A 44-year-old mother was allegedly shot and killed by her husband on their driveway in front of her four children, just days after she told him she wanted a divorce and obtained a restraining order.
A Fatal Confrontation After Christmas
Jeri Mains, 44, died in hospital after being shot twice outside a home in southeast Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 28. The incident occurred just three days after Christmas. Her husband, 47-year-old Cecil Mains, has been charged with her murder.
According to court documents, the couple's children made multiple frantic calls to emergency services, reporting that their father had shot their mother before fleeing the scene in a grey Toyota Tundra pick-up truck. Cecil Mains was later apprehended by police at a junction in southwest Indianapolis and taken into custody.
A History of Threats and Abuse
Investigations revealed a distressing pattern of behaviour leading up to the fatal shooting. Jeri Mains' brother told detectives that Cecil had been physically abusive earlier in the year and had been kicked out of the family home due to infidelity.
Court filings state that on December 23, when Jeri informed Cecil she wanted a divorce, he became enraged and threatened to kill both her and himself. On Christmas Day, she filed for a restraining order against him. That same day, she allegedly suffered bruising and cuts to her arm after he threw kitchen tongs at her.
Her children and brother all recalled previous threats from Cecil to kill Jeri and other family members.
Devastating Aftermath for a Family
The coroner's report confirmed the bullets struck Jeri Mains' heart, liver, and spine, causing fatal bleeding. Cecil Mains refused to speak to officers upon his arrest, immediately requesting a lawyer. He has been remanded at Marion County jail without bond and appeared in court for a hearing on Monday.
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Jeri's four children, aged 19, 17, 14, and 10, who are now without both parents. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said: "The facts of this case are devastating. As we move forward with the criminal proceedings, our thoughts remain with Jeri's four children, who have endured an unthinkable tragedy and are now facing an incredibly difficult journey ahead."
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. Those affected by fatal domestic abuse can contact AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) at www.aafda.org.uk.
