A preliminary hearing to determine if Tyler McCain will go on trial for the murder of his wife, Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, has brought many witnesses to the stand, from family and friends to law enforcement and forensic experts.

Judge Thomas Bender will determine if there is sufficient evidence for Tyler McCain to be tried for the murder of his wife. 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 19th. 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 going so far as to point a gun directly at Nikki and threatening to kill her and her family members.

Detective Maul played an audio recording in court 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.

If the case against him moves forward, it will be the first "no body" murder trial in Shasta County history. Tyler McCain has pleaded not guilty to the 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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DEVASTATED SISTERS HEAR GRISLY FACTS IN MISSING NIKKI CHENG CASE