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Sheriff: Elderly couple’s murders still a mystery

Sheriff: Killer likely knew Reynolds Plantation couple
By Christian Boone
June 13, 2014

Six weeks after Russell and Shirley Dermond were killed, one of the more baffling murder mysteries in recent memory is no closer to being solved.

“I’ve never had a case go on for this long,” said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, who’s leading the investigation. “I’ve got so little to go on.”

Russell Dermond's decapitated body was found May 6th in his garage by neighbors concerned about their well-being. Shirley Dermond was found 10 days later by two fishermen along the tree line on Lake Oconee.

Her husband’s head, neatly severed, indicating the work of professionals, is still missing. Sills now believes the beheading was performed for just one reason: to conceal evidence.

Read more on the case of the murdered Eatonton couple on myajc.com

About the Author

A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.

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