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New Sources Shed Light on Allegations of Domestic Violence Endured by Missing Shasta County Woman, Nikki Saelee-McCain


Nikki Saelee-McCain is missing, and the 39-year-old Shasta County woman’s close-knit family is frantic with worry. Their last communication with Nikki was on Sat., May 18, when she texted her younger sister Chloe Saelee, at about 12:35 a.m.

Nikki’s brief text said she was driving the truck that belonged to her mother-in-law Jeannette McCain. Earlier, Nikki had accompanied her mother-in-law to the hospital to visit McCain’s other son — Nikki’s brother-in-law — Brian McCain, who was in the hospital because of a medical emergency.

That text message was the last known communication anyone received from Nikki.

Nikki’s family members noticed that according to their iPhones, Nikki’s phone did not receive any of their text messages after Nikki’s final May 18 message. They concluded that Nikki’s phone had either been turned off, was broken, or perhaps the battery needed charging.

After a few days passed, members of Nikki’s family compared notes and collectively realized that nobody had heard from Nikki since May 18.

Nikki’s family reports her disappearance  

On Tues. May 21, Nikki’s family was panicked after not being able to contact her for three days, something that was unusual, because the siblings in particular kept in frequent, close touch with one another.

Left to right: Kaye Ford, Nikki McCain, Mey Martin and Chloe Saelee. Photo courtesy of the Saelee family.

Fearing something had happened to Nikki, they contacted the Redding Police Department to report Nikki missing.

The missing person’s case was subsequently taken up by the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, due to the fact that Nikki lived approximately 10 miles west of Anderson in the rural unincorporated community of Happy Valley. However, the family theorized that RPD had jurisdiction since Nikki’s last known whereabouts was Mercy Medical Center, which is located within Redding city limits.

Nikki, an Asian American of Mien descent who is 5’0’’ tall and weighs about 100 pounds, has now been missing for nearly two months. The SCSO is currently the lead agency in the missing person investigation.

Poster asks the public to contact the SCSO or Nor-Cal Alliance for the Missing with information regarding Nikki Saelee-McCain’s whereabouts

Some members of Nikki’s family told A News Café that they are uncertain about many details, such as whether Nikki made it to her mother-in-law’s house after leaving the hospital on May 18.

They did not know if Nikki had parked her truck at her mother-in-law’s home before traveling to the hospital, or if she drove it away from her mother-in-law’s home before she disappeared.

Finally, they are uncertain of Nikki’s activities before she visited the hospital with her mother-in-law. They don’t know if she was traveling alone, or who else — aside from the mother-and-son McCains — she may have encountered before, during or after the hospital visit.

However, they do know that shortly after Nikki went missing, the mother-in-law had possession of her vehicle again, the one Nikki had previously driven for the hospital visit the day she went missing.

Born in a refugee camp in Thailand in 1984, Nikki is the third oldest of seven children. Two of Nikki’s siblings were also born in Thailand before the family immigrated to the U.S.

During a recent appearance on Shasta Unmasked, a local radio show on KCNR 96.5 FM, Nikki’s younger sister Chloe Saelee explained how her parents came to the United States in the mid-1980s in search of the American dream. They ended up in Redding.

Truck found in Tehama County

On May 25, one week after Nikki went missing, her truck, a pewter-colored 2002 Chevy Avalanche, was located around 50 miles southwest of Mercy Medical Center, her last known whereabouts. Law enforcement officials located Nikki’s truck along HWY36 around 50 miles west of Red Bluff in Tehama County near the small defunct town of Beegum.

Nikki had only owned the truck for a few weeks before she disappeared.

On May 30, the SCSO released a statement saying Nikki’s truck had been located, and asked the public to contact the SCSO if they had any information regarding Nikki’s whereabouts.

The fact that Nikki’s truck was found so far from her last known whereabouts suggests that at least two people and an additional vehicle were involved in parking the truck and leaving it there.

There are only a two paved roadways between where Nikki was last seen and her truck’s location.

