Tyler McCain enters the courtroom on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, to attend his trial readiness conference in Shasta County Superior Court. McCain has pleaded not guilty in the murder of his wife, Nikki Saelee McCain. Further court proceedings are set for next week. Photo by Mike Chapman for A News Cafe. © All rights reserved.
Tyler McCain, suspected of murder in the death of his wife, Nikki Saelee-McCain, appeared Friday in Shasta County Superior Court for his trial readiness conference.
As a result, his preliminary hearing is now set to begin a day later on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 9 a.m. in Department 63, according to Briona Sisneros, a spokeswoman with the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.
McCain’s attorney, Michael Borges of Redding, had asked visiting Judge Karen Dixon for permission to delay the start of the preliminary hearing by one day, from Sept. 3 to Sept. 4, because Borges said he received “a large volume of material” from the District Attorney’s Office and needed time to review it.
McCain’s plea disposition/readiness conference remains on the court calendar for Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 41, Sisneros said.
In another development, Chief Deputy District Attorney Sarah Murphy told the judge that the preliminary hearing is expected to last five to seven days, longer than the original estimate of three to five days.
Several supporters of Nikki Saelee McCain watched the proceedings from the audience.
McCain has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and a special circumstance that the murder was committed with the intent to prevent testimony.
McCain also faces domestic violence charges that include corporal injury to a spouse, false imprisonment, criminal threats, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, possession of a firearm and ammunition after a criminal protective order, forgery and various traffic violations.
Tyler McCain appears in Department 41 of Shasta County Superior Court on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, for his trial readiness conference. McCain has pleaded not guilty in the murder of his wife, Nikki Saelee McCain. Further court proceedings are set for next week. Photo by Mike Chapman for A News Cafe. © All rights reserved.
Law enforcement officials arrested McCain last week in connection with his wife’s disappearance in May 2024. Her body has not been found despite extensive searches.
“We have used search and rescue, we have 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 the next piece for this case,” Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson said at a news conference last week.
The discovery of a body is not required to charge a person with murder, according to state law.
At the same news conference, Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett said the murder charges against McCain represent the first “no-body” homicide case in Shasta County history.
McCain is being held in Shasta County Jail without bail.
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