Indiana man kills wife 3 days after protective order filed

Indiana Man Charged with Murder of His Wife

An Indiana man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his wife. This incident occurred days after she kicked him out of their home and filed for a restraining order against him.

Details of the Incident

The couple’s four children, ages 10, 14, 16, and 19, were home during the shooting on December 28. They called 911, according to WRTV.

Cecil Mains, 46, fled the scene after leaving 44-year-old Jeri Mains dying in the driveway. He was arrested shortly after during a traffic stop. Mains refused to speak with detectives and requested an attorney.

Evidence Collected

Police found a .380 caliber handgun in Mains’ vehicle. This gun matched the ammunition found at the shooting scene, according to court documents.

History of Domestic Violence

The Indianapolis Star reported multiple incidents of domestic violence before the shooting. Jeri Mains filed for a protection order at about 10:30 a.m. on December 25. However, the petition was not reviewed by a judge because the offices were closed from December 24 through 28.

In her petition, Jeri Mains stated that Cecil Mains threw kitchen tongs at her the night before, causing a cut on her arm and bruising. A day earlier, he allegedly threatened to kill her and himself in a parking lot because she was filing for divorce. She mentioned having a recording of these threats.

Previous Incidents

Earlier in the month, he punched her computer and spilled hot chocolate on her. In November, he punched her in the face. Months prior, he broke the driver’s side window of her truck by punching it. She also noted that he had threatened to kill her, their children, and their pets multiple times over the years.

Aftermath of the Shooting

Unfortunately, the holidays meant it was too late to prevent the murder. Police found Jeri Mains in the driveway. Medics took her to Eskenazi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, WRTV reported.

“The facts of this case are devastating,” said Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “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.”