What started as an ordinary winter morning quickly turned into a nightmare for a Columbus neighborhood after a young family was found torn apart by violence.
A couple who had been building a new life together were discovered dead in their home, leaving behind two small children and a community struggling to understand how such brutality could happen so close to home.
Ex-Husband Now Accused of Double Murder
Police have now charged Michael David McKee, 39, the former husband of Monique Tepe, with murdering both her and her new husband, dentist Spencer Tepe.
The couple, aged 39 and 37 respectively, were found shot dead inside their $700,000 Weinland Park residence in the early hours of December 30.
McKee is facing two counts of murder in connection with the killings, according to court documents reviewed by investigators.
Inside the Crime Scene
Authorities revealed that Spencer was struck by multiple gunshots, while Monique suffered a single fatal wound to the chest.
Despite the violence upstairs, the couple’s one-year-old son, four-year-old daughter, and their family dog were found physically unharmed.
The children are now being cared for by relatives.
Officers reported no signs of forced entry into the home, and the gun believed to have been used was not recovered. However, three 9mm shell casings were found at the scene.
Investigators have been clear that they do not believe this was a murder-suicide.
Surveillance Footage Leads Police to a Suspect
According to Ohio court records, detectives identified a suspect using video footage from nearby surveillance cameras.
Investigators say the suspect was linked to a vehicle that arrived shortly before the killings and left soon afterward.
Police were able to trace that vehicle back to McKee.
The car was later located in Rockford, Illinois, where officers found evidence suggesting McKee had control of the vehicle both before and after the homicides.
McKee’s booking photo now appears on the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office website.
He was taken into custody on Saturday just before noon and is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
A Terrifying 911 Call Days Earlier
The case has taken on even darker undertones following the release of a chilling 911 call made just days before the murders.
A neighbor living only minutes away phoned police at around 2:30 a.m. on December 19, reporting someone violently banging on her door.
Visibly shaken in the audio obtained by Fox News, the caller told the dispatcher she feared someone was trying to break in.
She was unable to describe the person because she couldn’t see them and said the banging eventually stopped around 2:44 a.m. Police never arrived at her home.
Just over a week later, that same neighborhood became the focus of a massive police response after the Tepes were found dead.
Alarm Raised When Spencer Didn’t Show Up for Work
Concerns began mounting on the morning of December 30 when Spencer failed to appear at his dental practice in Athens, Ohio.
Repeated attempts by friends and family to reach either him or Monique went unanswered.
Coworkers contacted police, who conducted a brief welfare check at the home but left after receiving no response at the door.
About an hour later, worried friends went back themselves and immediately sensed something was wrong.
One frantic 911 call came in just before 10 a.m., with a caller telling dispatchers he thought he heard one of the children crying inside the house.
When officers entered the home, they found the couple’s children alive but sobbing.
Both adults were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another Strange 911 Call From Earlier in the Year
Investigators are also reviewing an unusual 911 call made from the same residence months earlier, in April 2025.
A distressed woman reported a domestic dispute in the early morning hours but hung up before providing details.
When dispatchers called back, the woman could be heard crying and insisted police were no longer needed, saying she and her partner had argued but that no physical violence occurred.
Monique’s brother later clarified that the call was not made by her, claiming it came from a guest who had been at the house that night.
Mystery Figure Caught on Camera
Before charges were announced, police had been searching for a person of interest seen on video near the Tepes’ home during the estimated time of the murders.
Detectives believe the killings occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. upstairs while the children slept.
The footage shows a lone figure wearing light-colored pants and a dark hooded jacket, walking calmly through a snowy alley with their head down and hands in their pockets.
Investigators said the timing and location of the individual made them central to the case.
A Community Rallies Around Two Young Children
In the aftermath of the tragedy, loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the Tepes’ children, who have now lost both parents.
In the tribute, Monique and Spencer were remembered as deeply loving and compassionate people.
“They were remarkable inside and out,” the message read, describing a couple whose lives were defined by connection, kindness, and joy.
What Happens Next?
With charges now filed, the legal process is set to begin as McKee prepares to face court.
Meanwhile, Columbus Police continue to urge anyone with additional information to come forward.
Authorities are asking the public to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477) with any tips that could help bring further clarity and justice to this devastating case.
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