Nicole Winans, a 43-year-old White female, was a beloved salon owner and mother of two from Lodi, California. Friends and family described her as a "bright light" and a "really great soul" who was always happy and dedicated to helping others. The owner of Salon Envy & Boutique, Nicole was cherished by her clients and community. A month before her death, she had filed for divorce from her husband and moved into her own home, looking forward to a new beginning.
Shortly after midnight on December 6, 2024, deputies from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a disturbance at Nicole's residence on East Academy Street in Woodbridge. The couple’s two children had run to a neighbor for help, reporting that their parents were fighting and their father had a gun.
When deputies arrived, they found Nicole in the kitchen with a single, fatal gunshot wound to her head.
Nicole’s estranged husband, 50-year-old Shane Winans, was at the scene and was taken into custody. According to court documents, he told law enforcement officials, "I did it, the gun is in the bushes." He was arrested and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail, where he was held without bail. In the days that followed, dozens gathered for a vigil outside Nicole's salon to honor her memory, sharing stories and writing messages in a journal for her children.
Prosecutors charged Shane Winans with premeditated murder with an enhancement for the intentional discharge of a firearm, as well as two counts of child endangerment with enhancements for using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense attorney stated that they planned to argue the shooting was a tragic accident and not intentional.
During a preliminary hearing, investigators testified about the evidence, and the court was shown a recorded interview with one of the couple's young sons. The child described seeing his father drag his mother down the stairs by her hair before hearing gunshots as he and his sibling fled the home. Following the hearing in March 2026, a judge determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed and ordered Shane Winans to stand trial for murder.
As of March 2026, Shane Winans remained in custody without bail while awaiting a future court date to set his trial schedule.
