In the spring of 2014, the serene, manicured lawns of the Great Waters subdivision on Lake Oconee,
Georgia, became the backdrop for a crime so brutal and perplexing that it continues to baffle
investigators and haunt the community more than a decade later.
Russell Joseph Dermond, born in 1925 in Hackensack, New Jersey, was a World War II Navy veteran
who built a successful life in Atlanta, owning several Hardee’s restaurants before retiring in 1994. His
wife, Shirley Bell Wilcox Dermond, born in 1926, married Russell in 1950. Together, they raised four
children and eventually settled into a spacious, waterfront home in the exclusive Great Waters golf
community—a neighborhood known for its privacy, affluence, and 24-hour security.
The Dermond's were the epitome of the American dream: loving parents, doting grandparents to nine,
and respected members of their community. Their lives seemed peaceful and secure, surrounded by
neighbors who valued safety and tranquility.
That peace was shattered in early May 2014. On May 3, the Dermond's were expected at a Kentucky
Derby watch party with friends. When they failed to appear, concern quickly grew. Days passed with
no word, and on May 6, a neighbor entered their home to check on them. What they found was the
beginning of a nightmare.
Inside the garage, 88-year-old Russell Dermond was found dead—his body decapitated, his head
missing and never recovered. The scene was chilling, but even more disturbing was the lack of any
clear motive. There were no signs of forced entry, no evidence of robbery, and the home’s interior
was largely undisturbed. The only oddity was a lamp placed atop one of the couple’s vehicles, a detail
that has never been explained.
The search for Shirley Dermond intensified. Ten days later, fishermen discovered her body in Lake
Oconee, weighed down with cinderblocks. An autopsy revealed she had died from multiple blunt force
injuries to the head. Russell’s autopsy, meanwhile, showed gunshot residue on his clothing,
suggesting he may have been shot before being decapitated. Neither victim had drugs or alcohol in
their systems, and there was no evidence of sexual assault.
Investigators, led by Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills and supported by the FBI, scoured every
possible lead. They examined the Dermond's’ financial records for signs of debt or dispute but found
nothing suspicious. The couple’s three surviving adult children were interviewed extensively,
submitted to polygraph tests, and were cleared of any involvement. Their fourth child, Mark, had been
murdered in Atlanta in 2000 during a drug deal gone wrong, but authorities found no evidence linking
that tragedy to the deaths of his parents.
The brutality and precision of the murders led Sheriff Sills to believe that more than one perpetrator
was likely involved. The physical effort required to kill, decapitate, and dispose of the bodies, as well
as the calculated steps taken to avoid leaving evidence, suggested a level of planning and
coordination rarely seen in such crimes.
Theories have ranged from a robbery gone wrong to a targeted, personal attack, but the lack of
missing valuables and the absence of any clear motive have left investigators stymied. Despite
exhaustive interviews, DNA testing, and analysis of cell phone data, no suspects have ever been
publicly identified.
The Dermond murders remain the only open homicide case in Sheriff Sills’ long career. He has
described it as the most haunting investigation he has ever faced. The case continues to draw
attention from true crime enthusiasts and law enforcement alike, all searching for the missing piece
that could finally bring answers.
A $25,000 reward is still offered for information leading to an arrest, and the FBI remains involved,
pursuing any new leads that emerge. For the residents of Great Waters and the Dermond family, the
hope for justice endures, even as the years pass and the mystery deepens.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI or the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The
community, and the Dermond family, still wait for closure.
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/russell-joseph-dermond-and-shirley-wilcox-dermond
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/03/01/georgia-sheriff-expecting-dna-results-2014-double-murder-atlvault/
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