Cherokee County NC Sheriff’s Office Provides Assistance in Tragic Event

Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced on 2/25/2015 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received information that the suspect in an Anderson County SC Homicide may be present or en-route to Cherokee County. The information was received via a teletype/NCIC message that alerted surround agencies that Clyde Dennis (D.J.) Loudermilk was suspect in the murder of his wife in Anderson County. Mr. Loudermilk called several family members after he had fled South Carolina and was making statements that alerted the family.

One family member of Mr. Loudermilk’s had alerted the Polk County Tennessee Sheriff that they had received a phone call from him (D.J. Loudermilk) in which he admitted to killing his wife, Lisa Loudermilk and was taking their three children to a family member in the Liberty section of Cherokee County.

Cherokee County Deputies confirmed through the Anderson County South Carolina Sheriff’s Office that they were actively working a recent homicide of a female at the Loudermilk residence in their jurisdiction. Through further investigation Deputies were able to locate the family member in Liberty. Sheriff Palmer along with other Sheriff’s Office officials responded to the Liberty Residence and found that Loudermilk had been there in the early hours of 02/25/2015 and had left his three children there at the residence. However, Mr. Loudermilk had already left the residence. Family members told Sheriff Palmer that C. Loudermilk had arrived at the residence around dawn, dropped off his children, and left all in the matter of a few minutes. The family members also stated that they did not know of the apparent homicide until they received a call from Anderson South Carolina Sheriff’s Office wanting to know the whereabouts of Mr. Loudermilk and that a murder had taken place.

Several hours after leaving the residence, Mr. Loudermilk contacted the family again by telephone and stated that he had indeed committed the murder and was planning on taking his own life. Family members tried desperately to talk him out of his plans and to turn himself into the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Loudermilk terminated the call and family was unable to reach him anymore by telephone.

On the same date, Rabun County Ga. Sheriff’s Office located Clyde Loudermilk’s vehicle. They had also found Mr. Loudermilk deceased nearby from an apparent suicide.

Mr. Loudermilk was long gone from Cherokee County before any law enforcement knew to be looking for him.

“This is an unfortunate situation in which we wished we had the opportunity to intervene and try to help before Mr. Loudermilk took his own life. An additional tragedy is not only that of the immediate family on both sides who are suffering, but that of the children that were left behind to deal both mentally and physically with this situation. Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Loudermilk and also to the family of the victim Lisa Loudermilk. Both families are remembered in our thoughts and prayers.”