OH - Spencer and Monique Tepe found shot to death at home 2 children unharmed, Columbus, 30 December 2025 *ex-husband arrested*

[OhioGuy]

Perhaps LE has a POI but if this occurred in the dark of night, there may not be a good enough image of the perp nor their means of transportation.

Hopefully they were dumb and used their own vehicle.

The dark concealing everything is my main worry.

Since LE asked for video from midnight through 9am, I’m guessing they have phone activity from the victims up to that point. We can probably narrow the time down to about 645am because if he had patients in Athens at 8, he’d be out the door by then.

Asking for video from Summit St to Grant Ave makes sense because that’s one street to the east and west. I find it a little interesting they asked for video between 7th Ave (one street south) and 11th Ave (3 blocks north) though. 4th Street is a one way northbound so maybe that explains it, or maybe they have a person/vehicle of interest traveling in that direction so they want any video they can get of that person traveling northbound from the scene.

 

[Sadi]

i’m not privy to info that hasn’t been released to the public, but the crime camera that detects gunshots and monitors 24/7 has a clear view onto their house. along with the other doorbell surveillance tools. the housing is so densely packed that someone had to see or hear something.

according to the BIL, LE believes this is targeted and there isn’t a threat to the public (though police haven’t stated exactly that as far as i am aware — but they certainly aren’t warning about a killer at large either). no signs of forced entry. nothing taken.

Thank you. I don’t have any additional information either, but I think it was targeted by someone they knew. Spencer was found in the bedroom, not knowing the exact time the killings took place, I wonder if they knew he had a safe with money or valuables and that maybe the reason he was killed there? I don't know if the bedroom is located on the first or second floor? When LE and friends came to the house and knocked on the door, etc., I’m sure the kids were terrified and possibly hiding? My four year old grandson opens the front door anytime someone rings the doorbell, so my guess is they could have, but were afraid to.

 

[TruCrimeTime]

A new excerpt from NBC news:

Including the name of the friend reporting seeing his body as well as 3 9mm casings. If this is correct, then putting earlier reports together, ST had two shots, MT must’ve had one.

• An hour later, a second person called 911 from outside the couple’s home. The caller, an unidentified male, said he could hear children in the house but had no way of getting inside.



At 10 a.m., Spencer’s friend A.D. reported seeing a body inside before breaking down into sobs.



“There’s blood. He’s laying next to his bed, off of his bed, and there's blood. I can’t get closer to see more than that,” A.D. said, according to 911 logs.



Three 9-millimeter casings were found inside the home, according to the police report. The couple’s two children were safe in a different room from their parent’s bodies. •

Full Article:

Ohio investigators seek killer of Columbus dentist and wife found dead in their home

Police received at least four calls from colleagues and loved ones starting around 9 a.m. on Dec. 30.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Lisbeth_S]

Three 9-millimeter casings were found inside the home, according to the police report. The couple’s two children were safe in a different room from their parent’s bodies. •

Full Article:

Ohio investigators seek killer of Columbus dentist and wife found dead in their home

Police received at least four calls from colleagues and loved ones starting around 9 a.m. on Dec. 30.

www.nbcnews.com

SBM

So this means the parents were found in the same room, if the wording is accurate.
And the fact that the friend saw Spencer's body in the bedroom means they were both in the bedroom, presumably killed there?

 

[maamager]

Family of couple found dead in Weinland Park home releases statement

Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, shared a "beautiful, strong, and deeply happy relationship," according to family members.

www.dispatch.com

 

[JaimeInLA]

Great question. Do ring cams detect sound?

Yes they do, but only if triggered by motion first.

 

[gremlin444]

Might have a prescription pad at home.

In Ohio, prescriptions for any schedule II controlled substances have to be sent electronically...that's been in place for several years now.

 

[airportwoman]

They were in their 30s when they married. Does anyone know if either of them may have had a prior failed relationship with someone they may have had reason to fear?

 

[stmichael]

The children were 4 and 1 per this report.

So they would likely be tucked away sleeping. Quite possible the killer was unaware of their presence if it was random, etc. Tragic what they must have woken up to.

Family reacts as Columbus police release timeline in dentist couple's murder case

Columbus police on Friday unveiled a timeline in the investigation of the murders of Spencer and Monique Tepe, a Columbus-area dentist and his wife, as their lo

abc6onyourside.com

While gentrified (that row of houses doesn't even show up in google streetview, just grass since they were built a few years ago) Weiland Park has had a few homicides the last few years, and plenty of crime in the park down the street from this house (an 8 year old was shot in a dispute a few years back).

 

[coreypenn]

Not gentrified at all. They put a few nice properties up in the middle of rough neighborhoods.

My brother lived on 9th ave, around the corner from there, a few years back. They moved because their house and cars got broken into dozens of times.

This is a completely inaccurate portrayal of the area. I currently live in the neighborhood, a neighbor of the family (~500 ft between our residences), and violent crime like this is unheard of. Any neighborhood adjacent to downtown has unsavory pockets, but that does not characterize where this crime took place. Any crime considered violent that has taken place in the area since we moved 2 years ago has been either in the Short North and/or related to the nightlife there. Yes, petty crime like car break-ins happen, but they also happen in the affluent areas that touch downtown. This crime has nothing to do with the area. <modsnip: Removed opinion stated as fact without being a verified member>

 

[coreypenn]

They were in their 30s when they married. Does anyone know if either of them may have had a prior failed relationship with someone they may have had reason to fear?

