Dozens rally for missing Redding woman as charges against alleged abuser are dropped

Some 200 people showed up outside Shasta County Superior Court in Redding on Friday to rally for a woman who has been missing since May 17, while in court her husband — who was accused of abusing her — had charges against him dismissed.

Most of the people who gathered out in front of the building on Court Street said they were upset that charges were dismissed against Tyler McCain because his wife and alleged victim of domestic violence, Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, 39, has not been found.

"We are her voice today. We are not backing down. The system has failed Nikki, but we are not going to fail Nikki. We are here today to represent the family, to represent Nikki and her kids," said Nidelis Slater, who used a bullhorn Friday to get her message out to the dozens who gathered in front of the courthouse.

The district attorney's office said Cheng Saelee McCain legally had to be present for the case against her husband to go forward. Without her involvement in the case, Superior Court Judge Daniel Flynn said he had to dismiss the charges against Tyler McCain.

He was charged in December 2023 with one count each of corporal injury to a spouse, false imprisonment by violence, making criminal threats and assault likely to produce great bodily injury.

"As previously stated in court, the DA’s office has exhausted all avenues to prove the case at this time without her. The DA’s office reserves all rights to refile this case in the future," the DA's office said in a statement.

Many who attended the rally Friday were critical of the charges against McCain being dismissed.

"Nothing's being done properly and for a criminal to just walk away openly from a situation with no repercussions and no actions — what does that say for the rest of us?" said Andrew Saeteurn, who said Cheng McCain is a relative.

Cheng McCain of Redding has four children and hasn't been seen for nearly two months. Her truck was found May 25 in Tehama County, but officials would not say specifically where the vehicle was located.

McCain was brought into court through an entrance away from the crowd, and after the court hearing he was taken through an exit that enabled him to avoid the group out front.

McCain's lawyer, Michael Borges, was escorted into court near the front entrance by two deputy marshals. Borges said after the court hearing that he did not want to comment.

After the court hearing, some in the crowd moved to the district attorney's office on West Street to protest there.

Trinity Boring said she was also a domestic violence victim, but didn't feel that authorities took enough action to protect her.

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"I have seen an absolute lack of justice. In my own case, I'm aware of the low conviction rates and the high domestic violence rates in this county, and I want to see change, and I want to see justice for Nikki, for me and everybody else suffering with domestic violence," Boring said.

Friday's dismissal was at least the second time in two weeks that a domestic violence case was dismissed in superior court.

On June 25, an attempted murder and domestic violence case was dismissed because of a lack of judges and courtrooms to timely prosecute the case.

Friday's dismissal marked the 17th time this year that charges against an alleged domestic abuser have been dismissed, according to the district attorney's office.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!