Nikki Bazemore, a 32-year-old African American woman, was found dead on September 15, 2019, in a wooded area off Hursey Street in Durham, North Carolina. She appeared to have been shot, and her body was discovered unresponsive near the wood line. Bazemore was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family, including her mother Yvonne Hunt, expressed their grief and confusion over the tragic loss, describing her as a hardworking mother of three who held three jobs to support her children.
They emphasized that she did not have time to get involved in anything that would put her life in jeopardy.
The investigation into Nikki Bazemore's death initially yielded no new information, leaving her family desperate for answers. However, in July 2021, Mario Blanding, a 34-year-old man already in Durham County jail on other murder charges, was indicted for Bazemore's murder. Blanding had been charged with two separate murders earlier in the year, as well as four robbery cases. He was accused of fatally shooting Antone Baines, 38, and Corey Gooch, 40, both of Durham, in incidents that did not appear to be random. The circumstances that led police to suspect Blanding in Bazemore's death remain unclear.
Despite the indictment, Bazemore's family continued to seek answers and justice for her untimely death. They urged anyone with information about the case to come forward and assist the police in their investigation. The community's support and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement were crucial in the pursuit of justice for Nikki Bazemore and her family.
