A lacking California mom who allegedly deliberate to divorce her husband earlier than she mysteriously vanished final 12 months is a sufferer of murder, police revealed Friday in a stunning replace on the 10-month investigation.
Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain was final heard from on Could 18, 2024, 10 days after she texted family members about her plans to finish her 15-year marriage with husband Tyler McCain.
A lacking particular person’s report filed for the mom of 4 on Could 22, 2024 was upgraded to a murder investigation, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Workplace introduced.
“Based on evidence gathered, information learned from interviews and the fact that none of Nikki’s family members have heard from Nikki since May 18th, 2024, detectives have determined Nikki is a victim of Homicide,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
Officers executed a number of search warrants all through the case and have recognized a number of “persons of interest,” within the suspected killing.
Police haven’t publicly recognized the individuals because of the “ongoing nature of the investigation.”
A workforce that included the sheriff’s workplace, the FBI, and brokers from Homeland Safety served a search warrant on Friday on the final identified residence of Saelee-McCain earlier than she was reported lacking.
The property on the 17000 block of Olinda Street in Anderson, Calif. had a number of vehicles within the yard surrounded by a gated fence, in keeping with road view photographs.
Police are searching for the driving force of a crimson coloured truck that picked up an grownup male within the rural group of Platina, Calif., between Could 18 and Could 25, 2024.
The realm is situated 45 miles southwest of the Anderson home.
Officers haven’t filed any expenses within the case and have interviewed Saelee-McCain’s household, buddies and acquaintances for data.
The mom of 4 messaged members of the family about her want to depart her husband, who had been charged with felony home violence. McCain was on trial for felony abuse expenses towards his spouse.
Saelee-McCain claimed her husband had “intended to kill her.”
Tyler McCain was accused by his spouse of tying her up and viciously beating her over three hours inside their dwelling. He was by no means named a suspect in her disappearance.
Chloe Saelee recalled not recognizing her sister within the hospital after the alleged assault.
Saelee revealed final 12 months that police had been referred to as to their dwelling a number of instances as a result of McCain had change into more and more violent because the pandemic.
Saelee stated her sister was wanting ahead to her new life, in a brand new dwelling and successful her youngsters within the divorce.
“She was really excited. She was looking at furniture for a new place and she was ready to leave Tyler and divorce him for good,” Saelee informed the US Solar.
“She was really confident and determined – and she was ready to take those next steps, finally,” she added.
On March 10, McCain spoke out for the primary time since his spouse vanished.
“I haven’t been in the public eye and … I haven’t done very well with it” McCain informed KHSL. “I apologize to everyone, especially my children, my wife’s family and mine as well.”
The costs towards McCain have been dropped after his spouse’s disappearance.
He had pleaded not responsible to the assault, claiming that his spouse obtained her accidents from a combat with another person.
Officers are providing a mixed reward of as much as $30,000 for data that results in the placement of Saelee-McCain.
