A man faced a court hearing after allegedly fatally shooting his wife in front of her children while she tried to call the police. Jeri Mains, 44, passed away in a hospital following the shooting at a residence in southeast Indianapolis, Indiana on December 28. Her husband, 47-year-old Cecil Mains, has been formally accused of murder.
According to legal records, Jeri’s children made distress calls to emergency services reporting that Cecil had shot their mother before fleeing in his grey Toyota Tundra pick-up truck. Cecil Mains was apprehended at a junction in southwest Indianapolis and taken into custody.
Witnesses stated that Mains had retrieved a gun from a safe when he arrived at the house earlier that day. A confrontation ensued between him and Jeri upon her return home, leading to the tragic event where Cecil Mains shot Jeri twice, causing fatal injuries to her heart, liver, and spine.
Family members revealed to detectives that Cecil had a history of physical abuse towards Jeri and had been expelled from the family home due to infidelity. There were reported threats from Cecil to harm Jeri and other family members, with Jeri’s daughter obtaining a restraining order against her father on Christmas Day, just three days before the fatal incident.
After his arrest, Cecil Mains declined to speak with officers and requested legal representation. He was detained at Marion County jail without bail and made a court appearance for a hearing on the case. A GoFundMe page has been established to aid Jeri’s four children, aged between 10 and 19, during this tragic time.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears expressed his sympathy for Jeri’s children, acknowledging the heartbreaking nature of the case and the challenging road ahead for the family. For confidential support related to domestic abuse, individuals can contact the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline or visit specified online resources for assistance.