Sadly, an Indiana mom faced one of every mother’s worst fears when she was killed in front of all four of her children, allegedly by her husband. According to People, Cecil Mains, 47, was charged with murder in the death of his wife, Jeri Mains, 44. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called to their home on Meadow Bend Lane on December 28, 2025, around 2:30 p.m., according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by the outlet.
The New York Post reviewed court documents and reported that the couple, who have four children ages 19, 17, 14, and 10, were having marital issues that led to the tragic outcome. Jeri Mains had allegedly caught her husband having an affair and planned to leave him just a few days before Christmas.
The Indy Star states that the two had met in a parking lot on December 23, where Cecil Mains reportedly threatened to kill her and himself after Jeri Mains told him she was filing for divorce. On Christmas Day, she filed for a restraining order, stating that the night before her husband had thrown kitchen tongs at her, leaving her with bruises and cuts.
The Post noted that days later he stormed in, unlocked the gun from the safe, and began opening fire.
Multiple children called dispatchers during the shooting, according to the affidavit reviewed by People. Their 19-year-old son reportedly told a dispatcher, “My dad just shot my mom twice … He shot her in the house and in the driveway.”
Authorities also heard a child on the call saying, “My dad is shooting my mom,” “I’m hiding,” “Please help me,” and “My mom had a restraining order against him,” the affidavit states, per People.
One of the heartbreaking detail emerged when that same child cried out on the call, “I can’t live without her.”
Her husband left the home, driving away in a gray Toyota Tundra where officers found him during a conducted traffic stop. They took him into custody without incident. Jeri Mains was taken to a local hospital where she was later declared dead.
“The facts of this case are devastating,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears shared in a statement, according to the Post. “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.”
Family members have set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of $70,000 to help pay for funeral expenses, legal services, mental health support for the kids, and daily living expenses.
“In the midst of this tragedy, Jeri’s family has stepped in without hesitation to provide a safe, loving home,” reads the GoFundMe description. “These kids have already endured more than any child should. Our hope is that they can focus on healing, staying together, and rebuilding their lives with stability and support.”
I cried multiple times reading the words of her children. It is quite literally one of every mother’s worst fears, and I can’t stop hearing those words in my own baby’s sweet voice.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
