Jeri Mains filed for a protective order against her husband on Christmas Day.
Three days later, the44-year-old wife and mother of four from Indianapolis was found shot dead. That protective order filing would make its way through the courts a day after her killing without a judge ruling on it.
Her husband, Cecil Raymond Mains, 46, is behind bars at the Marion County Jail facing a preliminary charge of murder. Their children, ages 19, 17, 14, and 10, are left in the current care of family members while grieving the loss. The family is trying toraise money through a GoFundMeaccount to support the children.
Before she would be found shot on the driveway of her home, she would share personal stories in mom groups on Facebook, with many pouring out support and praying for her.
Petitions filed online spell out what some say she was experiencing at the hands of her husband, and court documents state what allegedly happened the day she was shot and killed.
Family members reached by IndyStar requested privacy, but close friends spoke with IndyStar, stating she was a very loving, hard-working mom.
At one point, she had an in-home daycare, and for a long time, she was part of her homeowners' association.
They would also share that she was in a very controlling relationship.
Jeri Mae Mains, 44, filed a protective order Christmas Day
At 10:28 a.m., on Dec. 25, Jeri Mains filed an order of protection citing herself as being a victim of domestic or family violence. The petition states that her husband threw kitchen tongs that hit her arm, which caused a laceration and bruising on Christmas Eve.
The day before, the petition states that she was in theJustice Center parking lotwhen her husband threatened to kill her and himself because she wanted to file for divorce. She wrote that she had a recording of the conversation. Later on, he threatened to kill himself in front of her and their children, the petition said.
On Dec. 10, during a fight, her husband punched her computer and knocked hot chocolate all over her, according to the petition.
In November, she said he punched her in the face, making her nose bleed and causing her face to bruise. At the beginning of the year, she wrote in the petition that he punched the driver's side window of her truck and broke the glass. She said that he had said he was going to kill her, their kids, and pets several times over the last few years, and had hoped the protective order would be a crucial step in leaving a dangerous situation.
Once a petition is filed, a clerk receives it, assigns a case number, and sends it to a judge or court. Had it been filed on a non-holiday, a judge could have seen it the very next day, but offices were closed from Dec. 24-28.
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At 2:17 p.m., on Dec. 28, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called about a disturbance with a weapon at the Mains' southeast side home in the8100 block of Meadow Bend Lane. Court documents state a 911 caller said their father had a gun and shot their mother before fleeing in his gray Toyota Tundra.
Officers found the mother shot on the ground in the driveway of her home. She was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition before being pronounced dead.
Officer Daniel Beasleysaw Cecil Mains' car going northbound onFive Points Road near Edgewood Avenue. Beasley initiated a traffic stop at the intersection ofThompson Road and Lakesedge Boulevard, nearly 4.5 miles away from their home, and arrested Mains.
According to a probable cause for Mains' arrest, the couple's 19-year-old son told police he saw his father waving a gun at his mother inside the home near the front door on Dec. 28. He followed his parents outside when he said he saw his father shoot his mother in the driveway.
He called 911 and rendered aid to his mom before first responders came to the scene.
Their other children, ages 10, 14, and 16, all said they heard gunshots and or saw their father come home early to retrieve his gun and was arguing with their mother, according to court records. Their 10 and 14-year-old daughters called 911, while their 16-year-old son stayed in his room until officers came to the scene after seeing his older brother try to intervene.
While being read his Miranda Rights, the father requested a lawyer.
His next court hearing is set for Dec. 30.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her atJade.Jackson@IndyStar.comand follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star:Woman filed protective order on Christmas, days before her death