Before being dropped off, Nikki’s truck was either driven west on Highway 36 from the direction of Bowman Road and Cottonwood, or on Platina Road from the Redding Area. Platina Road connects with HWY 36 near Beegum. The only other route is a 4-wheel drive dirt road that crosses a creek.

The coordinates for Nikki’s truck’s location were 40.340394, -122.851018.

This Google map shows the location Nikki’s truck was found (red pin), as well as the only two routes possible to reach the location. Nikki and Tyler’s home is located in the middle of the region on the map in Happy Valley.

Redding Rancheria connections

Nikki’s mother-in-law, Jeanette McCain, is an enrolled member of the Redding Rancheria Tribe. Jeanette’s father, Orval Hayward, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 69, was employed as the Facilities Manager at Win-River Casino until he retired in 2002.

Hayward was considered a Wintu and Redding Rancheria Tribal Elder before passing away. He played an important role in the opening of the Win-River Casino in 1993.

Nikki worked as a cocktail waitress at Win-River Casino up until a few years ago, and some of her family members have also worked at the casino.

The Redding Rancheria issued a press release stating that it is supporting all efforts to locate Nikki, and has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information regarding Nikki’s whereabouts. The Redding Rancheria is in communication with the SCSO and NorCal Alliance for the Missing to help find Nikki.

A rocky relationship

Nikki’s husband – and Jeanette McCain’s son – is 39-year-old Tyler McCain. Tyler and his mother are both enrolled members of the Redding Rancheria.

Nikki and Tyler have been married for 16 years. They have four children.

According to numerous sources, during the last four to to five years Nikki and Tyler’s relationship suffered from an increased number of violent episodes.

On June 3, the subject of domestic violence in the couple’s relationship was addressed publicly when two of Nikki’s sisters, Chloe Saelee and Kaye Ford, appeared on the television show Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Saelee told Grace she’d started to notice in 2019 that her sister Nikki occasionally had black eyes, and bruises on her body. She said she thought Nikki didn’t want to talk about the bruises because she was embarrassed about being a victim of domestic violence, and wanted to live up to her desired image as the stronger older sister.

Saelee and Ford both spoke to A News Café for this story. Saelee said despite Nikki being a victim of domestic violence, Nikki loved Tyler, and said that the two repeatedly tried to mend their relationship.

A recent photograph of Nikki Saelee-McCain and her husband Tyler McCain.

Sources vetted by Nikki’s sisters Saelee and Ford told A News Café that the Redding Rancheria Tribal Court removed Nikki and Tyler’s four children from their home due to the ongoing domestic violence taking place in the their home.

One source —  who requested A News Café not disclose their identity to protect their safety — said that during one of the couple’s many fights Nikki allegedly hit Tyler in the face with a cutting board with such force that it left a gash on McCain’s eyebrow and forehead.

That source told A News Café that immediately following the cutting-board incident, McCain called his mother to tell her what happened. Shortly afterward law enforcement officials arrived at the couple’s home and said they’d received a report that Tyler had been injured during a fight.

“The Tribe CPS took over and labeled Nikki the primary aggressor,” the source said. “They told Tyler he could go home with his kids, but Nikki could not. Tyler told them no, he’s going home with his wife. This is all words from Tyler.”

The source said Nikki and Tyler lost custody of their children following the cutting-board incident. Nikki’s and Tyler’s children now live with members of Nikki’s family.

Nikki goes to the hospital

Roughly five years after Nikki’s sisters started to notice the bruises and black eyes, Nikki was hospitalized after McCain reportedly violently attacked her – something McCain denies.

On Dec. 1, 2023, Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputy Gerry Maul responded to Mercy Medical Center after receiving a report that Nikki visited the hospital to seek medical help after she was reportedly severely assaulted by Tyler at their Happy Valley home a few days earlier, on Nov. 29, 2023.

Deputy Maul’s incident report noted that the area around both of Nikki’s eyes was blackened severely and swollen and that it appeared as if she had been hit in the face multiple times.

