commented here early on saying that the guard shack was never a strict regime IIRC and cameras never worked right, IF SO, then if that person knew....and I don't know who that person was btw......but who else would know how easy to pass thru there....so how easy would it be if it were someone working the shack

HOckey how I recall is that there were cameras near the Dermonds but none were facing the D's house or dock, allegedly nothing was seen...but again, WHO determines what IS or IS NOT important to investigate...

I may not get what you are saying about the boats but there are several marina's and boat launch in this area, one closest to where SD was found, Lawrence Shoals, which has no cameras, is very secluded and quiet and is between the dam and where she was found...….which was not middle of the lake btw, it was in the flooded tree area which is closer to shore but a pretty big area, by the time she was discovered she was closer to the main river I understood but not middle of the lake, she was snagged on a tree, there is a map that shows this...…..the Lawrence Shoals area is a huge area of lake at the launch and no homes visible, it's forest until you get up above where SD was discovered but the lake is big and from shore to shore across the lake, you cant see much......However I definitely believe it was at night and what I"ve been saying, they lingered there all day and left at nightfall.....no one down that way will or did, see a thing......ive been to lawurence shoals daytime and in may school is not out yet so the lakes are quieter until after end of may...….ive seen NO ONE at this ramp, imagine night time, Ive also mentioned the stretch of road when leaving This campground and boat launch area, dark and long 2 lane roads at night, no street lights

I think you are right about the drop off and there are drop phones and someone using data wont show up on house wifi, If he checked all the AREA phone calls and that's a lot, how does anyone monitor that and who helped? An inexperienced officer? IDK, one man? Accident waiting to happen....one man cant so yes he missed something either himself or due to another cop...you cant be a micro manager in something like this because they only do what you tell them to do and will not be thorough

BIg lake, he went fishing while waiting...……...but I agree, 2 on sight and one driver...…... atleast…….

But I agree, something was missed

There is no perfect crime, only imperfect investigation......FF

Another thing I often wonder about and I think I've said it before is who was the 1st unanswered call and what time was that call placed. I wonder this because it helps establish a timeline.

I was just rewatching some interviews and SS passed the guard shack and I wondered if the storm really knocked out the camera or was it broken by someone . Since I believe this was very well planned this could have been done to set up the murders. Did SS ever investigate the damage to the camera? It must have been quite a storm to knock out a camera did it get hit by lightning? well that would be rare since most outdoor cameras can handle tough weather conditions. These days people have trail cameras set up in wooded areas and some even have them in their yards to animal watch it's hard to believe nobody in or around that community had a camera.

There must be a main road to this place and i'm sure there's a camera the killers passed . They had to launch their boat ( if they came by boat) from somewhere and i'm sure they can trace the areas of each boat launch site and check local police cameras or residential

Also I heard SS mention Shirley was dumped in the middle of the lake which leads me to believe this was definitely done at night since nobody is that stupid to dump a body in a lake during daylight hours. So the killers spent a good amount of time in the house according to the description of Mr Dermond's clothing. If i'm right this also means the killers were dropped off and picked up again because nobody is going to park their boat or car near where they are committing a crime especially murder. So this brings up another question. SS said he went through all calls originated in the area during that weekend so how did the getaway driver know when to come back ? I think SS has missed something here or it was overlooked. Maybe he checked calls but there could have been a text or the call could have been made over wifi. My point being the getaway driver isn't going to come to the scene of the crime and hang out for fear of being spotted or attracting attention he's going to arrive on time and get them out quickly without drawing attention. Did they use smoke signals? doubtful . Also if my theory is right this driver had to go somewhere during the time of the killings and i'd assume he was no more than a few minutes away 15 minutes at the most. Did the driver just sit in a parking lot waiting for a call/text?

They made a mistake we just have to catch it. I would love to hear thoughts on my theories . Maybe i'm over thinking this

 

[kirkassoc]

If they came via of vehicle, they would have two chances instead of one to be spotted. She would have to be put in vehicle, taken in vehicle from premises and then removed from vehicle and forced into (or carried already deceased) to wherever boat was docked. Also, IMO, if there were three people involved, that's three chances instead of two that their crimes would be revealed. The more involved, the more chance to be discovered.

