Authorities in Ohio are investigating what they describe as a targeted double homicide after a Columbus dentist and his wife were discovered shot to death inside their residence late last month. A former spouse of one of the victims has since been arrested and charged with aggravated murder.
Bodies Discovered After Colleagues Raise Alarm
Police were dispatched to the Weinland Park neighborhood on the morning of December 30 for a welfare check after co-workers of 37-year-old dentist Spencer Tepe reported he had unexpectedly failed to appear for work at a clinic in Athens, Ohio. According to dispatch records, employees made multiple calls expressing concern, describing the absence as highly unusual.
Officers initially did not observe visible signs of distress from outside the home, but friends who gathered at the scene reported hearing the couple’s young children inside without an adult responding. A friend ultimately gained access and discovered Tepe’s body. Police soon located his wife, 39-year-old Monique Tepe, also deceased. Investigators confirmed both had suffered gunshot wounds. Their children, ages 4 and 1, were found physically unharmed and are now in family care.
Investigation Quickly Focuses on a Suspect
Detectives noted that there were no indications of forced entry and no firearm remained at the scene. Spent 9mm shell casings were collected for forensic review. With no immediate suspect identified, authorities asked residents in nearby blocks to submit home surveillance footage captured overnight between December 29 and December 30.
On January 5, the Columbus Division of Police released video of an unidentified individual walking through a nearby alley in the early morning hours. A court affidavit later indicated investigators pinpointed the time of the killings at approximately 3:52 a.m. and used video analysis to identify a vehicle that arrived shortly before the incident and departed soon afterward. That vehicle was subsequently traced to 39-year-old Michael David McKee, the former husband of Monique Tepe.
Arrest in Illinois and Upgraded Charges
McKee was apprehended in Rockford, Illinois, on January 10 and initially charged with two counts of murder. Prosecutors upgraded those charges to aggravated murder the following day after reviewing investigative findings they said met the criteria for premeditation. McKee waived extradition during a January 12 hearing in Illinois and will be transported to Franklin County, Ohio, to face the charges. His public defender indicated McKee intends to enter a not-guilty plea.
Background of the Accused
Public records show McKee is a licensed physician and vascular surgeon with credentials in Illinois and California. He previously held a medical license in Nevada but let it lapse in mid-2025. The Ohio State University lists McKee as a former medical student, and he completed his residency in 2020 at the Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion residency program. His marriage to Monique, then known as Sabaturski, ended in divorce in 2017 on grounds of incompatibility. The couple had no children together.
Remembering the Victims
Family members honored Spencer and Monique with a joint celebration of life on January 11, describing them as devoted parents and beloved by a wide circle of friends. Spencer was remembered for his dental work, volunteer activities, and fluency in Spanish, while Monique was known for her background in early childhood education. In a written statement, the family said the pair shared a “deeply joyful” relationship and vowed to pursue justice.
Officials Decline to Discuss Motive
Police Chief Elaine Bryant briefed the community on January 8 but declined to comment on potential motive, forensic findings, or whether McKee was the individual seen in released surveillance footage, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Authorities have also not stated whether additional evidence, such as DNA or gunshot residue testing, has been collected.
McKee is expected to be arraigned in Columbus upon his return from Illinois. No trial date has yet been set.
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