Nikki told Deputy Maul that Tyler attacked her when she arrived home on the evening of Nov. 29, 2023. Tyler, according to Nikki, pinned her to the ground and dragged her around while repeatedly hitting her in the face and yelling at her.

Nikki claimed Tyler had a glazed and scary look in his eyes. Nikki told Deputy Maul that she believed Tyler periodically used methamphetamine. Multiple sources told A News Café that they suspected Tyler allegedly used methamphetamine.

Nikki also reported that Tyler pulled out pieces of her hair and poured cold water on her while pinning her down on the ground.

‘Tyler might actually intend to kill her’

According to the SCSO incident report, Tyler allegedly beat up Nikki for approximately three hours in their home on the evening of Nov. 29, 2023. Nikki said Tyler bound her ankles and placed a piece of tape over her mouth. Nikki also said Tyler turned her on her stomach and sat on top of her.

According to Deputy Maul, Nikki “said she thought she was going to die, that Tyler might actually intend to kill her.”

Nikki allegedly lay on the ground for several hours as Tyler periodically hit her in the face with his hands. At one point, according to Nikki, Tyler tried to wrap something around her neck to strangle her.

Deputy Maul wrote in the incident report that he did not notice any strangle or choke marks around Nikki’s neck. Deputy Maul also noted that Nikki said she was not sexually assaulted during the incident.

“Tyler is substantially larger and stronger than she is and there would be no way for her to fend him off in his fit of rage during the assault,” said Deputy Maul in the report.

Nikki escapes her home

At about 11:30 p.m. on the night of Nov. 29, 2023, Nikki allegedly escaped from her home to get away from Tyler.

Nikki told Deputy Maul that after Tyler went to the kitchen area in the house for several minutes, she grabbed her robe and car keys and fled to her vehicle parked in the front of the house to attempt to drive away and escape from Tyler.

Nikki said Tyler chased her out of the home and jumped onto the hood of her car to try to prevent her from leaving the property – she nonetheless escaped and was able to leave the property.

Shortly after the alleged attack, Nikki visited One Safe Place in Redding to receive support to for being a victim of domestic violence. Nikki also started to meet regularly with a victim’s advocate provided by the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.

‘Tyler’s statement sounded inconsistent’
Deputy Maul arrested Tyler at his and Nikki’s home after meeting with Nikki at the hospital.

Tyler told Deputy Maul he was unaware of any injuries suffered by Nikki, and that there had been no disturbance at their home on the evening of Nov. 29, 2023.

Tyler also told Deputy Maul that he thought Nikki had gotten into a fight with another female.

“Tyler’s statement sounded inconsistent, saying that he believed the confidential victim was having an affair with another female, but then went on to say that they had got along great, and have been together as a happy couple, never having any type of physical altercations between them,” wrote Deputy Maul.

Tyler was charged with four felonies, which included a felony domestic violence charge, along with a false imprisonment charge, and a terroristic threats charge.

Deputy Maul noted that five firearms were found inside of the bedroom area in plain view of were Tyler and Nikki resided. One of the firearms, an AK-47-style rifle, had been reported stolen out of Oregon.

Tyler’s firearms were confiscated and booked into the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab.

Not long after being booked into the Shasta County Jail, Tyler posted bail and was released from the Shasta County Jail.

Tyler pleads not guilty, Nikki goes missing

On May 7, 2024, during a hearing inside the Shasta County Superior Court building, Tyler pleaded not guilty to the domestic violence—related felony charges leveled against him.

Nikki reportedly told her sister Chloe Saelee in a text message dated May 7 — the same day as the court hearing — that she was preparing to file for divorce to end her marriage with Tyler.

Nikki went missing on May 18, just 11 days after the May 7 domestic violence hearing.

On June 28, more than one month after Nikki went missing, Shasta County Superior Court Judge Daniel Flynn decided to continue the domestic violence hearing until July 5 to give the prosecution more time to find Nikki, or secure additional evidence to support the felony charges against Tyler.

