Police on Tuesday renewed their call for tips after releasing surveillance video of a hooded figure walking through an alley near the home of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique, who were found shot to death on Dec. 30 on North Fourth Street in the Weinland Park neighborhood. Investigators say the killings likely occurred between 2 and 5 a.m., and they have not announced any arrest or named a suspect.
The case has gripped Columbus and spread far beyond the city as friends, patients and neighbors look for answers about who killed the couple and why. Detectives are now working from a growing set of digital clues and neighborhood canvasses while the Franklin County Coroner completes full reports. Family members caring for the couple’s two young children say the video release keeps attention on the search but warn it may not show the killer. With no sign of forced entry, no weapon recovered at the scene and no clear motive publicly shared, the investigation is at an early but urgent stage, and police are asking anyone who recognizes the person in the footage to come forward.
Officers were sent to the two-story home around 10 a.m. on Dec. 30 for a welfare check when Tepe did not show up for work and friends could not reach the family. Inside, police found the 37-year-old dentist and his 39-year-old wife fatally shot upstairs; their children, both under school age, were found unharmed. Detectives later returned to the neighborhood to pull camera footage from nearby buildings and homes. One clip released this week shows a person in light pants and a dark hooded jacket moving calmly through a snowy alley during the timeframe detectives say the killings occurred. “We believe someone knows this individual,” a police spokesperson said, adding that tips have been steady since the footage went public. A memorial of flowers and notes now lines the home’s front steps, and neighbors said patrols have increased in the block.
Officials have described the deaths as apparent homicides by gunshot wounds, with full autopsy findings pending. Investigators have not confirmed whether the shooter was known to the couple, and they have not released details about shell casings, entry points or any signs of a struggle. Family members said there was no known history of threats. Rob Misleh, the children’s guardian and the victims’ brother-in-law, said in brief remarks that the person in the alley looks “suspicious” but could also be someone cutting through after a late night. Police have asked residents to check doorbell cameras, and they have mapped a small grid of side streets and alleys near the home to look for the same figure before and after the key window of 2 to 5 a.m. Crime Stoppers has circulated still images from the video; enhanced versions may be released if analysts can clarify the face or distinctive markings on the clothing.
The couple had deep ties in central Ohio. Tepe, known to patients simply as “Dr. Spencer,” practiced family dentistry and volunteered at community events. Friends said Monique balanced work and parenting and was often seen at neighborhood gatherings. The family moved to Weinland Park for its quick commute and walkable blocks near campus. The slayings stunned a neighborhood that has spent years rebuilding from earlier waves of crime. Residents described the area as quieter in recent years, with more families and students renting along North Fourth Street and the side alleys where the video was recorded. Records show no open protection orders or recent police calls to the house before Dec. 30, and no arrests tied to the address in the past year.
Police say the investigation now centers on timeline reconstruction and who had access to the home. Detectives are interviewing friends, coworkers, and former patients to map the couple’s final week. They are also analyzing phone data and license plate reader hits from surrounding arterials. The person in the video remains a “person of interest,” not a named suspect. Detectives have not disclosed whether the home’s doors were locked when officers entered or whether any items were missing. The coroner’s office is expected to clarify time-of-death estimates with temperature and injury analysis, which could tighten the window. Investigators continue to review 911 calls that morning, including the wellness-check request and a separate report from someone who saw a body. Laboratory testing of ballistics and trace evidence is underway.
The case fits a pattern that can be difficult for detectives: a quiet home, no obvious forced entry, and an attack limited to a narrow overnight window. Similar investigations in Columbus have leaned on private video systems and small, seemingly mundane observations—an unusual gait, a backpack strap, a reflective logo—to identify a suspect. Police emphasized that the clip shows the person walking, not running, suggesting a familiarity with the cut-through and confidence about not being seen. At the same time, family members cautioned against overreading the footage and urged patience while the children’s routines stabilize with relatives. Vigils and online tributes have focused on the couple’s parenting and their role in church and school communities.
Procedurally, the case will move through several milestones in the coming weeks. The coroner’s preliminary findings are typically followed by final reports that can take longer. Detectives expect to obtain additional search warrants for digital accounts and to retrieve higher-resolution copies of nearby camera feeds. If a clear suspect is identified, prosecutors would review the file for potential charges that could include aggravated murder. Police plan to release updates as new evidence is confirmed, including any improved images from the alley video. Neighborhood officers and victim advocates are coordinating with the family to balance public interest with privacy for the children, who are now in the care of relatives.
On the block, residents described a heavy but steady routine. Mail carriers paused to look at the growing memorial. A handyman patched a loose fence board near the alley where the figure was recorded. A woman walking her dog slowed at the corner and crossed to the other side. “It’s hard to accept that someone could do this and just walk away,” said a neighbor who has lived on North Fourth Street for eight years. Outside the dental office where Tepe worked, a small cluster of bouquets and thank-you cards leaned against the glass. One card, signed by a family with three children, read, “You always made us feel safe.” A passerby adjusted the flowers as a cold wind hit the storefront.
As of Tuesday evening, police had announced no arrests and released no suspect name. The person seen in the alley remains unidentified. Full autopsy results are pending. Investigators said additional updates would be posted after new evidence is processed or if a lead results in an identification. The next expected milestone is the release of further video stills or a refined timeline later this week.