California resident Tyler McCain has been charged with murder 15 months after his wife, Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain, disappeared. Tyler was arrested on August 20, 2025, in connection with his wife going missing in May 2024, Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson said during a news conference.
“Detectives recently obtained a murder arrest warrant for Tyler McCain, and today at about 10:15 a.m. Tyler McCain was arrested,” Johnson announced. “He was ultimately booked in the Shasta County Jail with no bail for the murder of Nikki.”
An informant told investigators that McCain allegedly admitted to killing his wife after 15 years of marriage, according to the New York Post. The couple reportedly had a history of domestic violence since 2020.
A December 2023 incident led to a felony domestic assault case against McCain, the Post previously reported. Saelee-McCain accused him of tying her up and beating her for three hours at their Redding, California, home. During the attack, McCain “intended to kill her,” his wife claimed.
“It is our belief that Tyler McCain murdered his wife, Nikki McCain, to prevent her from testifying in the domestic violence case,” Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said during the news conference.
On May 22, 2024, Saelee-McCain’s sister reported her missing five days after she was last seen, NBC News reported. Her abandoned vehicle, a Chevrolet Avalanche, was found on May 25, 2024, and physical evidence that “indicated foul play” was discovered, per Johnson.
Despite extensive search efforts — with multiple agencies “working tirelessly,” Johnson said — Nikki’s body still has not been found.
“Based on the evidence gathered, information learned from interviews and the fact that no one in Nikki’s family has seen or heard from Nikki since her disappearance, the detectives determined that Nikki is a victim of homicide,” Johnson shared, per NBC News. “Detectives also further concluded that Nikki’s husband, Tyler Scott McCain, is responsible for Nikki’s death and disappearance.”
McCain has been charged with one count of murder with a special circumstance of intent to prevent testimony, WDBJ reported. Additionally, he faces charges related to the 2023 domestic violence case that were previously dropped.
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).
