The search for ohio dentist and wife killed refers to the deaths of Ohio dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, who were found fatally shot inside their Columbus home on December 30, 2025. The case quickly drew national attention because their two young children were found physically unharmed inside the house.
Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were killed in their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30, 2025. Police later arrested Monique’s ex-husband, Dr. Michael David McKee, who has been indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary. McKee has pleaded not guilty, and the criminal case remains unresolved.
The investigation has produced surveillance footage, vehicle evidence, ballistics evidence and extensive court filings. Prosecutors allege the killings were planned, while McKee is legally presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
ohio dentist and wife killed: What Happened on December 30?
Spencer and Monique Tepe lived with their children in the Weinland Park area of Columbus. On the morning of December 30, 2025, concern grew after Spencer failed to report to work at a dental practice in Athens, Ohio.
A coworker requested a welfare check because Spencer could not be reached. Officers responding shortly after 10 a.m. discovered Spencer and Monique with gunshot wounds inside the residence. Both were pronounced dead.
Their young children were found inside the house but were physically unharmed. Early reporting described them as a young daughter and son.
Investigators initially faced an unusual crime scene. Police reported:
- no weapon had been found at the scene;
- there were no obvious signs of forced entry;
- the children had not been physically injured; and
- investigators believed the couple had been killed during the early-morning hours.
Authorities estimated that the shootings occurred between approximately 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the second floor of the home.
Those circumstances shifted investigators toward the possibility of a targeted double homicide rather than a random crime.
Who Were Spencer and Monique Tepe?
Spencer Tepe was a dentist who worked in Athens, Ohio. He had attended Ohio State University and earned his dental degree there. Family members described him as a devoted father who enjoyed Ohio State football and the Cincinnati Bengals and was active in his community.
Monique had also attended Ohio State, where she studied early childhood education. She was primarily focused on raising the couple’s children when she died.
Although both attended the same university, reporting indicates they later met online. They married on December 13, 2020, and were raising two children together in Columbus.
Family members emphasized after their deaths that Spencer and Monique should be remembered as parents, relatives and friends rather than simply as victims in a nationally followed criminal case.
How Police Identified a Person of Interest
One of the most important early developments came from surveillance footage collected around the Tepes’ neighborhood.
Columbus police released video showing a person walking through an alley close to the home during the approximate 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. period when detectives believed the killings occurred.
The individual was initially described only as a person of interest. Investigators asked residents to provide security-camera recordings, photographs and information about suspicious vehicles or people in the neighborhood.
Investigators eventually connected a vehicle visible around the relevant time to Michael David McKee.
According to a criminal complaint, detectives determined that the vehicle arrived shortly before the murders and left shortly afterward. They later located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois, and developed evidence linking McKee to its possession before and after the killings.
The investigation therefore expanded beyond Ohio into Illinois.
ohio dentist and wife killed: Who Was Arrested?
Michael David McKee, Monique Tepe’s former husband, was arrested in Rockford, Illinois, on January 10, 2026.
McKee was 39 at the time and worked as a vascular surgeon. He had previously been married to Monique before the relationship ended years before her marriage to Spencer.
Initial charges involved the deaths of both Spencer and Monique. A Franklin County grand jury subsequently returned a much more detailed indictment on January 16, 2026.
The official Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says McKee was indicted on:
- two counts of aggravated murder alleging prior calculation and design;
- two counts of aggravated murder committed during an alleged aggravated burglary; and
- one count of aggravated burglary.
The counts also include firearm specifications and specifications alleging that a firearm suppressor was used.
These remain allegations. An indictment means prosecutors have formally charged a defendant; it is not a finding of guilt.
What Evidence Have Investigators Described?
Publicly reported evidence in the case falls into several major categories.
Surveillance and vehicle evidence
Neighborhood surveillance played a central role from the beginning. Police first released footage of a person of interest and later said vehicle evidence helped connect McKee to the investigation.
Authorities also alleged in court filings that McKee had been seen around the Tepes’ property weeks before the killings.
According to an affidavit discussed by WOSU, surveillance footage allegedly showed McKee near or on the property on December 6, 2025, while Spencer and Monique were away.
That allegation is significant because prosecutors are pursuing aggravated-murder charges involving “prior calculation and design,” Ohio’s terminology for a form of planned killing.
Firearms and ballistics evidence
Police also said firearms were recovered during the investigation.
Reporting based on police statements indicated that ballistic and vehicle evidence helped link McKee to the homicides. A firearm recovered during the investigation reportedly produced a preliminary match with evidence associated with the crime scene through a national ballistics database.
The indictment itself contains firearm specifications alleging that a gun equipped with a muffler or suppressor was used.
