Monique Tepe’s brief first marriage to Michael David McKee lasted only seven months of cohabitation before separation, yet the emotional scars it left endured for years, resurfacing tragically after her murder alongside her second husband, Spencer Tepe, in their Columbus, Ohio home on December 30, 2025. McKee, a vascular surgeon, now faces aggravated murder charges in the double homicide, which authorities describe as a targeted, domestic violence-related attack. Family members have come forward to reveal the fear and abuse Monique endured during that short union, painting a picture of a relationship defined by threats, emotional torment, and a profound sense of danger that never fully dissipated.
The couple married on August 22, 2015, but by March 2016—just seven months later—Monique had moved out, citing incompatibility in divorce filings. The dissolution was finalized in June 2017, with no children involved and no public record of physical violence allegations at the time. However, those close to Monique later described a far more troubling reality behind the scenes. Rob Misleh, brother-in-law to Spencer Tepe and a confidant to Monique, shared in interviews that she confided about McKee’s emotional abuse and repeated death threats during their marriage. “She was terrified because he had threatened her life on multiple occasions when they were married,” Misleh told NBC News. He emphasized that Monique was open about the trauma, noting it affected her profoundly long after the divorce. “She wasn’t shy about talking to people about traumatic experiences she had with her ex and just how emotionally abusive he was to her. It affected her to this day.”
Monique’s willingness to escape the relationship was absolute. Misleh recounted that she “was willing to do anything to get out of there,” highlighting the depth of her fear and determination. Friends and family echoed this sentiment, describing how the experience left lasting marks on her outlook and relationships. In her wedding vows to Spencer Tepe in December 2020—exchanged in the very home where the couple would later be killed—Monique tearfully referenced “countless bad Bumble dates, wrong relationships, and waterfalls of tears” that led her to him. Those words, once seen as romantic reflections on past heartbreaks, now carry a heavier weight in light of revelations about her first marriage.
The Tepe murders unfolded in the early morning hours, with Spencer, a respected dentist, and Monique, a stay-at-home mother to their two young children, found shot dead. The children were unharmed but present in the home, adding layers of heartbreak to the tragedy. Police investigations quickly focused on McKee as a suspect, leading to his arrest in Illinois days later. Authorities noted he had driven hundreds of miles to reach the residence, suggesting premeditation. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant labeled the incident a “domestic violence-related attack,” underscoring the connection to Monique’s past.
Experts in coercive control and domestic violence have weighed in on the case, pointing to patterns where emotional abuse and threats can escalate over time, even after separation. Dr. Laura Richards, a former criminal behavioral analyst, discussed how such dynamics often represent “murder in slow motion,” with stalking, obsession, and revenge driving former partners to extreme acts. While no prior restraining orders or reported physical incidents from the McKee marriage surfaced publicly, the family’s accounts suggest Monique lived with ongoing fear. Misleh and others were aware of the “negative impact” and “torment” she endured, yet the passage of nearly a decade before the alleged violence raises difficult questions about long-term risks for survivors.
Monique rebuilt her life after the divorce. She met Spencer through dating apps, found love again, and started a family. Their 2020 ceremony was intimate and joyful, a testament to her resilience. Friends described her as warm, devoted, and deeply committed to her children. Spencer was known in the community as a skilled professional and loving father. The couple’s home, once filled with vows of forever, became a crime scene, leaving their young family shattered.
The case has reignited discussions on the dangers of domestic abuse, particularly emotional and coercive control, which can be harder to document but no less deadly. Survivors often face skepticism when threats persist years later, and statistics show that separation can be the most dangerous period in abusive relationships. Monique’s story, as shared by those who loved her, serves as a stark reminder that leaving does not always end the danger. Family members have expressed profound grief mixed with frustration that warnings went unheeded in preventing the final outcome.
As legal proceedings advance, McKee remains in custody facing serious charges. The investigation continues to piece together timeline, motive, and any prior contacts between the ex-spouses. For the Tepe family and community, the loss is immeasurable—two lives cut short, children orphaned, and a chilling illustration of how past trauma can resurface violently.
Monique Tepe’s courage in speaking about her fears, even if quietly to trusted loved ones, highlights the importance of believing survivors and taking threats seriously. Her seven-month marriage, marked by what she described as a “bad guy,” became a shadow that lingered far longer than the union itself. In the wake of this tragedy, advocates call for stronger protections, better awareness of coercive patterns, and systemic changes to safeguard those escaping abusive relationships. The pain of what could have been prevented lingers, even as tributes honor the lives of Monique and Spencer Tepe.