I picture them arriving via of boat at the little dock behind Dermond's home. Tying up there, walking to house and saying they ran out of gas or had problems with their boat. On that boat (fishing?), it would be normal to have very sharp fish fillet knives. Also nets to keep fish fresh and floating in water while you fish. They may have even had bricks for anchoring.

Arriving and leaving by fishing boat, they would be far less likely to be spotted than arriving by car. Also, they would have the tools they needed on a boat (knife and nets)? I recall reading or hearing on one of the podcasts that the D's used to have a boat, so they would probably have nets and knives in their garage, so the weapons may have already been at scene. I'm so thankful to see their are others who are as interested and perplexed by this case as I am. I wish someone would do a new podcast or video and go over all the details that are known to date.

I love reading all the comments here, and look forward to reading all the different theories and reasons for those theories. Praying these murderers are apprehended SOON.

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

I agree they came and went by boat, there was atleast 2 maybe 3 IMO....
No one reported a fisherman in the cover (that we know of)
The area is very isolated in water and on street, people just don't pay that much attention to boats unless they happened to be sitting on their docks observing the passersby.....therefore during early morning hours and after dusk, not likely to even be seen, turn off running lights..our lake was much smaller than Oconee, I didn't pay any attention to boats until after this incident

The netting I always thought was fish net, NOT, it was a mesh bag like a laundry type bag I think SS said...….what is that? A dunk bag? for camping?

Otherwise I would agree they had it already on board too but I think because of blocks they brought what was needed intentionally

OMG me too, if Payne Lindsey had done the podcast the way he did Tara Grinstead's podcast, we might be WAAAYYY further along by now...he smoked them out in that case, no one could escape the reality and started talking, Payne was ALL OVERR that town LOL

I, and others, had hoped the short one they did do would be more someone elses view rather than just a synopsis of what we already knew

they stated SS left no stone unturned but apparently something was not investigated further instead, taking someones word for it because they seem like they are innocent is not good investigating IMO...

even Tara's killers were questioned and didn't appear to be guilty, went under the radar the whole time! but due to Payne Lindsey Podcast... 10 years later...….indicted

Many many people in that town KNEW, or had a rumor to tell, what was told was brushed under the rug by GBI....it too appeared that the GBI and Local LE was hiding something or involved in some way......actually I still wonder..……...but those very rumors were what finally got those 2 arrested...…...but only because of that podcast..... this is small town politics for ya

They do what the hell they want...….NO WAY should only ONE MAN be investigating this case

Lets get a cold case team on it!! Im all for a GOOD investigative podcast too but I am certain they knew their perps whether family or close friend but WHY is the question

The only way ANYONE benefited in this case was the inheritance and I said many year ago......Heirs may have been thinking "how long are they going to live?" who knows, cant put anything past anyone

Those were my very VERY first impressions, might be wrong but many times we don't realize the truth of our own hasty statements

If they came via of vehicle, they would have two chances instead of one to be spotted. She would have to be put in vehicle, taken in vehicle from premises and then removed from vehicle and forced into (or carried already deceased) to wherever boat was docked. Also, IMO, if there were three people involved, that's three chances instead of two that their crimes would be revealed. The more involved, the more chance to be discovered.

I picture them arriving via of boat at the little dock behind Dermond's home. Tying up there, walking to house and saying they ran out of gas or had problems with their boat. On that boat (fishing?), it would be normal to have very sharp fish fillet knives. Also nets to keep fish fresh and floating in water while you fish. They may have even had bricks for anchoring.

Arriving and leaving by fishing boat, they would be far less likely to be spotted than arriving by car. Also, they would have the tools they needed on a boat (knife and nets)? I recall reading or hearing on one of the podcasts that the D's used to have a boat, so they would probably have nets and knives in their garage, so the weapons may have already been at scene. I'm so thankful to see their are others who are as interested and perplexed by this case as I am. I wish someone would do a new podcast or video and go over all the details that are known to date.

