“‘My dad is shooting my mom!’: Mother shot by husband in front of children with .380 after she kicked him out for cheating, police say”
Left inset: Cecil Mains (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department). Right inset: Jeri Mains (GoFundMe). Background: The Indiana home where Jeri Mains was allegedly shot and killed by her husband in front of their four children (WTHR).
An Indiana woman was fatally shot by her husband in front of their four children just days after she filed for a protective order, according to police and court records.
Cecil Mains, 46, was charged with murder after allegedly shooting his wife, Jeri Mains, 44, at their home. Authorities say the shooting occurred in the presence of the couple’s children, ages 19, 16, 14, and 10. All four children contacted emergency services during or immediately after the incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit, one of the children told a 911 dispatcher that their father was shooting their mother and said the family had a restraining order against him. Multiple calls were placed to police, with officers noting loud commotion in the background.
Court records show that Jeri Mains filed for a protective order on Christmas Day, three days before the shooting. Because the filing occurred on a holiday, a judge was unable to review or sign the order before the courts reopened, according to local reports.
In her petition, Jeri Mains stated she was a victim of domestic violence. She alleged that her husband had assaulted her on multiple occasions, including an incident on Christmas Eve that caused visible injuries. Court officials confirmed the filing but said the document remains confidential.
Investigators also spoke with Jeri Mains’ brother, who said she had recently forced Cecil Mains to move out after discovering he had been unfaithful. He told police she had previously discussed ongoing physical abuse during their marriage.
Additional court filings and reports allege that Cecil Mains had threatened violence toward his family and caused damage to property during past disputes. One child reportedly told police that they had previously heard their father threaten to kill the family.
Police say that after the shooting, Cecil Mains fled the scene in his vehicle, leaving his wife in the driveway. He was arrested the following day after officers located and stopped his truck.
Cecil Mains is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10 for an attorney conference.
A GoFundMe created to support the children describes the family as having suffered an unimaginable loss, noting that their lives have been permanently changed.
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