Monique had been married previously.

 

[indicolite22]

They were in their 30s when they married. Does anyone know if either of them may have had a prior failed relationship with someone they may have had reason to fear?

Marriage license records indicate that the wife was married before (in 2015) in the same county. The second marriage was in 2020.

Franklin County Probate Court - Marriage License Index

probate.franklincountyohio.gov

 

[Normancita]

This is a completely inaccurate portrayal of the area. I currently live in the neighborhood, a neighbor of the family (~500 ft between our residences), and violent crime like this is unheard of. Any neighborhood adjacent to downtown has unsavory pockets, but that does not characterize where this crime took place. Any crime considered violent that has taken place in the area since we moved 2 years ago has been either in the Short North and/or related to the nightlife there. Yes, petty crime like car break-ins happen, but they also happen in the affluent areas that touch downtown. This crime has nothing to do with the area. <modsnip: Removed opinion stated as fact without being a verified member>

That’s a matter of opinion.

The crime rate there is above many national averages.

 

[Ms Scarlett]

Thank you. I don’t have any additional information either, but I think it was targeted by someone they knew. Spencer was found in the bedroom, not knowing the exact time the killings took place, I wonder if they knew he had a safe with money or valuables and that maybe the reason he was killed there? I don't know if the bedroom is located on the first or second floor? When LE and friends came to the house and knocked on the door, etc., I’m sure the kids were terrified and possibly hiding? My four year old grandson opens the front door anytime someone rings the doorbell, so my guess is they could have, but were afraid to.

There are bedrooms on the 2nd floor and one in the basement. There aren’t any bedrooms on the first floor.

 

[stmichael]

This is a completely inaccurate portrayal of the area. I currently live in the neighborhood, a neighbor of the family (~500 ft between our residences), and violent crime like this is unheard of. Any neighborhood adjacent to downtown has unsavory pockets, but that does not characterize where this crime took place. Any crime considered violent that has taken place in the area since we moved 2 years ago has been either in the Short North and/or related to the nightlife there. Yes, petty crime like car break-ins happen, but they also happen in the affluent areas that touch downtown. This crime has nothing to do with the area. <modsnip: Removed opinion stated as fact without being a verified member>

In the last few years Weinland Park has factually had several homicides and violent crimes including an 8 year old shot in the park walking distance from this incident. While crime does occur in cities, and it seems to vary which side you live on (I mean it's a relatively small area) and the area had a major gang bust a decade ago, the park and the area have a reputation that was earned and it still considered unsafe after dark to all the colleagues from Columbus I have asked, YMMV.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/05/15/another-park-shooting-sends-8-year-old-hospital/9785570002/

Leaving such young children really distresses me in this case. The one year old was surely in a crib. The houses seem very close together and I would even think a crying infant would be heard, much less the discharge of a 9mm, even if suppressed.

 

[Ms Scarlett]

They were in their 30s when they married. Does anyone know if either of them may have had a prior failed relationship with someone they may have had reason to fear?

I’m not sure about Spencer. Monique had a prior marriage. <modsnip: What someone has "seen in other threads" is not an approved source for information>

 

[OhioGuy]

A lot of it depends on your perspective. People used to the other side of 71 would strive to live in that neighborhood. People coming from New Albany or Powell might find it sketchy.

As mentioned before, I have had 100+ residents over the years within walking distance of this home and not one time have I ever gotten feedback that anyone felt unsafe, and these are primarily early 20s living alone. My child tags along with me often to drop off keys, pay contractors, and the like.

 

[Ms Scarlett]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed due to inside info w/o being a Verified member>

Was Spencer in the basement bedroom because the rest of the bedrooms are on the 2nd floor?

 

[Ms Scarlett]

The children were 4 and 1 per this report.

So they would likely be tucked away sleeping. Quite possible the killer was unaware of their presence if it was random, etc. Tragic what they must have woken up to.

Family reacts as Columbus police release timeline in dentist couple's murder case

Columbus police on Friday unveiled a timeline in the investigation of the murders of Spencer and Monique Tepe, a Columbus-area dentist and his wife, as their lo

abc6onyourside.com

While gentrified (that row of houses doesn't even show up in google streetview, just grass since they were built a few years ago) Weiland Park has had a few homicides the last few years, and plenty of crime in the park down the street from this house (an 8 year old was shot in a dispute a few years back).

If you go to google street view and try to go down E 8th Ave, the new houses pop up. You can also see that the house next to theirs on the corner of 4th and 8th had multiple exterior cameras, including on their garage in the back ally.

 

[stmichael]

If you go to google street view and try to go down E 8th Ave, the new houses pop up. You can also see that the house next to theirs on the corner of 4th and 8th had multiple exterior cameras, including on their garage in the back ally.

Yes. The detached garages/separate alley access is a bit dubious. You can see all the pictures of the entire home and property still up on the Redfin etc, listings (I always advise people to claim their listing take these down from public view). There seem to be plenty of residential cameras in the area, including the police Flock cams at the intersection (three views). One tricky thing with these cases is we get a lot of imperfect footage in private cameras (wrong angle, obstructions, Ring cam not charged) and it is not unusual to see footage of a person approaching a residence with a hoodie pulled down low and a mask (you've probably even seen this is Ring cam porch pirates etc.). We've seen the inadequacy of CCTV recently in the Brown University shooting. But hoping with that critical mass of surveillance in a city scenario something will come up (I would speculate a car was not use or not in the immediate area).