Nikki Cheng McCain family to meet at Redding courthouse to rally support for missing woman
Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to say that the Redding Rancheria paid for the billboard along Interstate 5 in Anderson and that the tribe is working with Nor Cal Alliance for the Missing to help find Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain.
The family and friends of a Shasta County woman who has been missing for more than a month will hold another rally Friday morning at the courthouse in downtown Redding.
Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, 39, was last heard from on May 17.
The case was initially investigated by the Redding Police Department after family members lost contact with McCain. But the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the investigation.
The sheriff’s office announced that Cheng Saelee McCain’s truck, a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, was found in Tehama County on May 25. Investigators did not say where in Tehama County the truck was found.
Friday’s “Justice for Nikki” rally will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Shasta County Courthouse on Court Street.
The rally will take place about an hour before Cheng Saelee McCain’s husband, Tyler McCain, is scheduled to be in court for a trial readiness conference on the charges of domestic violence and false imprisonment.
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The Shasta County District Attorney’s Office in court last Friday announced it moved to dismiss the case against Tyler McCain.
In a statement, the DA's office said it made the move "due to insufficient evidence because the victim, Nikki McCain, is currently a missing person and there is an ongoing investigation into her disappearance."
"As was stated in court on Friday, the Shasta County DA’s office has exhausted all avenues to prove the case at this point without Nikki’s presence. The DA’s office reserves all rights to refile this case in the future. After hearing the comments by the People, the Court continued this case for a further trial readiness on July 5, 2024 which is still within the no time waiver 60th day," read part of the statement.
The statement also noted that the DA's office is helping the sheriff's office in the investigation into Cheng Saelee McCain's disappearance.
A billboard has gone up along northbound Interstate 5 in Anderson near the Balls Ferry Road exit that says, “HELP FIND NIKKI CHENG SAELEE-MCCAIN.” Phone numbers for Nor-Cal Alliance for the Missing and Shasta County Sheriff’s Office are provided on the billboard.
The Redding Rancheria paid for the billboard and is working with Nor Cal Alliance for the Missing and has offered a reward through the Nor Cal Alliance hotline to help find Saelee Cheng McCain.
In collaboration with a local non-profit dedicated to finding missing persons, "we have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Nikki’s safe return," the Redding Rancheria said in a news release. "To maximize awareness and gather any potential leads, we have placed a billboard along the I-5."
Nor-Cal Alliance for the Missing did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.
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Sheriff's spokesman Tim Mapes wrote in an email to the Record Searchlight: “The Missing Person case of Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain remains active and detectives with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit continue to work diligently on the investigation. Further details of steps being taken by investigators are not being released due to the integrity of the investigation. We continue to urge members of the public as well as family who may have any information to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or MCU@shastacounty.gov."
Shasta County Secret Witness is offering an award of up to $10,000 for information leading to the location of Saelee McCain. People with information are asked to call the sheriff’s office at 530-245-6135 or go to www.scsecretwitness.com/submit-a-tip.
McCain is 4 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes, the sheriff’s office said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Nikki McCain family intensifies support, search for missing woman
