In the early morning hours of March 7, 2012, the quiet of a Girard, Georgia neighborhood was shattered by a tragedy that remains unsolved. Amy Jane Ellison Nichols, a 27-year-old White female, was found deceased in the living room of her Brigham Landing Road home. A loving mother to her three young daughters, ages 11, 8, and 5, she was also pregnant with her fourth child. It was her eldest daughter who made the heartbreaking discovery of her mother on the floor and called for help.
Investigators from the Burke County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene and determined that Amy had died from a single gunshot wound. Authorities believe that in the middle of the night, there was a knock at her door. It is theorized that Amy answered the door and was shot. The bullet struck her spleen, a fatal wound that also claimed the life of her unborn baby. There were no signs of forced entry into the home, leading law enforcement to believe that this was not a random act of violence and that Amy likely knew her killer.
In the years that have followed, the investigation into Amy Ellison Nichols' death has remained active, with authorities interviewing numerous individuals and examining her personal relationships and communications. Despite their efforts, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly named in connection with the double homicide. Investigators have considered that her pregnancy may have been a motive for the murder. A reward of $10,000 has been offered by the Burke County Sheriff's Department for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her death. The case has left a lasting scar on the small community and a family desperate for answers and justice for Amy and her unborn child.
