On December 30, 2025, the quiet Weinland Park neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, was rocked by a gruesome discovery: respected dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot dead in their upscale home on North 4th Street—the very place where they had exchanged vows in a joyful 2021 wedding ceremony. The couple’s two young children, a 4-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy, were found unharmed inside the house, along with the family goldendoodle, but the scene painted a picture of sudden violence. As of January 7, 2026, the case remains unsolved, with Columbus police investigating it as a double homicide and actively seeking a “person of interest” captured on surveillance footage.
The tragedy unfolded after Spencer, known for his punctuality and dedication at Athens Dental Depot (about 75 miles from home), failed to show up for work—an uncharacteristic absence that alarmed his colleagues. Practice owner Dr. Mark Valrose called 911 around 9 a.m., expressing deep concern: “He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were issues.” When neither Spencer nor Monique responded to calls or texts, coworkers and a close friend drove to the home.
Frantic 911 calls captured the escalating panic. At 9:56 a.m., a caller outside the house reported hearing children crying inside but getting no answer at the door: “I can hear kids inside, and I think I heard one yell… but we can’t get in.” Minutes later, at 10:03 a.m., the same distressed friend peered through a window and spotted Spencer’s body: “There’s a body… Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check… He appears dead, laying next to his bed in blood.”
Police arrived, entered the home (no signs of forced entry), and confirmed both Spencer and Monique had suffered fatal gunshot wounds upstairs. Spencer was shot multiple times; Monique at least once in the chest. No firearm was recovered, ruling out an immediate murder-suicide scenario. Shell casings were found, but details remain limited to preserve the investigation.
The couple’s children, too young to fully grasp the horror, were described by family as “unaware as they ever could be.” Brother-in-law Rob Misleh, who shared the couple’s wedding video showing beaming vows and laughter, said the kids are now in loving family care. “They are young enough to not fully understand the gravity,” he noted, emphasizing the community’s commitment to supporting them.
Spencer and Monique were portrayed by loved ones as an idyllic pair building a life “rooted in love.” Spencer, an Ohio State University graduate fluent in Spanish, was a committed dentist involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters and the American Dental Association. Monique, with a background in childhood education, was a devoted mother known for her baking and warmth. They loved traveling, hosting, and family—preparing to celebrate their fifth anniversary on January 30, 2026.
Adding an eerie layer, records reveal a 911 call from the same address in April 2025. Around 2:45 a.m., a crying woman (believed to be Monique) dialed emergency services but hung up. When dispatch called back, she insisted she was “OK, just emotional,” explaining: “Because me and my man got into it, but I’m OK, I promise.” She denied physical violence, and officers were canceled. Coded as a non-physical domestic dispute, it raises questions about underlying tensions, though family statements describe a “beautiful, strong, and deeply happy relationship.”
On January 5, 2026, police released chilling surveillance video of a “person of interest”: a hooded figure in light pants and a dark coat walking slowly through a snowy alley near the home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.—the estimated time of the killings. The individual keeps their head down, trudging in freezing conditions when few others were out. Authorities believe the murders occurred upstairs during this window, urging tips on the footage.
No suspects have been named, no motive disclosed, and police maintain tight-lipped updates to protect the probe. Sgt. Joe Albert noted detectives are “working diligently.” The lack of forced entry suggests the killer may have been known to the victims or the door was unlocked. Community shock lingers in Weinland Park, with neighbors expressing fear over the randomness.
A GoFundMe for the children has garnered support, reflecting the outpouring for a family seen as “extraordinary.” Memorials grow outside the home, and the dental practice mourns a “dear colleague.” As autopsy details (pending toxicology) and ballistics analysis continue, questions swirl: targeted attack or wrong-place tragedy? The prior domestic call adds intrigue without clear links.
This case echoes the vulnerability of everyday lives shattered by violence. With young orphans left behind and a killer at large, Columbus awaits justice for Spencer and Monique Tepe—parents whose love story ended far too soon.
