Mom of four kicked husband out of house on Christmas after disturbing assault, three days later, he returned with a gun

A husband has been charged with fatally shooting his wife in their Indianapolis home while their children frantically called 911 for help. The killing occurred just days after the mother of four had forced him to leave the family residence and obtained a restraining order against him.

According to the NY Post, Cecil Mains, 47, is accused of murdering his 44-year-old wife, Jerri Mains, on December 28. The couple’s four children, aged 19, 17, 14, and 10, were reportedly present during the attack, witnessing the horrifying scene.

Police say the children were the ones to contact emergency services, placing desperate calls as the violence unfolded. Authorities have charged Cecil Mains with homicide, and the investigation is ongoing. The couple’s children made several 911 calls while the shooting was happening.

The tragedy followed cheating accusations and Christmas assault

One child begged for help, saying “My dad is shooting my mom” and “I can’t live without her.” Another child told dispatchers, “My dad just shot my mom twice. He shot her in the house and in the driveway.” Police found Jerri in the driveway. She died at the hospital after being shot twice in the chest.

Court documents reveal that the deadly incident unfolded after Jerri Mains discovered her husband, Cecil Mains, was cheating on her and decided to leave the marriage. Tensions escalated in the days that followed.

According to the documents, Jerri filed a protection order on Christmas Day after Cecil allegedly attacked her with kitchen tongs the night before and repeatedly threatened to kill her. Despite the legal measures intended to protect her, the violence tragically culminated on December 28, when Cecil is accused of fatally shooting Jerri in their Indianapolis home while their children looked on.

The holiday that should have brought joy instead turned violent, similar to how some Christmas gifts become awkward donations shortly after being unwrapped. Three days after she kicked him out of their home, Mains came back to the house. He grabbed a locked gun and shot his wife, police said.

Mains ran away in his pickup truck after the shooting but police caught him nearby during a traffic stop. He was charged with murder on Tuesday. The violence during the holiday season comes as Donald Trump sent a chilling Christmas message to global threats.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears called the case devastating. “The facts of this case are devastating,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “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.”