In 2014, Russell and Shirley Dermond seemed to have the perfect retirement life in a quiet Georgia lake community. But when neighbors stopped by one morning, they found Russell decapitated in his garage. Shirley was gone.

Ten days later, her body surfaced in Lake Oconee, weighed down with concrete blocks. There was no forced entry, no robbery, and no clear motive. Russell’s wallet and Shirley’s jewelry were still in the house. But investigators found gunshot residue on Russell’s collar and signs of a violent struggle before Shirley was drowned.

In 2024, a new DNA profile was discovered on Russell’s clothes — the first major lead in a decade. But the killer remains unidentified. Was it a professional hit, a personal vendetta, or someone hiding in plain sight?

Follow True Crime Recaps for more stories of unsolved murders and the clues that refuse to fade.

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