An arrest was made in the case of Dentist Spencer and his wife, Monique Tepe, who were murdered in their Ohio home with their children in a nearby room. Columbus detectives revealed that they identified and tracked down the suspect, Michael David McKee. The accused has been formally charged with two counts of murder in connection with the Tepe’s deaths.
Suspect Identified
On December 30, 2025, Spencer and Monique Tepe were found slain in their Weiland Park home. A welfare check was called on the couple when Spencer failed to show up for work, and co-workers were unable to reach him on the phone. A friend also stopped by their home and called 911 when they reportedly heard their children crying inside. Once responding authorities arrived, they found a horrific crime had been committed. They pronounced the Tepe’s deceased at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath, detectives did not have much to go on. A week later, they released surveillance footage from another home showing a man dressed in dark clothing walking down a nearby alley. The man appeared calm and was walking in the snow around the time authorities believe the couple was murdered. According to court documents, detectives identified he suspect as 39-year-old Michael David McKee, Monique Tepe’s ex-husband. However, they still have yet to confirm that the man in the video was him.
Detectives tracked his vehicle through the neighborhood using surveillance footage near the home. They mentioned that McKee’s car “arrived just prior to the homicides and left shortly after,” which led them to believe he was either the perpetrator or a witness. They were able to identify the vehicle and connect it to McKee, and later found the car in Rockford, Illinois. Officers found evidence that the vehicle was under his ownership at the time of the incident.
Police Make An Arrest
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, almost two weeks after the Tepes were murdered, McKee was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. A warrant was issued early Saturday, and court records from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office show McKee was booked before 12 p.m. local time. He is expected to be extradited to Franklin County, where he will appear for a court hearing on Monday, January 12.
The Office of Coroner Nathaniel R. Overmire at the Franklin County Forensic Science Center reported to PEOPLE that Spencer and Monique Tepe had multiple gunshot wounds, one to Monique’s chest. The official cause of death has yet to be released as the coroner needs other details, such as toxicology reports, before releasing his determination.
The Tepes’ Lives
Monique Tepe and murder suspect McKee were married nearly two years before divorcing in 2017. The two did not have children together. Spencer and Monique were married on January 30, 2021, and were taken from this world a month shy of their wedding anniversary.
Family and friends of Spencer and Monique Tepe released multiple statements expressing their cry for justice and remembering how the couple was in life. In their words, they were warm, kind, and dedicated to building a life “rooted in love.” Monique’s brother, Rob Misleh, told PEOPLE, “We are heartbroken beyond words.”
He added that nothing can ever bring them back, but McKee’s arrest brings them one step closer to justice. Their family is “committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice,” Misleh said.
“Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind,” Misleh said. “We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world.”