Whether particular pieces of forensic evidence will ultimately be admitted at trial, and how strongly they will support the prosecution’s case, are matters for the court process.
What Did the Autopsies Reveal?
Autopsy findings released in February provided additional information about how Spencer and Monique died.
According to reports citing the autopsy documents, Spencer suffered seven gunshot wounds and Monique suffered nine. Both deaths were classified as homicides caused by gunshot wounds involving areas including the head, chest and extremities.
The findings reinforced investigators’ characterization of the incident as a double homicide.
Some media reports and outside experts have offered theories about the precise sequence of events inside the bedroom. Those interpretations should not be confused with facts established by a jury. The strongest publicly verified information comes from the autopsy findings, charging documents and official law-enforcement statements.
What Is Known About McKee and Monique’s Previous Marriage?
McKee and Monique married in 2015 and divorced in 2017.
After McKee’s arrest, members of Monique’s family told investigators and news organizations that she had previously described troubling behavior during and after the marriage.
An affidavit later made public contained allegations that Monique had told friends and relatives that McKee had been abusive and had threatened her. These claims now form part of the broader narrative prosecutors and investigators have developed around the case.
They nevertheless remain allegations relevant to pending criminal proceedings. McKee has pleaded not guilty.
No publicly established motive should be treated as proven unless it is demonstrated through evidence in court.
Why Was the Case Considered a Targeted Attack?
Several characteristics caused investigators to focus on the possibility that Spencer and Monique had been specifically targeted.
There was reportedly no obvious forced entry, no firearm initially recovered inside the home and no indication that the children had been attacked. Police also developed surveillance evidence suggesting someone approached the residence during a narrow overnight window.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant publicly described the case as disturbing, and later reporting characterized police as viewing the killings as a targeted attack.
That does not establish who committed the crime. It describes investigators’ assessment of the circumstances surrounding it.
What Happened After Michael McKee’s Arrest?
Following his January 10 arrest in Illinois, McKee was eventually transferred to Ohio.
A Franklin County grand jury issued the five-count indictment on January 16. He was then booked into the James A. Karnes Corrections Center in Franklin County.
On January 23, McKee appeared remotely for his arraignment in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. He entered not-guilty pleas to all four aggravated-murder counts and the aggravated-burglary charge. His defense attorney waived a request for bond, and he remained in custody.
Because the charges involve aggravated murder, the potential penalties are severe.
The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office states that if McKee is convicted, the sentencing range could extend from life imprisonment with parole eligibility after at least 32 years to life without parole.
Has a Trial Date Been Set?
As of the latest reliable reporting reviewed for this article, no official trial date has been announced.
An early docket entry was initially described as a “trial” date, but reporting explained that it was effectively part of the pretrial process while prosecutors and defense attorneys worked through discovery.
The case has involved thousands of photographs, videos, forensic materials, surveillance recordings and other pieces of evidence.
A&E’s August 25, 2026 update reported that McKee remained held without bond and that no official trial date had been set.
That distinction matters. McKee has been accused and indicted, but he has not been convicted. His not-guilty plea means the allegations must be tested through the judicial process.
Why the Case Attracted National Attention
The deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe drew widespread attention for several reasons.
They were young parents killed inside their own home while their children were present. The initial absence of an identified suspect created uncertainty, while the release of surveillance footage prompted a highly publicized search.
The subsequent arrest of Monique’s former husband in another state, along with allegations involving prior surveillance of the home and forensic evidence, added another layer to the investigation.
At the same time, the circumstances highlight why early reporting in criminal cases must be read carefully. Information can change rapidly between the initial investigation, arrest, grand-jury indictment, discovery proceedings and eventual trial.
An arrest is not the same as a conviction, and claims made in police affidavits describe the government’s allegations rather than judicial findings.
What Happens Next in the Spencer and Monique Tepe Case?
The criminal proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove the charges against McKee beyond a reasonable doubt.
Before any trial, attorneys may continue reviewing evidence, filing motions and addressing disputes involving surveillance material, forensic testing, digital records, firearms evidence and other parts of the investigation.
If the case reaches a jury trial, prosecutors will have to establish the elements of aggravated murder and aggravated burglary. The defense will have the opportunity to challenge witnesses, evidence and the prosecution’s interpretation of events.
Until that process is completed, Michael McKee remains presumed innocent under U.S. law.
For readers searching ohio dentist and wife killed, the central facts are clear: Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe were found shot to death in their Columbus home on December 30, 2025; their children survived physically unharmed; Monique’s former husband was later arrested and indicted; and he has pleaded not guilty. As of August 25, 2026, the case remained pending with no official trial date publicly announced.
