More than 15 months after the disappearance of mother-of-four Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain, authorities have arrested her husband, Tyler McCain, on murder charges, according to a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office press release.
Nikki, 33, was last seen on May 17, 2024. Her family’s final contact with her came just after midnight on May 18, when she texted that she was returning a car to her mother-in-law’s house following a hospital visit in Redding, the release stated.
“Since the start of this investigation, detectives have worked tirelessly to locate Nikki and to determine the events leading to her disappearance,” the sheriff’s office said. “Detectives have served numerous search warrants, conducted numerous searches, interviewed family members, friends, and acquaintances of Nikki to no avail in locating her. Based on the evidence gathered, information learned from interviews and the fact that none of Nikki’s family members have heard from Nikki since her disappearance, detectives have determined she is a victim of Homicide.”
Authorities said Nikki was last seen at her Anderson home, where she lived with Tyler. On May 24, 2024, the Major Crimes Unit assumed control of the case and executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing several items of evidentiary value.
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The following day, a citizen found Nikki’s Chevy Avalanche abandoned off Highway 36 near Beegum Gorge Bridge, close to the Shasta–Tehama county line. Investigators recovered physical evidence indicating foul play, though Nikki herself was not found.
After months of searches and interviews, the sheriff’s office reclassified the case as a homicide investigation in March 2025.
On August 20, 2025, 39-year-old Tyler McCain was arrested and booked into Shasta County Jail, where he is being held without bail. He faces charges of special circumstance murder under California Penal Code §190.2, with prosecutors alleging he killed Nikki to prevent her from testifying in a pending criminal case.
In addition to the murder charge, Tyler faces counts of forgery, illegal firearm possession, and domestic violence tied to a December 2023 incident. These charges were previously dismissed but have since been refiled.
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Months before his arrest, Tyler had publicly pleaded for Nikki’s safe return. Speaking at a March 2025 press conference, he told reporters: “We miss you. I don’t really know what to say… I apologize to everyone, especially my children. My wife’s family, mine as well. I’m just here in support, so anything that I can do, I want to do that,” according to KRCR-TV.
Investigators now allege he is responsible for her death.
While the sheriff’s office has not detailed the earlier criminal case, reporting from KRCR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and KPTV shows that Tyler had been charged with felony domestic violence in December 2023. Nikki had accused him of restraining and assaulting her during an hours-long attack. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed in July 2024 when Nikki disappeared and could no longer testify.
Authorities announced the arrest alongside the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, thanking state and federal partners — including the FBI, California Department of Justice, and California Highway Patrol Investigative Services Unit — for their assistance. A $30,000 reward remains available for information leading to Nikki’s location.
