A 39-year-old man was arrested in Illinois and charged in the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of Columbus dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, inside their home, authorities said Saturday. The suspect, identified as Michael David McKee, the ex-husband of Monique, was booked in Winnebago County after investigators traced a vehicle to Rockford and coordinated with local and state agencies to make the arrest.
The killings jolted the Weinland Park neighborhood just north of downtown and set off an intensive investigation over the holiday week. Police said there were no signs of forced entry at the couple’s home, and no firearm was recovered at the scene. The Tepes’ two children, a four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son, were found in the residence unharmed. Detectives reviewed surveillance video, canvassed nearby blocks and released a still image of a person seen near the home in the predawn hours. By the weekend, leads led them across state lines to Illinois, where McKee was taken into custody and now awaits extradition to Ohio to face two counts of murder.
Friends requested a wellness check when Spencer, a general dentist known in local schools and community clinics, failed to show up for work on Dec. 30. Officers entered the home that afternoon and found both adults with gunshot wounds. Neighbors reported hearing sirens and seeing cruisers converge on North Fourth Street as crime-scene tape went up around the property. Police later clarified a sequence of calls that day and said detectives began working a double-homicide case within hours. “Two young children were located safely,” Columbus police said in a brief update, adding that the department’s victim advocates were assisting relatives. The family’s pastor visited the scene that night, according to neighbors, and friends set up meal trains for the children as investigators processed evidence through the evening.
Authorities identified the suspect as McKee, 39, a surgeon who previously attended medical school in Ohio and held licenses in other states. Records list his most recent residence in the Chicago area. Investigators said they tracked a vehicle of interest to Rockford and coordinated an arrest without incident. Officials said McKee and Monique married in 2015 and divorced in 2017. The Tepes married in 2020. The coroner ruled both deaths homicides caused by gunshot wounds. Police said there was no sign of a break-in at the house and that a weapon had not been recovered, factors detectives are weighing as they reconstruct how the shooter entered and left the property. A previously released surveillance clip showed an unidentified person in the area during the time frame; detectives have not said whether that person was McKee.
Columbus has recorded homicides tied to domestic histories in past years, but rarely one that left two adults dead with toddlers present in the home. The case drew regional attention during a week of reduced staffing and holiday closures, which complicated scheduling of interviews and lab submissions. Detectives collected video from doorbell cameras, nearby businesses and traffic intersections, then matched times to phone records and license plate readers. The neighborhood’s mix of older homes and new infill apartments provided multiple vantage points for cameras; residents said officers knocked on doors into the night seeking footage and witness accounts. A quiet vigil formed outside the home the following day, with flowers and notes describing the couple as devoted parents and active in their church community.
Prosecutors began preparing extradition paperwork after the arrest in Illinois. McKee is being held on two counts of murder and is expected to have an initial appearance Monday, when a judge would address counsel and custody status while Ohio authorities move to return him to Franklin County. If extradition is waived, transport could follow; if contested, a hearing would be set in Illinois. In Columbus, detectives are drafting search warrants for digital accounts, call logs and location histories linked to the suspect and the victims. Ballistics work continues as the state crime lab compares any recovered casings with databases. Investigators have not announced a motive and said they will evaluate any history of disputes, restraining orders or custody filings as they assemble the case file.
Community members described the Tepes as steady presences. Spencer’s colleagues recalled outreach visits where he offered screenings to students and weekend hours for families. Parents in the area said Monique organized childcare swaps and frequently walked the neighborhood with a stroller. “They were generous with their time and loved their kids,” a family friend said outside the home. Residents in nearby blocks said they installed extra lighting after the killings and checked on each other more often. On social media, relatives thanked the public for support and asked for space for the children, who are staying with extended family as arrangements proceed.
In the days after the shootings, detectives mapped a tight overnight window when the attack likely occurred and appealed for tips about unfamiliar vehicles. Police later clarified that officers conducted a sequence of welfare checks before the discovery, a timeline that investigators said they reviewed through body-camera footage and radio traffic. The absence of forced entry has focused attention on whether the shooter had access or used another method to get inside. Forensic specialists dusted entry points and collected touch DNA from surfaces. The home’s interior layout—a front living room, central hallway and rear rooms—guided the placement of markers as technicians documented bullet paths and impact points before releasing the house back to the family.
Legal proceedings will unfold on parallel tracks. In Illinois, McKee remains jailed pending the Ohio case. In Ohio, prosecutors said grand jury action could follow as early as this month, with formal indictments replacing the initial charges. If indicted, McKee would be arraigned in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, where judges set schedules for discovery, motions and competency evaluations when requested. Prosecutors will determine whether to seek additional specifications tied to the use of a firearm or the presence of children. Defense counsel, once appointed or retained, could request a gag order or change-of-venue review if media coverage grows. Autopsy and full lab reports are expected to be part of discovery.
Relatives arranged services for the couple and established care plans for the children with help from family and the church community. Counselors coordinated with the children’s daycare provider, and a group of parents prepared meals for drop-off. Neighbors said they hope the arrest provides at least a first step toward clarity. A resident on the block described a steady stream of unmarked cars this week as detectives returned to recheck angles and canvass for any missed footage. A nearby shop owner said officers asked about overnight deliveries and whether drivers saw anyone on the sidewalks around the time of the attack. Residents said patrol cars have passed more frequently in recent nights.
As of Sunday, investigators had not announced a recovered firearm or detailed motive. The suspect’s extradition status and his initial court appearance are the next public milestones. Police said leads continue to come in and asked anyone with video captured between late Dec. 29 and the morning of Dec. 30 to share copies with detectives. The family said a fuller statement will be made after court proceedings begin and thanked supporters for giving the children stability during a difficult week.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.