On June 28, approximately 80 people rallied outside the Shasta County Superior Court building on to show support for Nikki. Many carried posters that said “Justice for Nikki.” At one moment the crowd chanted “No Justice, No Peace, if Tyler’s on the Streets.”

In video recorded by Chloe Saelee that has been widely circulated on social media, Tyler is seen flipping off those who showed up to protest against him in support of Nikki at the court building as he entered the building.

‘Tyler, where is Nikki?’

In the video Saelee recorded then shared online of Tyler walking into the court building, Saelee can be heard repeatedly asking, “Tyler, where is Nikki?” as he walked closely by her, after he had flipped off protesters.

Tyler shrugged his shoulders at Saelee, as if to say he didn’t know what happened to Nikki, as he walked at a swift pace by her with his hands in his pockets.

Tyler McCain flips off protesters as he walks by Nikki’s sister Chloe Saelee on his way to the Shasta County Superior Court building on June 28, 2023.

Chloe Saelee and Kaye Ford join protesters outside the Shasta County Superior Court building on June 28, 2024.

Protesters gather in support of Nikki Saelee-McCain outside the Shasta County Superior Court building on June 28, 2024.

“I didn’t expect him to flip me off, and I didn’t expect him to be so arrogant,” said Saelee to A News Café. Kaye Ford, Nikki’s other sister, said, “The abrasiveness is what really shocked us.”

Nikki’s sister Kaye Ford said on Nancy Grace’s television show that Tyler has not joined up with any of the volunteer parties searching for Nikki. Ford said she talked to Tyler before the June 28 hearing, and he said he didn’t know what happened to Nikki.

Despite Tyler’s claims that he doesn’t know what happened to Nikki, Tyler continues to recount different versions of different stories regarding his best guesses about might have happened to Nikki.

Saelee told Nancy Grace that when she and Ford visited Tyler at his and Nikki’s home, Tyler said Nikki was picked up by an Uber driver and “went somewhere.”

Tyler allegedly told other members of Nikki’s family that Nikki hooked up with a lesbian lover. He also told family members that Nikki ran off to Las Vegas with another guy.

Tyler cited for starting fire

On July 3 — sandwiched between the June 28 court date and the July 5 court date — a fire burned a portion of Nikki and Tyler’s 3.5-acre property where their home is located. The fire also burned a portion of a neighboring property.

Tyler was cited for starting the fire. He reportedly told authorities that the fire was caused by a catalytic converter on a car he parked on dry grass.

Tyler McCain speaks with a firefighter on his property on July 3, 2024.

SCSO Deputies, RPD officers, and Cal Fire Law Enforcement officials arrived to the scene to inspect the property while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Tyler was not arrested for starting the fire because, according to Cal Fire, there was not enough evidence to prove criminal negligence.

The fire put neighboring properties in danger and led to some evacuations. The fire destroyed several cars parked on Nikki and Tyler’s property, but it did not damage their home.

Shasta County DA dismisses case

On July 5, 2024, two days after the fire, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett announced through a press release that her office had decided to dismiss all four of the felony charges against Tyler that stemmed from his Dec. 2023 arrest and alleged attack on Nikki.

District Attorney Bridgett said the DA’s office dismissed the case because Nikki had not been located and her presence was necessary to move forward with the case.

The press release also said that the DA’s office had exhausted all avenues to prove the case without Nikki. The DA’s office made it clear that it reserves the right to refile the case against Tyler in the future, and has two-and-a-half years to do so.

District Attorney Bridgett said during a television news broadcast that she feared Tyler would have been found not guilty, had he been tried without Nikki present to testify against him – and the DA’s office would not have been able to try Tyler a second time, if found not guilty, due to the Double Jeopardy Clause.

“We want Tyler McCain to be held liable,” said District Attorney Bridgett, “but we simply cannot do that at this time.”

Protests were held in support of Nikki in front of the Shasta County Superior Court building in Redding and in front of the California State Capitol in Sacramento on July 5.

Tyler McCain’s brushes with the law

According to public records, Tyler has had numerous run-ins with the law in the last decade and a half.

