An Indiana man will spend the next several decades of his life behind bars after he fatally shot his wife in front of their kids just days after she filed a protective order against him.
Cecil Mains was sentenced to 45 years in prison and five years on probation on Monday, October 5, after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife, Jeri Mains, in December 2025.
He was also ordered to have no contact with his minor children for the entirety of his sentence. Once each of the children turn 18, they can petition the court to lift the order.
Cecil, 47, was sentenced more than one month after he pleaded guilty to Jeri’s murder on August 26.
As Us previously reported, Cecil shot Jeri, 44, in the driveway of her Indianapolis home on December 28, 2025. She lived at the home with the couple’s four children, who were 19, 17, 14 and 10 at the time of the shooting.
The couple’s 19-year-old son called 911 to report that Cecil had shot Jeri in front of the children and fled the scene. Officers then responded to the home and found the victim with gunshot wounds. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, and was later declared dead.
Officers later found Cecil driving in the area and he was taken into custody without incident.
Just three days before the murder, on Christmas Day, Jeri filed for a protective order against Cecil. Due to the holiday, a judge was unable to sign off on the order because the courts were closed, according to The Indianapolis Star.
Jeri described herself as a victim of domestic violence in the petition and claimed that Cecil assaulted her with kitchen tongs during an incident on Christmas Eve, causing a laceration and bruising.
According to a probable cause affidavit viewed by Law & Crime, police spoke to Jeri’s brother and he claimed she “caught Cecil cheating on her” and “had Cecil move out of their residence” prior to her murder. He then “began living with his brother,” though it’s not exactly clear when he moved out and how long they were separated before he killed her.
Jeri’s brother also claimed his sister made comments about Cecil “being physically abusive toward her” during their marriage, which she included in her protective order filing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
