Inset: Jeri Mains (GoFundMe). Background: The Indiana home where Jeri Mains was allegedly shot and killed by her husband in front of their four children (WTHR).
In a heartbreaking case out of Indiana, a mother who suffered repeated attacks from her husband sought legal protection only to face a tragic end just days later. According to police and court records, Jeri Mains filed for a protective order against her husband, Cecil Mains, on Christmas Day. However, the timing meant court offices were closed, and a judge was unable to process her request immediately. Three days later, she was killed.
The couple’s 10-year-old daughter bravely dialed 911, reporting her mother’s death on Sunday afternoon. She described to dispatchers how her father, 46-year-old Cecil Mains, had shot Jeri and then fled in a gray Toyota Tundra, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate WRTV.
Documents sourced by WRTV and The Indianapolis Star reveal that Jeri detailed her experiences as a victim of domestic violence in her protective order request. She recounted an incident on Christmas Eve where Cecil allegedly assaulted her with kitchen tongs, leaving her with a laceration and bruises.
While court officials confirmed the filing of the petition to Law&Crime, they also emphasized the document’s “confidential” status.
The IndyStar reports further allegations in Jeri’s petition, painting a distressing picture of ongoing violence. On December 10, a heated argument ended with Cecil punching a computer, causing a cup of hot chocolate to spill over Jeri. In November, a confrontation turned violent when Cecil reportedly struck Jeri in the face, resulting in a bloody nose and bruising. The petition also accused him of smashing the driver’s side window of her truck earlier in the year and making repeated threats to harm their four children and pets.
On Christmas Eve, Cecil Mains met Jeri Mains in a court parking lot after she informed him that she wanted to file for divorce, according to the petition. Jeri Mains said she recorded a conversation with her husband in which he threatened to kill himself in front of her and their kids.
The IndyStar reports that a Marion County judge was unable to see Jeri Mains’ protective order petition because his office was closed from Dec. 24-28.
Police say Cecil Mains shot and killed Jeri Mains in front of their four children, then left her body in the driveway before fleeing in his Tundra. He was arrested the following day after authorities spotted his vehicle and pulled him over.
“These kids have … endured more than any child should,” a GoFundMe description says about the family. The fundraiser describes how Jeri Mains was “tragically taken,” leaving behind a 19-year-old, 17-year-old, 14-year-old and 10-year-old.
“All their lives have changed,” the description says.
Cecil Mains is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail on a preliminary charge of murder.