A man stood trial for allegedly fatally shooting his wife in front of her children as she tried to call the police. Jeri Mains, aged 44, succumbed to her injuries in a hospital after being shot in the driveway of a residence in southeast Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 28. Her spouse, Cecil Mains, aged 47, faces a murder charge.
According to prosecutors, Jeri’s children made multiple calls to emergency services reporting that Cecil had shot their mother before fleeing in his grey Toyota Tundra pick-up truck. Cecil Mains, aged 46, was apprehended at a junction in southwest Indianapolis and taken into custody.
The children recounted that Mains had arrived at the house earlier that day and retrieved a firearm from a safe. Court documents revealed that a dispute erupted between Cecil and Jeri upon her return home, leading to a physical altercation where Cecil allegedly shot Jeri twice.
The coroner’s report indicated that the bullets struck Jeri’s heart, liver, and spine, resulting in fatal bleeding. Jeri’s brother informed detectives that Cecil had a history of physical abuse towards her and had been evicted from their home due to infidelity.
There were reports of threats made by Cecil to harm Jeri and other family members. Jeri’s daughter had even obtained a restraining order against her father on Christmas Day, just three days prior to the tragic incident. Court filings disclosed that Cecil became enraged and threatened violence when Jeri expressed her desire for a divorce, leading to a physical altercation on Christmas Day.
Upon his arrest, Cecil Mains refused to cooperate with law enforcement and requested legal representation. He was held without bond at Marion County jail and appeared in court for a hearing. A GoFundMe page has been established to aid Jeri’s four children, aged 19, 17, 14, and 10. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears expressed deep sympathy for the children, acknowledging the harrowing nature of the case.
For confidential assistance, individuals can contact the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) offers specialized support for those affected by fatal domestic abuse.