Russell and Shirley Dermond live in a beautiful lakefront property, Lake Oconee, Georgia.

The couple is expected at a Kentucky Derby watch party with neighbors, but don’t show up. When the neighbors reach out by phone, the Dermonds don’t answer. Days later, arriving at the Dermond’s home, the neighbor is surprised to find the front door unlocked. The neighbor calls out their names to no reply.  

The neighbor looks in the garage to see if the Dermond’s car is there. The neighbor discovers Russell Dermond laying on the garage floor, decapitated.  The neighbor calls 911, racing around the house looking for Shirley Dermond, but she is nowhere to be found.  

Investigators begin a neighborhood search and beyond for Shirley Dermond, without success.  The search lasts for 10 days until two fishermen find her body in lake Oconee. Shirley Dermond has been dumped in the lake with cinder blocks tied to her legs. Her body is recovered about 5 miles from the Dermond home near the dam. 

Joining Nancy Grace Today: 

• Sheriff Howard Sills - Putnam County Sheriff
• Dr. Kristen Mittelman- Chief Development Officer, Othram Inc., Othram.com, DNAsolves.com;; X @OthramTech 
• Joe Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” X: @JoScottForensic
• Dr. John Delatorre –  Licensed Psychologist and Mediator (specializing in forensic psychology); Psychological Consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons; Twitter, IG, and TikTok – @drjohndelatorre
• Cody Alcorn – Reporter, 11Alive WXIA (Atlanta, GA); Facebook.com/CodyAlcornNews