Police say a former spouse has been charged in the shooting deaths of dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, inside their Columbus home on Dec. 30. Detectives arrested Michael David McKee, 39, in Rockford, Ill., on Jan. 10 after gathering surveillance and forensic evidence they say links him to the couple’s killing while their two young children were in the house.
Investigators called the attack targeted and related to domestic violence. They said camera footage captured a vehicle tied to McKee near the Tepe residence before and after the shootings, and officers later recovered multiple firearms during searches tied to the case. McKee, a surgeon and Monique’s ex-husband, now faces upgraded counts of aggravated murder. The case is drawing attention for its timeline across two states, the presence of the couple’s children — ages four and one — and questions about motive as relatives describe past emotional abuse during the short marriage nearly a decade ago.
Columbus officers were dispatched to the Tepes’ home on the city’s Northwest Side the morning of Dec. 30, where they found both victims fatally shot. The children were unharmed and placed with family. In the days that followed, detectives traced movements around the house using neighborhood surveillance and traffic cameras. Footage showed a vehicle arriving and leaving around the time gunshots were believed to have occurred, according to police summaries. Authorities also examined records connected to McKee’s travel and communications. “This was a targeted incident,” Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a briefing, adding that investigators saw no evidence the broader public was at risk.
McKee was taken into custody Jan. 10 in Rockford after officers located a vehicle of interest and coordinated with Illinois authorities. Police said searches later turned up multiple weapons, including one preliminarily linked to the crime. Officials have not detailed lab results or ballistics reports, noting that forensic testing takes time. McKee is being held ahead of transfer to Ohio. At a brief court appearance in Illinois, he was advised of charges and scheduled for an extradition hearing. He has not entered a plea in an Ohio court, and records did not list an attorney who spoke publicly about the case by Thursday.
Public documents fill in parts of the past. Monique Tepe married McKee in 2015; the couple divorced in 2017. Family members in recent days described McKee as emotionally abusive during the marriage and said Monique built a new life after marrying Spencer in 2020. Separate civil records show McKee was named in a malpractice complaint in late 2025; the case remains pending. Police have not said whether those issues bear on the homicide investigation. Relatives said the Tepes’ children are staying with loved ones as funeral arrangements move forward. Neighbors described the family as active in their church and school community.
Detectives are continuing to build a timeline from Dec. 29 into the early hours of Dec. 30, including any electronic pings, toll data, and additional video that might place a driver and vehicle along routes in and out of the neighborhood. Authorities have not publicly discussed a specific motive beyond calling the shootings domestic-violence-related. No other suspects have been identified. The Franklin County Coroner will issue final autopsy reports; preliminary findings have not been released. Police said further updates would follow after lab testing and grand jury steps are complete.
Legal proceedings are underway on a tight calendar. McKee’s extradition hearing is set in Winnebago County, Ill., after which he would be transported to Franklin County for arraignment. Prosecutors are expected to present the case to a grand jury once evidence packets, including ballistics and digital forensics, are complete. If indicted, McKee would face arraignment and pretrial hearings in Columbus on motions dealing with search warrants, surveillance, and any statements. Sentencing exposure on aggravated murder in Ohio includes life imprisonment; prosecutors have not said whether they will seek additional specifications.
Outside the courthouse, family and friends have shared remembrances of the couple as investigators work through the evidence. A brother-in-law said Monique was determined to leave her first marriage and rebuild. Neighbors left flowers on the Tepes’ block and organized meal trains for relatives caring for the children. “This family is devastated,” a neighbor said, recalling patrol cars lining the street after the discovery. Clergy members visited the home area earlier this week, while community groups discussed memorial plans that will be announced by the family.
As of Thursday, McKee remained jailed pending the extradition decision. The next milestone is his transfer to Franklin County for a first appearance on the Ohio charges, followed by any grand jury action. Investigators said they expect to release additional details after lab results return and court filings are posted.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.