Michael McKee, 39, has been formally charged with the homicides of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe, a dentist, according to records from Winnebago County and court documents. McKee was taken into custody on Saturday and is currently held in Illinois. The fatal shootings occurred at the Columbus, Ohio home of the victims.
Authorities identified Spencer Tepe as a 37-year-old practicing dentist and Monique Tepe as 39 years old. Police were notified following repeated attempts to reach Spencer Tepe after he failed to arrive at work, which colleagues described as highly unusual behavior. Upon responding to a wellness check call on December 30, Columbus police found both individuals deceased from gunshot wounds inside the upstairs portion of their residence. Their two young children were present in the home at the time but were unharmed.
Earlier in the week, law enforcement released video surveillance footage showing an individual, described as wearing a dark hoodie and light pants, walking through an alley near the victims' home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.—the likely timeframe when the assault occurred. The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has indicated that official autopsy and report findings will take several weeks to finalize but confirmed via spokesperson that the deaths are classified as homicides caused by gunshot injuries.
Background investigations indicate that McKee and Monique Tepe were married in 2015 and subsequently filed for divorce two years later. McKee is currently registered with an address in Chicago. Following her divorce, Monique married Spencer Tepe in 2020.
The couple’s obituary and statements from family portray them as devoted parents who maintained active social lives and frequently hosted family and friends. Monique is remembered as a warm and lively stay-at-home mother, while Spencer was dedicated both to his profession in dentistry and to supporting his family.
McKee’s next appearance in court is scheduled for the upcoming Monday. Details about his legal representation have not yet been made available in Ohio court records.