Beheading Mystery: 'Person of Interest' Identified, Says Sheriff

There is a ”person of interest” in the brutal year-old death of a Lake Oconee couple in May 2014, according to a report from WSB-2

According to Sheriff Howard Sills, “Statements made to us, we later determined, were not completely truthful.”

See the exclusive interview at WSB-2.

In May 2014, Russell Dermond, 88, was beheaded in his home on the lake. His body was found on May 6 when friends went to the couple’s home. His head has not been recovered.

Shirley Dermond, 87, was missing at the time. Her body was found two weeks later, in Lake Oconee, Patch earlier reported. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and was dead before her body was dumped into the lake.

Sills previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he believes the Dermonds were “at least minimally acquainted with whoever did this. That’s an assumption, coupled with some physical evidence,” he said.

The attackers didn’t use force to enter the couple’s lakeside home. Investigators said Shirley Dermond’s wallet, cellphone, purse and car were all left behind.

PHOTO: Shirley and Russell Dermond, a retired couple who lived on Lake Oconee, were murdered in their home three months ago. Screenshot from WSB TV

See also:

• Police: Husband Beheaded, Wife May Have Been Kidnapped
• Vigil Set for Beheaded Man, Kidnapped Wife
• Shirley Dermond’s Body Found in Lake; Hunt Continues for Suspect in Husband’s Beheading
• $30,000 Reward for Leads to Killer of Russell and Shirley Dermond
• Cold-Case Team Studies Murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond
• Investigators Comb Phone Records in Murders of Russell, Shirley Dermond
• Sheriff Hints at New Evidence in Beheading Murder Case