A mother-of-four was allegedly shot and killed by her abusive husband in front of their children, just days after she filed a desperate plea for a protective order that was never granted, a US court has heard.
A Desperate Plea for Protection
Jeri Mains, 44, was found shot dead at her home in Indiana on December 28. The tragedy occurred a mere three days after she sought legal protection from her husband, Cecil Mains, 46, by filing for a protective order on Christmas Day. In her petition, she described herself as a victim of domestic violence and detailed a horrific Christmas Eve assault where her husband allegedly attacked her with kitchen tongs, causing a laceration and bruising.
Her request for immediate safety was tragically stalled because the court offices were closed for the Christmas holiday, meaning judges were not working to process her urgent application. The protective order was never fulfilled before her death.
A History of Alleged Abuse and Terror
The legal petition painted a chilling picture of sustained abuse. Mrs Mains alleged that her husband had repeatedly terrorised and abused her in front of their four children, aged 19, 17, 14, and 10. The documented incidents included:
- An argument on December 10 where Cecil Mains allegedly punched a computer, sending a cup of hot chocolate flying over her.
- A physical assault in November where he allegedly punched her in the face, resulting in a nosebleed and bruising.
- An incident earlier in the year where he allegedly punched out the driver's side window of her truck.
On previous occasions, he was also said to have threatened to kill their children and family pets, creating an atmosphere of constant fear.
A Tragic Outcome and Aftermath
The situation reached its devastating conclusion on Sunday, December 28. According to police, Cecil Mains allegedly shot his wife in front of their children and left her body in the family home's driveway. Their 10-year-old daughter made the frantic 911 call to dispatchers, reporting that her father had shot her mother before fleeing the scene in a grey Toyota Tundra.
Mrs Mains was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital in a critical condition but was pronounced dead. Police later apprehended Cecil Mains after Officer Daniel Beasley spotted his car travelling nearly 4.5 miles from the family home and initiated a traffic stop.
Cecil Mains now faces preliminary charges of murder and is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail. The couple's four children, who witnessed the horrific event, have been placed in the care of other family members as they mourn. Her family, described as "completely shattered," remembers Jeri Mains as a woman who "loved her friends and family fiercely."
