Beheading at Reynolds Plantation resort

Metro Atlanta

Man beheaded, wife missing in Reynolds Plantation killing

The death of Russell Dermond, 88, and the disappearance of his wife Shirley, 87, baffled Putnam County investigators.

Security guards in 2014 monitor traffic through the gate off Reynolds Drive at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation, the gated subdivision of the Lake Oconee resort community, where an 87-year-old woman was believed abducted after her 88-year-old husband was found decapitated in their lakeside home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Security guards monitor traffic through the gate off Reynolds Drive at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation, the gated subdivision of the Lake Oconee resort community, on Thursday, May 8, 2014. The FBI has been asked to assist Putnam County authorities in the search for an 87-year-old woman believed abducted after her 88-year-old husband was found decapitated in their lakeside home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Lillian Butterworth, neighbor, talks to members of the press, outside Great Waters Reynolds Plantation, the gated subdivision of the Lake Oconee resort community, on Thursday, May 8, 2014. The FBI has been asked to assist Putnam County authorities in the search for an 87-year-old woman believed abducted after her 88-year-old husband was found decapitated in their lakeside home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

The gate off Reynolds Drive at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation, the gated subdivision of the Lake Oconee resort community, is monitored by security guards but there is access from a lake. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Police said the Dermonds’ home is on the water and is accessible by boat. The death of Russell Dermond and the disappearance of his wife Shirley from their home at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation has baffled police. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

The death of Russell Dermond and the disappearance of his wife Shirley has baffled Putnam County investigators, who have called in the FBI to help. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

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Security guards in 2014 monitor traffic through the gate off Reynolds Drive at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation, the gated subdivision of the Lake Oconee resort community, where an 87-year-old woman was believed abducted after her 88-year-old husband was found decapitated in their lakeside home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM