Q: Have there been any further developments on the murder of the couple who lived on Lake Oconee? One of them was beheaded, I believe.
—Linda Eison, Marietta
A: Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said he is still following leads in the murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond, but there have been few lately.
The decapitated body of Russell Dermond, 88, was discovered in May 2014 inside the garage of the couple’s home in the gated Reynolds Plantation community, the AJC has reported. His 87-year-old wife’s body was found near a dam on Lake Oconee 10 days later.
“It is not something that is being actively pursued on a daily basis, but it is not something we’ve forgotten,” Sills told Q&A on the News. “It’s still a priority of this department, and it is a priority in my life.”
Q: Why is the runoff involving Kay Kirkpatrick set for May 16 and the one for Karen Handel and Jon Ossoff scheduled for June 20?
—Marcia Sasser, Marietta
A: The difference in runoff dates is due to a federal judge's order from a few years ago. An order by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones in 2013 changed Georgia's federal election calendar in order to extend the time for absentee ballots to be returned by military residents and Georgians living overseas, the AJC previously reported.
Handel and Ossoff are in a runoff for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, which is a federal race. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick, a Republican, will face Democrat Christine Triebsch in a runoff for an open state Senate seat.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; Katie Tiller contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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