Summary: Cecil Mains, 47, has been charged with murder after his wife, 44-year-old Jerri Mains, was found shot twice in the chest outside their Indianapolis home on Dec. 28. Children in the house made multiple 911 calls during the incident, including one in which a 19-year-old said, "My dad just shot my mom twice." Jerri had filed a protective order three days earlier amid allegations of recent threats and assaults. Cecil fled in a gray Toyota Tundra but was arrested nearby; the couple’s four children are receiving community support.
Indiana Man Charged After Allegedly Shooting Wife in Front of Their Children
Jeri Mains/FacebookJeri Mains
An Indianapolis man has been charged with murder after his wife was fatally shot in front of their children, according to a probable cause affidavit and local court records.
Police say 47-year-old Cecil Mains was taken into custody after officers responded to a report of a person shot on the 8100 block of Meadow Bend Lane just before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. When officers arrived, they found 44-year-old Jerri Mains outside in the driveway with two gunshot wounds to the chest. She was transported to a hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
911 Calls From the Home
Dispatchers received multiple emergency calls from the couple’s children while the shooting was occurring, the affidavit says. In one recorded call, the couple’s 19-year-old son told a dispatcher, "My dad just shot my mom twice ... He shot her in the house and in the driveway." Another child can be heard saying, "My dad is shooting my mom," "I’m hiding," and "Please help me."
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police DepartmentCecil Mains
Allegations Of Prior Abuse And Protective Order
Court records reported by local media indicate Jerri Mains filed for a protective order on Dec. 25, three days before the shooting. The filing alleges a series of threats and assaults in the days leading up to her death, including that on Dec. 23 Cecil Mains threatened to kill both Jerri and himself in a Justice Center parking lot because she planned to file for divorce. The filing also alleges that on Dec. 24 he threw kitchen tongs that struck Jerri, causing bruising and lacerations, and that he punched her in the face in November. These allegations are part of the complaint and have not been proven in court.
Arrest And Next Steps
After the shooting, police say Cecil Mains fled the scene in a gray Toyota Tundra but was located driving nearby. Officers conducted a traffic stop and took him into custody without incident. Prosecutors have charged him with murder; further legal proceedings are expected as the case moves through the court system.
Family Impact
The family’s four children—reported to be 19, 17, 14 and 10 years old—are now facing the loss of their mother. A GoFundMe page established to support the family describes the children’s need for stability and assistance as they recover from the trauma and loss.
Sources: Probable cause affidavit, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department records and local media reports.
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