Naman Shrestha
In early 2008, Alison Nicole “Nikki” Orvin, a mother of two sons, was found dead in Hazlehurst, Georgia, shocking the entire community to its core. While Nikki’s loved ones grieved, the investigators followed every other clue and evidence they found in order to get to the bottom of the case. Thanks to the exclusive interviews with Nikki’s family and friends and the officials linked to the case, the intricate details of the investigation are covered in a detailed manner in the episode titled ‘Whatever Mother Wants’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mother, May I Murder?’
Alison Nicole “Nikki” Orvin Was Found Dead on the Side of a Georgia Highway
Born on May 24, 1979, in Bacon County, Georgia, to Rita and Gary Orvin, Allison Nicole “Nikki” Orvin was raised amongst her loved ones, including a brother named Rick Orvin. Being a catholic, she was a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the educational front, she aspired to earn a degree in Pharmacy Technician at Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia, Georgia. She became a mother quite young during her first marriage as she welcomed a son named Gabriel Mark Orvin. However, the marriage didn’t last long, and the couple divorced.
In December 2002, Nikki crossed paths with Damon Bamberg while working at a Walmart store. As sparks flew between them, the two began dating and eventually tied the knot, making their union official in the eyes of the law. Not only did Damon officially adopt her son Gabriel, but they also gave birth to another son named Elijah Scott Bamberg. Fast forward a few years, and the marriage between the two ultimately deteriorated, resulting in their divorce.
28-year-old Nikki looked forward to building a bright future for her two sons, but her aspirations were halted as on the fateful evening of January 18, 2008, the police were informed about an attack on her by her father, Gary. When the authorities reached the crime scene in Hazlehurst, Georgia, on the side of Highway 221, they discovered her silver car on the side of the road with her in the driver’s seat. At the scene of the crime, the detectives found a few shell casings of a .45 caliber gun on the road and in and around the vehicle. They also found a footprint of the potential suspect right outside the car.
Nikki Orvin’s Killer Chased Her Down With Her Kids in the Backseat
While investigating Alison Nicole “Nikki” Orvin’s murder, the authorities found out that she had been living in a Hazlehurst apartment after separating from Damon Bamberg, who was allegedly violent towards her during their marriage. There were allegations that Nikki’s marriage to Damon deteriorated because of the latter’s controlling mother, Sonya Bamberg, who lived with them. After the divorce was finalized, the former married couple met at a convenience store in Uvalda, where Nikki handed Damon and Sonya her two children for visitation on January 18, 2008. However, they reportedly got into a heated argument after which she left the scene.
According to the store’s surveillance footage, she left the store at 6:01 pm, after which her ex-husband and his mother followed her with Nikki’s sons in the backseat. The son-mother duo began shooting at Nikki’s car while she was on the phone with her father, driving towards Hazlehurst. In order to escape her attackers, she pulled over to the side of Highway 221. However, Damon reportedly managed to get close to her and shoot her to death. A couple of days after the murder, on January 20, the authorities searched Damon and Sonya’s house, where they found a lock of Nikki’s hair inside a ziplock bag.
However, they couldn’t find the murder weapon used to commit the killing. Upon digging deeper, the detectives learned that Sonya’s other son, Marc, possessed a .45 caliber gun, which was stolen. According to a family friend named James Fowler, Sonya had asked him if he could kill Nikki for $25,000 in October 2007. Eventually, within a month of the murder, on February 12, Damon and Sonya Bamberg were officially indicted for murder, felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, criminal damage to property in the second degree, and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Damon and Sonya Bamberg Are Currently Incarcerated in Separate Georgia Prison Facilities
More than two years later, on August 18, 2009, Damon and Sonya Bamberg stood trial for the murder of Alison Nicole “Nikki” Orvin. A few weeks later, the jury deliberated and reached a final verdict. The Bambergs were convicted of killing Nikki and all the other charges against them. As a result, they were sentenced to life in prison for the murder conviction and an additional 30 years for the rest of the convictions. About a month later, on October 22, the two convicts appealed for a new trial to have their convictions overturned. However, both of their appeals were denied, and the court upheld their respective convictions. As of today, Damon Bamberg is serving his sentence at Long State Prison in Ludowici, Georgia, while his mother, Sonya Bamberg, is incarcerated at Pulaski State Prison in Hawkinsville, Georgia.
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