COLUMBUS — An Illinois man has been arrested in connection with the Dec. 30 double-murder of former Ashland dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, of Columbus.
According to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Michael McKee, 39, was charged with two counts of murder and booked just before noon on Saturday. He is currently being held in Illinois. McKee is the ex-husband of Monique Tepe.
Spencer Tepe had worked at Stone Creek Dental in Ashland before recently transferring to Columbus, where he was employed at Athens Dental Depot. Spencer and Monique Tepe were married in January, 2021.
Fox 32 in Chicago reported that Monique and McKee’s divorce was finalized in May 2017. They were married in August 2015.
McKee has lived in numerous states, including Virginia, Nevada, California and Illinois since 2020, but is currently listed as a vascular surgeon in Rockford, Illinois.
ABC7 Eyewitness News in Chicago reported that McKee’s residence was listed as an address in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, in the 2100 block of North Lincoln Park West, Ohio police court documents showed. Police were seen outside of McKee’s Lincoln Park home Saturday afternoon.
Detectives identified McKee as a suspect through Columbus neighborhood surveillance and tracked his vehicle to Rockford, located about 79 miles northwest of Chicago, court documents showed.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that McKee is scheduled for a hearing on Jan. 12, to start the process of his return to Ohio to face charges.
McKee is a Zanesville Rosecrans High School graduate who also earned a degree from The Ohio State University.
Authorities requested public assistance in the immediate aftermath of the crime and stated they were reviewing video surveillance in the neighborhood of the scene.
Police reported Spencer Tepe suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The couple’s two young children, a 4-year-old girl and a 1-year-old-boy, were found alive and unharmed in a separate room from where their parents’ bodies were discovered in the house.
Authorities stated that three 9 millimeter shell casings were found inside the home, but no gun was recovered.
The Tepes were married in the home where their bodies were discovered.
Spencer Tepe was a 2007 Mason High School graduate who attended The Ohio State University.
Detectives believe the murders took place between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30. Police on Monday released surveillance video showing a “person of interest” walking in the alley near the Tepes’ residence in the early morning hours of Dec. 30.
The video, released by the Columbus Division of Police, shows the man walking slowly in an alley near the Weinland Park home where Spencer and Monique lived. The subject seen in the video is wearing what appears to be a dark coat and light-colored pants.
The couple’s bodies were discovered at 10:03 a.m. on Dec. 30 when a friend went to check on them after Spencer Tepe did not report to work. The individual could see Spencer Tepe’s body through the window and called 911 to report the scene to police.
Family members have posted multiple statements online sharing their reaction to the murders.
The Tepes’ family and friends scheduled a celebration of life service for Sunday, Jan. 11.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
The Tepe family issued the statement below after the arrest on Saturday:
“Today’s arrest represents an important step toward justice for Monique and Spencer. Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon, but we are grateful to the City of Columbus Police Department, its investigators, and assisting law enforcement community whose tireless efforts helped to capture the person involved.
“We thank the community for the continued support, prayers, and compassion shown throughout this tragedy. As the case proceeds, we trust the justice system to hold the person responsible fully accountable.
“Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind. We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world.”
