Authorities in California have filed a murder charge against the husband of a 39-year-old Redding woman who disappeared more than 15 months ago.
The Shasta County District Attorney’s Office charged Tyler McCain with one count of murder with a special circumstance of intent to prevent testimony and refiled domestic violence charges against him from 2023, KRCR reported.
Those domestic violence charges were dropped after Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain’s disappearance.
Redding Police Department said Saelee-McCain last spoke to her family on May 17, 2024, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Her truck was also reported missing, but police found it a week later in western Tehama County, according to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
Evidence of decomposition and blood was found in the vehicle, and it was determined the material belonged to the missing woman, KRCR said.
Authorities said in April they had reclassified the missing persons case as a homicide.
According to the district attorney’s office, Tyler McCain admitted to a confidential informant that he killed his wife after a domestic violence incident on May 18, 2024. The investigation uncovered a history of domestic violence dating back to 2020.
Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett acknowledged the frustrations over the lengthy investigation and the dismissal of the original domestic violence charges. She noted that without Saelee-McCain’s testimony, those charges would have been difficult to prove, but the new information changed the dynamic.
“I would like to thank the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work, dedication and their truly collaborative effort to bring this investigation to a close with sufficient evidence for us to file charges, including murder,” Bridgett said. “I hope the filing of these charges brings some measure of closure to Nikki’s family and to our community who have tirelessly advocated for answers.”
Bridgett said that McCain also faces several other charges, including weapons and ammunition charges, forgery, and for an incident earlier this year in which he was seen throwing items out of his vehicle and found to have Nikki McCain’s burnt driver’s license in his possession.
Selee-McCain’s family made a brief statement thanking law enforcement and the community at the news conference.
McCain is being held without bond and is due in court for arraignment on Friday. A reward of up to $30,000 remains for information leading to Saelee-McCain’s location. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Crimes Unit at [email protected] or 530-245-6135.
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[Featured image: Tyler McCain/Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and Nikki Saelee-McCain/handout]
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Author: KC Wildmoon
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