Domestic violence charges against a California man accused of physically assaulting his missing wife have been dismissed.
“On Friday, July 5, 2024, at the Trial Readiness Conference the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office made the difficult decision to renew our request to dismiss the case against Tyler McCain, 23F9367, because the victim, Nikki McCain, has still not been located and her presence at this point in time is necessary to move forward with this case,” the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said in an emailed statement to CrimeOnline.
As CrrimeOnline previously reported, Redding Police Department said that Nikki last spoke to family on May 17. Someone reportedly picked her up from a home in Redding on that day, near the Win-River Casino.
Her truck was also reported missing, but police later found it, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche with California License Plate DP154UT, on May 25, in western Tehama County, according to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett pushed for the domestic violence dismissal. The presiding judge, Honorable Daniel E. Flynn, decided to delay the proceedings until July 5, to allow time for locating Nikki, or for new evidence to surface.
“As previously stated in Court the DA’s office has exhausted all avenues to prove the case at this time without her. The DA’s office reserves all rights to refile this case in the future,” the sheriff’s office continued.
Nikki McCain, Shasta County PD by Leigh Egan
Tyler McCain was arrested and charged on December 2 for false imprisonment, corporal injury to a spouse, assault with force and criminal threats. On May 7, he pleaded not guilty and a little over a week later, Nikki vanished.
Nikki’s loved ones are worried about the evidence, since Nikki is still missing and can’t provide additional information.
Court documents indicate that police arrived at the Mercy Hospital in Redding on December 1 to speak to a patient at the hospital, referred in the documents as a “confidential victim.”
The responding officer noted that he immediately saw the victim with face trauma, including damage to her forehead and eyes.
“Both of her eyes were blackened severely; both were swollen in what appeared to be a physical assault,” Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputy Gerry Maul wrote.
The victim, when questioned, informed Maul that the injuries were caused by her husband, Tyler McCain, and said he hit her with an open fist around 10 to 15 times. She added that Tyler locked the door at their home in Anderson, while she was in her bedroom brushing her hair, then became “extremely agitated” and “was not making any sense.”
He then jumped on her and began hitting her, pulling her hair, and pouring water over her. The attack, she said, happened for several hours. The victim said she thought she was going to die and that her husband bound her arms and legs together, and told her he planned to kill her.
Deputy Maul’s observations of the victim’s injuries confirmed she had been repeatedly struck and could not have defended herself against Tyler, who is much larger than the victim
The victim eventually tried to escape in her car, but Tyler reportedly jumped onto it, preventing her from leaving. This confrontation led to her hospitalization and Tyler’s arrest. Evidence, including photos of her injuries and medical releases, was collected.
Deputy Maul later spoke with Tyler, who acknowledged that the victim was his wife, Nikki McCain. Tyler claimed he knew about her injuries but did not witness them, suggesting instead that the altercation was between his wife and another woman.
Deputy Maul found Tyler’s account inconsistent with the injuries and circumstances described.
Meanwhile, the search continues.
“At this point, the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office will not be providing additional information about the reason for the request to dismiss because we do not want to jeopardize our ability to refile in the future nor do we want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation into Nikki McCain’s disappearance.” the sheriff’s office said.
Nikki is described as standing 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes, and a tattoo on her left forearm of several roses.
“Without her, they all have a piece of her heart that is empty,” family friend Ray Smith said in May.
Anyone with information about the case should call the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135, or email them at MCU@shastacounty.gov, or contact Shasta County’s “Secret Witness” at (530) 243 – 2319.
The Nor-Cal Alliance For The Missing announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to her whereabouts.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain/Handout
