Police in Ohio continue to investigate the killings of Ohio dentist Spencer and Monique Tepe, who were found fatally shot in their home with their two children “unharmed,” more than a week ago, according to investigators.
The Columbus Division of Police shared footage of a person of interest on January 5, 2026, and said that the agency has received several tips. Five days later, authorities announced on January 10, 2025, that a man had been arrested in connection with their deaths in Illinois.
Us Weekly explains everything to know about the case so far.
When Were Spencer and Monique Tepe Killed?
Investigators suspect Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were shot and killed in the upstairs of their Columbus home between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on December 30, 2025.
They lived in Columbus’ Weinland Park neighborhood with their two young children and a goldendoodle, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
During the time investigators believe the Tepes were killed, police shared on January 5 that a person of interest was seen walking down an alley by their residence.
Footage shared by the Columbus Division of Police shows the individual wearing a black hoodie and pants that are light in color.
While speaking with WSYX on January 8, 2026, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said. “We know that there are a lot of concerns and a lot of questions surrounding this case.”
“Unfortunately, there are some things that we can’t talk about for the integrity of the investigation,” Bryant added.
What Happened the Day Spencer and Monique Tepe Were Killed?
The morning of December 30, one of Spencer Tepe’s colleagues at Athens Dental Depot, where he worked as a dentist, called the police around 9 a.m. after he did not show for work, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
This led police to conduct a well-being check.
The newspaper has since reported that an officer initially went to the wrong home that morning.
Afterward, a family friend found the Tepes dead inside their house, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Then, around 10:04 a.m. that morning, officers entered the house and found Spencer and Monique Tepe had been shot, according to a police incident report previously viewed by Us.
More than a week before the killings, on the morning of December 19, 2025, a woman who lived near the couple called 911 about someone “banging” on her door, Fox News reported, citing a 911 transcript.
The woman told a dispatcher she did not know who was at her home, according to the outlet. Call logs from the incident said “the problem left” about 15 minutes later.
Bryant told WSYX that the Tepes’ case is complex and her department will share more information when available.
“Right now, it’s premature for us to be able to say what the motive is, or we don’t have a suspect identified at this point,” Bryant said.
Is There an Official Cause of Death for Spencer and Monique Tepe?
Official reports on the couple’s deaths are pending, according to Jeremy Blake, the director of public affairs for the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.
Blake previously told Us that “Currently, we would use the term apparent homicide by gunshot wounds.”
What Was Spencer and Monique Tepe’s Relationship Like?
An online obituary for the couple says “Spencer and Monique met online and quickly grew their relationship into a solid foundation of love and respect with a side of goofiness.”
They got married during a private ceremony attended by their loved ones on December 13, 2020, according to the obituary.
They were both the “life of the party,” and would host several gatherings for family and friends, the obituary says.
Spencer Tepe, according to the obituary, was “passionate about dentistry,” playing soccer and golf, “entertaining family and friends,” and focusing on “taking care of his family.”
Monique Tepe “was a stay-at-home mom known for her bright smile, infectious laugh, caring heart, and bubbly personality.”
A remembrance service and a celebration of life will be held for the Tepes on January 11, 2026.
Monique Tepe’s Ex-Husband Michael McKee Was Arrested For Hers, Spencer’s Deaths
The Columbus Division of Police said on January 10, 2025, that Michael D. McKee had been charged with murder in the killings of Spencer and Monique Tepe.
Mckee was taken into custody in Illinois, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office previously confirmed to Us.
Mckee, 39, of Chicago, was previously married to Monique Tepe, 39, The Columbus Dispatch reported. After about two years of marriage, in May 2017, they filed for divorce, according to the newspaper, which cited court records.
On Monday, January 12, the charges against Mckee were upgraded to two counts of aggravated murder with premeditation, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Us previously reported that McKee was accused of making a mistake — allowing himself to be caught on camera — which resulted in his arrest.
Authorities linked McKee to the murders after they said his car was spotted near the Tepe’s home through neighborhood surveillance. According to court documents viewed by People, detectives said that McKee’s vehicle “arrived just prior to the homicides and left shortly after.”
One of McKee’s neighbors was shocked to learn he was arrested in connection with the Tepes’ killings, ABC 7 Chicago reported.
“He did not seem like somebody who would do something like this,” Gera-Lind Kolarik told the outlet “I sat down with this man and talked with him at the pool, barbecuing, about what a beautiful day it is — and then he turns out to be [charged as] a killer. It’s kind of shocking.”
McKee worked as a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, People reported.
The facility has spoken out following McKee’s arrest.
The center told People on Monday, January 13 that it is “cooperating with authorities who will provide any further information.”
Michael McKee Remained Silent During His First Court Appearance
McKee made his first court appearance on January 12, where he remained silent as his lawyer shared his intention to enter a not guilty plea. The attorney also told the judge that McKee was waiving his right to an extradition hearing.
One week later, People reported that McKee was extradited from Illinois to Ohio on January 20.
Spencer and Monique Tepe’s Family Members Shared Update About Couple’s Kids
Three weeks after Spencer and Monique were murdered, the couple’s brother-in-law Rob Misleh told People in a January 21 interview that their 17-month-old son was crying when Spencer’s co-worker stopped by the house to check on them.
“[He] was in the crib … and was unable to get out of the crib on his own and also it was at a time he would’ve been well awake by this time,” Rob said of the couple’s youngest child, adding that the baby had likely not eaten for an abnormal amount of time.
Rob added that the couple’s kids weren’t together at the time, as they slept in separate bedrooms. “From the time frame that we know, 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., [when the murders took place], the kids would’ve been in their beds, so we assume that they did not see anything,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the children don’t fully understand what happened to their parents.
“I really don’t think that a 4-year-old can grasp [what] is hard for us to even grasp,” he said of the couple’s eldest child. “It’s going to be years and years of processing.”
Thousands of People Attended Spencer and Monique Tepe’s Funeral
Rob also shared insight into Spencer and Monique’s funeral, telling People that thousands of people attended to pay their respects to the late couple.
“[It was] a crazy amount of people,” Spencer’s sister, Madeleine Misleh, told the outlet. “Which is nice, to see all that support.”
The family expected between 600 to 700 people to attend, so they were surprised by the outcome.
“From all accounts it seems like we had over 1,000,” Rob said. “The funeral home said it was the largest they had ever seen. The line was out the door.”
