On Wednesday, August 20, Tyler McCain was arrested for the murder of his wife, Nikki Cheng-Saelee McCain. The 39-year-old vanished from Redding, California, in May 2024. Dateline first featured her story in its Missing in America series in July 2024.
Nikki’s sister, Kaye Ford, told Dateline in 2024 that Nikki last communicated with her sisters on the evening of May 17, via text. On May 22, after the sisters hadn’t heard from Nikki for several days, she was reported missing to the Redding Police Department. Two days later, the case was transferred to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, as well as Nikki’s family, Nikki had been due to appear in court for a settlement conference on June 3, 2024. Her husband, Tyler McCain, was facing four felony charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident against Nikki in December 2023. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nikki vanished before she could appear in court. On July 5, 2024, the charges against Tyler McCain were dismissed due to Nikki’s inability to appear in court.
In a press conference on March 10, 2025, Tyler spoke out for the first time since Nikki’s disappearance alongside her family. “I’m just here in support, so anything that I can do, I want to do that,” he said.
Days later, on Friday, March 14, 2025, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office shared a press release on their Facebook page, stating that Nikki’s case was now being investigated as a homicide. The press release also stated there had been a search warrant executed at Nikki and Tyler’s residence that same day.
On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to announce an arrest in the case. “Detectives recently obtained a murder arrest warrant for Tyler McCain, and today at about 10:15 a.m. Tyler McCain was arrested,” Sheriff Michael L. Johnson said. “He was ultimately booked in the Shasta County Jail with no bail for the murder of Nikki.”
At the press conference, Sheriff Johnson shared some details of his office’s investigation after Nikki was reported missing on May 22, 2024. “A day after taking the missing person’s case, detectives served a search warrant of Nikki and Tyler’s residence,” he said. “Various items of evidentiary value were seized as evidence.”
Nikki’s Chevy Avalanche was found on May 25, 2024, off Highway 26 near the border of Shasta and Tehama counties. “Detectives and crime scene investigators processed the vehicle and located physical evidence which indicated foul play,” Johnson said.
“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 have determined that Nikki is the victim of homicide. Detectives also further concluded that Nikki’s husband, Tyler Scott McCain, is responsible for Nikki’s death and disappearance.”
“These cases are layered, meticulous, require months of investigation, hundreds and hundreds of personnel hours, not just from investigators, but from law enforcement, boots on the ground, from support services, from forensic evidence, all across the board,” Sheriff Johnson said. “It is very labor-intensive, and it is crucial that all that evidence is collected, preserved, and processed accordingly to make the case.”
Nikki’s body has not yet been found. Finding her remains a priority for the sheriff’s office. “We’ve used search and rescue, we’ve used volunteers, friends, family, advocates within the community have all contributed and looked in drainage, ditches, properties, rural areas, waterways, trying to locate Nikki for the family, and trying to give us that next piece in this case,” Sheriff Johnson said at Wednesday’s press conference.
He also asked for the public’s help. “If you’re watching and you have information and you know where she is, please come forward,” he urged. “Please bring that information forward now that this case is at the point that it is, and provide some relief for Nikki’s family and help end their agonizing pain and search, and let them lay her to rest.”
Two of Nikki’s sisters, Chloe Saelee and Kaye Ford, briefly spoke at the conclusion of Wednesday’s press conference. “We are still fighting for justice to be fully served, for my sister’s memory to be honored and for the healing of our family and community,” Kaye said. “Nothing can erase the pain of losing her, but knowing that the person responsible is being held accountable allows us to move forward with hope from the bottom of our hearts.”
Dateline reached out to Tyler McCain’s attorney for comment, but has not heard back. On Friday, August 22, McCain entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment. He continues to be held without bail.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit by email at [email protected] or at 530-245-6135.
This article mentions domestic violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit http://www.thehotline.org/ for more resources.
This article was updated on 8/22/25 to reflect that Tyler McCain has pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
