The recent double murder case involving an Ohio dentist and his wife has taken a significant turn, with police announcing a key breakthrough in the investigation. On December 30, 2025, Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and his 39-year-old wife Monique Tepe were found shot to death in their home in Columbus, Ohio. The couple’s two young children (ages 4 and 1) and their dog were unharmed in the residence, and there were no signs of forced entry, theft, or a struggle that suggested a random crime. The discovery came after Spencer’s colleagues reported him missing from work, prompting a welfare check that revealed the tragic scene.

The case quickly drew national attention due to its shocking nature—a targeted attack on a seemingly happy family preparing to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. Initial police statements ruled out murder-suicide and emphasized that the killings appeared to be a deliberate, domestic-violence-related incident.

Investigators soon focused on Michael David McKee, Monique Tepe’s ex-husband. The couple had married in 2015 but divorced in 2017 after a brief and reportedly tumultuous relationship. McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon originally from the Chicago area, was living and working in Illinois at the time of the murders (associated with OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford).

McKee was arrested on January 10, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois, at a Chick-fil-A location, just as formal charges were being filed against him in Ohio. He faced two counts of aggravated murder with premeditation. He waived extradition and was held in Winnebago County Jail pending transfer to Ohio, though his return was briefly delayed according to court records. During his initial court appearance, a public defender indicated he planned to plead not guilty.

A major update came on January 14, 2026, when Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant held a news conference detailing substantial evidence linking McKee to the crime. Police described the attack as a “targeted domestic violence-related” incident, with McKee as the sole suspect. Key elements included:

Surveillance video footage captured a person of interest walking in a dark alley near the Tepe home on the night of the murders. Authorities now believe this individual was McKee.
Vehicle tracking placed a car registered to McKee in the vicinity before and after the homicides. The vehicle was seen arriving from a long-distance trip (over 400-500 miles from Illinois) and departing shortly afterward.
No weapon was recovered at the crime scene initially, but ballistic evidence from the scene—reportedly including three 9mm casings—provided critical leads.

The most damning development involved the recovery of firearms from McKee’s property in Chicago (a condo in the Lincoln Park neighborhood). Following his arrest, a search warrant executed at the residence yielded multiple weapons. One firearm underwent preliminary ballistic testing and matched evidence from the homicide scene through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). Chief Bryant stated that this gun is believed to be the murder weapon, fully consistent with the wounds inflicted on the victims and casings found at the scene.

“We believe at this point we have the person responsible for the murders of Monique and Spencer Tepe, and that person is Michael McKee,” Bryant declared during the press conference. She emphasized that the evidence—combining video, vehicle movements, and the ballistic match—established a clear link. Police described the killings as premeditated, with no indication of additional accomplices.

Family members of the victims expressed that they were not surprised by McKee’s arrest. Relatives and friends of Monique Tepe reportedly had long harbored concerns about her ex-husband, describing patterns of emotional abuse during their marriage. Some accounts suggested Monique had been “terrified” in the past, though specific details remain limited due to the ongoing investigation. In contrast, Monique’s marriage to Spencer was portrayed as loving and stable, with the couple building a life together in Columbus after her divorce.

McKee’s professional background as a surgeon added an eerie layer to the case, with some media outlets noting the precision of the attack despite limited public details on the exact nature of the wounds (Spencer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Monique was hit at least once in the chest). His employer cooperated with authorities, and no prior criminal history was immediately apparent, though separate reports mentioned a medical malpractice lawsuit involving McKee in another state.

As of mid-January 2026, McKee awaits extradition and arraignment in Franklin County, Ohio. Prosecutors have not yet publicly detailed a precise motive, though the domestic violence context points to unresolved issues from the divorce. Forensic experts consulted in media coverage have speculated that jealousy or control dynamics common in such cases could be factors, but police have withheld full details to protect the integrity of the prosecution.

This case underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence, even years after a relationship ends. The survival of the Tepe children amid such horror has drawn widespread sympathy, with community support efforts emerging in Columbus. The investigation continues, but with the ballistic match and other corroborating evidence, authorities appear confident in their conclusion that Michael McKee is the perpetrator responsible for the tragic deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe.