06-14-2014, 09:46 AM
Local Theories and a little more about the Dermonds
![[Image: home-of-russell-and-shirley-dermond.jpg?w=600]](http://images.hngn.com/data/images/full/25052/home-of-russell-and-shirley-dermond.jpg?w=600)
The Dermonds' million dollar home
Some of the most common (local theories) are that the Dermonds, origially from New Jersey, had organized crime ties and were victims of a mob hit or that their deaths are related to the killing of their oldest son in 2000 in a drug deal gone bad. The craziest tip authorities got was that it was likely a female alligator seeking food for her young, the sheriff said.
Sills is tired of all the theories and speculation. He has investigated the Dermonds' lives in depth and has determined that they worked hard, paid their taxes, went to church. There's no indication of any illegal activity or association with unsavory characters, he said. There's no indication that anything was taken from the home. He simply can't figure out who would want the Dermonds dead.
Russell Dermond had a corporate job and moved around until finally ending up in the Atlanta area. After he retired, he got into the fast food business, buying a number of chain restaurants. When he retired for a second time, he and his wife moved south to Lake Oconee. He played golf regularly until a few years ago and still liked to take walks, the sheriff said.
Shirley Dermond was an avid bridge player, rarely missing the twice-weekly meetings of her club.
They lived a remarkably simple life, Sills said. Russell Dermond only had two credit cards and put everything on those to rack up rewards points. He didn't even have an ATM card as he never carried cash, the sheriff said.
They were regulars at the Lake Oconee Community Church, missing services only when they went to visit their children in other states, Pastor David Key said. They were social and clearly had money but didn't flaunt it, he said. "They were just a nice, unassuming couple," Key said.
The Dermonds had three sons and a daughter. Their oldest son had a serious drug problem and was shot to death while trying to buy drugs in a rough neighborhood in Atlanta in 2000, Sills said.
The Dermonds' oldest living son, Keith, did not return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment. The other two children could not be reached. But Sills said he's questioned all three (of the couple's children) at length and talks to at least one of them almost every day. They've been extremely cooperative, answering his inquiries quickly and getting him any information he needs.
While he's not positive the killer or killers arrived and left by boat to reach the secluded cove where the couple's home sits, Sills is certain a boat was used to dispose of Shirley Dermond's body, which was found in the lake about five and a half miles from their home.
Full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/13/uns...thorities/
The Dermonds' million dollar home
Some of the most common (local theories) are that the Dermonds, origially from New Jersey, had organized crime ties and were victims of a mob hit or that their deaths are related to the killing of their oldest son in 2000 in a drug deal gone bad. The craziest tip authorities got was that it was likely a female alligator seeking food for her young, the sheriff said.
Sills is tired of all the theories and speculation. He has investigated the Dermonds' lives in depth and has determined that they worked hard, paid their taxes, went to church. There's no indication of any illegal activity or association with unsavory characters, he said. There's no indication that anything was taken from the home. He simply can't figure out who would want the Dermonds dead.
Russell Dermond had a corporate job and moved around until finally ending up in the Atlanta area. After he retired, he got into the fast food business, buying a number of chain restaurants. When he retired for a second time, he and his wife moved south to Lake Oconee. He played golf regularly until a few years ago and still liked to take walks, the sheriff said.
Shirley Dermond was an avid bridge player, rarely missing the twice-weekly meetings of her club.
They lived a remarkably simple life, Sills said. Russell Dermond only had two credit cards and put everything on those to rack up rewards points. He didn't even have an ATM card as he never carried cash, the sheriff said.
They were regulars at the Lake Oconee Community Church, missing services only when they went to visit their children in other states, Pastor David Key said. They were social and clearly had money but didn't flaunt it, he said. "They were just a nice, unassuming couple," Key said.
The Dermonds had three sons and a daughter. Their oldest son had a serious drug problem and was shot to death while trying to buy drugs in a rough neighborhood in Atlanta in 2000, Sills said.
The Dermonds' oldest living son, Keith, did not return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment. The other two children could not be reached. But Sills said he's questioned all three (of the couple's children) at length and talks to at least one of them almost every day. They've been extremely cooperative, answering his inquiries quickly and getting him any information he needs.
While he's not positive the killer or killers arrived and left by boat to reach the secluded cove where the couple's home sits, Sills is certain a boat was used to dispose of Shirley Dermond's body, which was found in the lake about five and a half miles from their home.
Full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/06/13/uns...thorities/