Testimony continues in Tyler McCain’s preliminary hearing, a California man accused of killing his wife, Nikki McCain.
According to the Record Searchlight, Superior Court Judge Thomas L. Bender is tasked with determining if the murder case against Tyler will proceed.
On Wednesday, Albert Nelson, who was once a friend of Tyler McCain, testified that Tyler confessed to killing Nikki by strangling her after an altercation while they were in bed, which occurred on May 18, 2024.
Nelson, who has an unrelated felony warrant, arrived at the Redding courthouse in shackles, according to ABC 7.
As previously noted by CrimeOnline, the Redding Police Department reported that Nikki last made contact with her family on May 17, 2024, before being picked up from a house in Redding, close to the Win-River Casino.
Nikki’s truck was also declared missing but was subsequently located on May 25, 2024, by police in western Tehama County. The vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, bore the California license plate DP154UT, as stated by the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
Shasta County authorities later reclassified Nikki’s disappearance as a homicide, and charged Tyler McCain with the murder last month.
According to Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett, Tyler McCain’s motive behind the act was to prevent Nikki, who was a mother of four, from providing testimony in a domestic abuse lawsuit against him.
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Nikki McCain: Testimony Continues Against California Man Accused of Killing Mom of 4
Initially, Nelson had informed investigators that he believed Tyler was using methamphetamine when Nikki died and that Nikki had cried out, “I’m dying,” during their struggle.
However, during his testimony, Nelson retracted his story, claiming he lied about the event as a strategy to secure his release from jail, and admitted he was under the influence of drugs when he accused Tyler.
Nelson also previously said that his sister saw Tyler McCain suspiciously driving the Avalanche during the time Nikki was last seen. Nelson told the court that he lied about the incident.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled to conclude next week. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Nikki Saelee-McCain/Handout]
