TRIAL DELAY IN THE MURDER OF NIKKI CHENG

A new trial date has been set for Tyler McCain, the man charged with killing his wife, Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain.

McCain is facing 12 charges and multiple special allegations, including one that he killed his wife to prevent her from testifying against him in court over domestic violence charges. The jury trial was supposed to start on November 18, but McCain’s lawyer, Michael Borges, asked for more time, given the mounds of documentation provided by the prosecution.

Shasta Superior Court Judge Adam B. Ryan set the trial date for March 17, 2026. A trial readiness hearing will be held on March 11 to ensure both parties are prepared for the trial.

As of today, Nikki is still missing and presumed dead.

Redding Police detective Jeremiah Kessinger said Nikki's sister, Chloe Saelee, texted with Nikki regularly, and there was always a response until May 19. Family members talked with Nikki on May 18, but on May 19, she never answered a text from Chloe.

Nikki told Chloe about domestic violence in the relationship, and McCain went so far as to point a gun directly at Nikki and threaten to kill her and her family members.

In court, Detective Maul played an audio recording of Nikki McCain describing being assaulted by her husband, Tyler McCain. The recording was done in a hospital emergency room, where Nikki showed up to give the police a statement.

Nikki says, "He pushed me on the ground. And he started hitting me. He was just enraged; he was so angry."

Nikki estimates the attack lasted three hours.

Tyler McCain has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

• Kaye Ford - Nikki's sister
• Chloe Saelee - Nikki's sister
• Philip Dubé - Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law; Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy; X: PhilipCDube, IG: PhilipDube, YouTube: PhilipDube3922
• Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive
• Brian Fitzgibbons - VP of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security, Kingsman Philanthropic's 2022 rescue missions of women and children in Ukraine, Iraq War Veteranide_security
• Jeff Gentry – Forensics-Crime Scene Investigator, Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst and Death Investigator, Former Toxicology Lab Analyst; Author: “A Visual Guide to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis for Death and Crime Scene Investigators;” TikTok: @jeffreygentryBPA, Facebook: Jeff Gentry Bloodstain Pattern Analyst
• Dave Mack - Crime Stories Investigative Reporter

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