Dr. Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon, appeared in unearthed dating app photos as a picture of charm and normalcy—beaming with a tan, wearing a lilac sweater over a white shirt, posing playfully with a childhood lunchbox labeled “Mike” featuring a dinosaur. The Bumble profile, active when he was around 32, portrayed him as an accomplished professional: a vascular surgeon trained at Ohio State University, 6ft 2in tall, active lifestyle, social drinker, non-smoker, with interests in art, design, basketball, football, skiing, and music from DMX to Soundgarden. He hoped to have children one day, boasted about perfecting chocolate chip cookies, and shared travel photos, socializing with friends, and glimpses of his surgical career. The profile’s lighthearted “two truths and a lie” included cycling coast-to-coast, rodeo riding, and drinking water when thirsty—details that now contrast starkly with his current reality as the accused killer of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe.
The murders occurred on December 30, 2025, in the Weinland Park neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37—a respected dentist and fellow Ohio State alum—were found shot dead in their home after colleagues raised alarms when Spencer failed to show for work. Their two young children, ages 1 and 4, were unharmed in another room but left crying until first responders arrived. No signs of forced entry suggested the killer knew the layout or had access. Columbus Police classified the attack as targeted and domestic violence-related, tracing it back to Monique’s brief marriage to McKee.
McKee and Monique married on August 22, 2015, after meeting during his time at Ohio State University College of Medicine (graduated 2014). Their union dissolved quickly; Monique filed for divorce in May 2017 citing incompatibility, finalized in June 2017 with no shared children. Family sources describe the marriage as tumultuous: Monique endured emotional abuse, felt terrified, and confided that McKee threatened to kill her multiple times. She reportedly felt desperate to escape, describing him as controlling and mentally unstable. After the divorce, Monique rebuilt her life, meeting Spencer through an online dating app, marrying him in December 2020, and starting a family. Friends portrayed the couple as soulmates radiating love and joy.
McKee, meanwhile, relocated frequently: Virginia for residency, Nevada, then Illinois, where he practiced at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. He never remarried or had children. A 2023 malpractice lawsuit in Nevada accused him of negligence during a procedure causing severe complications; an amended complaint in September 2025 alleged a surgical device fractured inside a patient’s leg. Efforts to serve him failed as he “disappeared,” with incorrect addresses provided. The suits remain pending.
Surveillance footage captured a hooded figure—linked to McKee—near the Tepe home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30. Vehicle tracking placed him at the scene, arriving shortly before and departing after. Police arrested him on January 10, 2026, at a Chick-fil-A in the Chicago area. A search of his Lincoln Park condo recovered multiple firearms; one preliminarily matched ballistics to the crime scene. Charges escalated from murder to four counts of aggravated murder (premeditated) and one count of aggravated burglary, including use of a firearm suppressor (silencer) for quiet execution, sparing the children immediate awareness.
A Franklin County grand jury indicted McKee on January 16, 2026. He waived extradition from Illinois and plans to plead not guilty. His public defender invoked silence during initial appearances. If convicted, he faces life without parole.
The eerie Bumble profile—first revealed by True Crime Mama and verified—amplifies the horror. The carefree, hopeful man in those photos contrasts sharply with his booking mugshot: stark, expressionless. Family and friends of the Tepes express profound grief and gratitude for police efforts. A Tepe family statement read: “Today’s arrest represents an important step toward justice for Monique and Spencer. Nothing can undo the devastating loss… We thank the community for the continued support… Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts.”
McKee’s adoptive family upbringing was reportedly positive, with him a high achiever. Yet sources close to Monique describe a “fragile ego” shattered by her moving on—remarrying, having children, thriving. One friend told media seeing Monique happy with Spencer “destroyed” him. No recent contact between McKee and the Tepes was known, and no prior safety concerns surfaced.
The case highlights domestic violence’s long shadows: threats from nearly a decade ago escalating to lethal violence. Emotional abuse, control, and unresolved resentment can simmer undetected. Monique’s alleged terror during the marriage—never formally reported—underscores how victims sometimes suffer in silence.
Community shock in Columbus runs deep. Spencer was beloved for his kindness, Spanish fluency, Big Brothers Big Sisters involvement, and fandom for Cincinnati Bengals and Ohio State Buckeyes. Tributes filled their porch; funerals honored their light. The children now live with family, surrounded by support amid unimaginable loss.
As McKee awaits transfer to Ohio and trial, questions linger: motive rooted in jealousy? Premeditation evident in the silencer and travel? The dating app images—once innocuous—now serve as a chilling reminder of how ordinary facades can conceal darkness. McKee’s life of achievement and mobility post-divorce contrasts with the irreversible destruction he allegedly wrought.
The tragedy forces reflection on accountability, mental health in high-stress professions, and recognizing abuse signs before escalation. For Monique’s loved ones, justice offers no true healing, only a path forward carrying her memory. The case stands as a somber warning: past threats, even years dormant, can resurface with devastating force.