I love reading all the comments here, and look forward to reading all the different theories and reasons for those theories. Praying these murderers are apprehended SOON.

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

This juuust came thru my newsfeed...

 

[kirkassoc]

This juuust came thru my newsfeed...

LOL. I would have to worry about a "Russell Williams" type of burglar. Remember him? He stole women's underwear and escalated into a serial killer. Of course, I imagine this is a joke?

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

LOL. I would have to worry about a "Russell Williams" type of burglar. Remember him? He stole women's underwear and escalated into a serial killer. Of course, I imagine this is a joke?

based on reality hahaha

 

[wildebeest]

I agree with the posts by dancin and kirkassoc that the perps came by boat. To come by car, they ran the risk of guards at the gate, and or cameras, recording their tag. I don’t think they knew the camera was out, or they disabled it. Too risky in my opinion. However, a small boat on the lake, pulling up to a heavily wooded lot, gave them all the privacy they needed. They HAD to be familiar with the lake, and probably brought the equipment, needed to tie up Mrs. Dermond, along with them. Why isn’t the surviving family outraged, and working day and night to find the perps? This is the usual reaction when a loved ones life is taken, not to mention the gruesomeness of the crime. It’s as if they didn’t really care, it was just another day four years ago.

I want Justice for the Dermonds...

IMHO

 

[Tripod]

I have a feeling the only way this case will be solved is if a totally new, totally detached team of investigators form a task force to look at ALL the evidence bit by bit. I occasionally watch youtube videos about a cold case team who start at the beginning and try to solve (with a lot of success) nothing but cold cases.

I agree. I do think that limited budgets for LEOs across the country certainly have an impact as to how much can be done re: investigative resources. Manpower is also limited and prioritized. Having said that, and I'm sure this has been mentioned at some point in the Dermond threads, it seems the family members have never hired a private investigator to look into this? If they have or it's been discussed, forgive me! I followed this daily for some time, but the last couple of years, fell off the wagon train a bit

 

[Deleted member 162919]

I agree. I do think that limited budgets for LEOs across the country certainly have an impact as to how much can be done re: investigative resources. Manpower is also limited and prioritized. Having said that, and I'm sure this has been mentioned at some point in the Dermond threads, it seems the family members have never hired a private investigator to look into this? If they have or it's been discussed, forgive me! I followed this daily for some time, but the last couple of years, fell off the wagon train a bit

Afew of us have brought that up it is odd they haven't hired a private investigator especially with the money they have inherited

 

[Peppery]

What stands out most to me is that no one from the family is talking. Not their THREE children and their THREE/FOUR spouses, at least SEVEN adult grandchildren that we know of. I have no idea about nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, or any other relatives. They can’t all be content with twiddling their thumbs while SS lets years go by...can they?

And their friends, church family, neighbors...don’t they care that there’s a deranged murderer out there?

There’s got to be someone closer to the case than us websluethers who have the same questions we do.

 

[Deleted member 162919]

Some were told by police it was a hit from up North and maybe that's why they are all calm but it also says SS is hiding something because as even he says " it wasn't a mob hit"

 

[dancinunderthemoon]

well, someone did an interview...I guess everyone saw it, just bringing it to the table….no pleading.....no information at all, studdering over where he and sibling were that night/weekend but he never said NO they didn't do it.....he said, and things like that about them being 100's of miles away.........he said his parents were very private people and wouldn't want them doing this interview..........well hell...LO...this isn't airing dirty laundry......this aint private to start with...... so that doesn't apply...…OMG.....that's no excuse to sit idly by, but he did say one day it would be solved........well might NOT........it took four years to get an interviw with family...........and........no pleadings from them in the beginning......surely they were shocked beyond belief but I would have been so mad, I dont think i would have sat idly by......You know Lacy Peterson was basically dismembered by the sea and her mom made public statements and pleasding all along as do many...…. OH it says they did the interview appealing to the public in case someone saw something...……….hahaha......WHAT? after 4 years!? Little late ,maybe, maybe its never too late, IDK, earlier would've been better in many ways IMO….GONE COLD | The murders at Lake Oconee: 4 years later, elderly couple’s son opens up