Tyler appeared before a Shasta County Superior Court judge to face felony burglary and misdemeanor vandalism charges in 2008. The burglary charge was dismissed, and Tyler pled guilty to misdemeanor vandalism, which resulted in three years of probation.

In 2020, Tyler pled guilty to a DUI charge. Tyler’s blood alcohol level of .20% was more than double the legal limit when he was arrested. The judge gave Tyler three years of probation, and required him to use an ignition interlock device.

Following his DUI arrest, Tyler was arrested for driving with a suspended license in May of 2023.

settlement conference regarding the driving with a suspended license charge is set to take place on Aug. 19, 2024. Although Tyler has repeatedly been spotted driving in the greater Redding area, sources indicate that Tyler’s driver’s license is still suspended.

A News Café did not discover any public court records showing that Nikki had a criminal history.

Confidential sources speak out

A source who wishes to remain anonymous to protect their safety spoke with A News Café regarding Nikki and Tyler’s relationship.

The source said that Nikki and Tyler often engaged in fights with one another at their Happy Valley home, and added that the source witnessed Tyler physically attack Nikki.

The confidential source told A News Café that SCSO deputies visited the home frequently, sometimes one to two times in the same week.

In one instance in the winter of 2023, not long before Nikki was hospitalized, the source said Nikki was assisted by neighbors after screaming out for help on her and Tyler’s property because Tyler was attacking her.

Nikki reportedly fled the couple’s property, saying Tyler had tried to strangle her. Nikki’s feet were allegedly bleeding because she had stepped on glass broken inside their home during a fight.

The source said Tyler allegedly threw water on Nikki, threw her out of the house and locked the doors. Furthermore, the source said Nikki appeared as if she had been struck in the face, with facial bruises and swollen lips. According to the source, Nikki also had marks around her neck, which looked to the source as if she had been choked with bare hands.

The source echoed what Nikki’s sisters have publicly expressed; that for several years leading up to her disappearance, Nikki had been a frequent victim of domestic violence.

According to the source who shared the story about the bloody-feet incident, Nikki occasionally left the couple’s home after fighting with Tyler, and after being attacked by Tyler, but said Nikki always ended up coming back.

The source said Tyler works on cars on the property at all hours of the day.

In addition to the bloody-feet incident, the source recalled a time when Nikki and Tyler’s neighbors called 911 after Tyler was witnessed chasing Nikki around the yard while wielding a large wrench.

According to the confidential source, neighbors also witnessed Tyler pour gas on Nikki’s vehicle, and once heard Tyler tell Nikki he was going to cut her head off.

Chloe Saelee and Kaye Ford are confident that the SCSO is investing as many resources as possible in their sister’s case to ultimately not just find Nikki, but secure justice for her.

To date, the SCSO has remained relatively quiet about Nikki’s disappearance, causing some people to speculate that perhaps the SCSO is dealing with some serious leads that they are not ready to release to the public during their ongoing investigation.

But Nikki’s family will not remain quiet.

“We’re not going to stop searching – we’re going to keep searching until we find her,” said Chloe Saelee when asked what message she would like to share with the public.

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If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please reach out and ask for help and support. One Safe Place in Redding can be reached at (530) 244-0117. Help is also available at the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

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If you appreciate professor Shawn Schwaller’s investigative reporting, please consider a contribution to A News Cafe. Thank you.

Editor’s note: While traditionally, A News Cafe adheres to the Associated Press style of referring to people by their last names throughout a story after the first references, because of the multiple similar names, and hyphenated names involved in this story, and to avoid confusion, A News Cafe departed from the AP standard and referred to Nikki Saelee-McCain as “Nikki” throughout this story.

Shawn Schwaller

Opinion writer and reporter Shawn Schwaller grew up in Red Bluff, California. He is an assistant professor in the History Department at California State University, Chico and holds a Ph.D. in history and an M.A. in American studies. Schwaller specializes in North State stories about law-enforcement corruption and far-right politics. He can be reached at schwaller.anewscafe@yahoo.com and welcomes your story tips.

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