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

[ttjo]

I agree. It sounds like there is a possibility the office was at least aware of a situation that could cause concern.

I agree, but after 8 years?? You’d. think there has to be more recent activity than 8 years ago if they were talking about it. That divorce stuff, was it an admin glitch or not? I can’t remember if it had assigned a court date or if that was the malpractice suit.

 

[armchairagatha]

From the affidavit -

..."This suspect was tracked to a vehicle which arrived just prior to the homicides and left shortly after the homicides. Detectives were able to identify this vehicle further and link it to Michael McKee. Detectives located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois and found evidence of McKee in possession of the vehicle prior to and after the homicides."

Just want to try tie a few things together to see what other ideas come to light.

One. this is charged as a PREMEDITATED murder. It was not spur-of-the-moment; it was planned. So wouldn’t a PLANNED murder have to contain an assurance that you could get into the house in the first place?

This was not some country home where one might leave the doors open and go to bed. This was in a ‘evolving’ neighborhood in a city the killer knew well. In his ‘premeditation’ he would most definitely expect this high value home for the neighborhood to have every security bell and whistle…alarm, lights, fancy locks, even a dog.

And it did.

No one, no matter how obsessed, is going to be making 10 hr round trips in the middle of the night on the off-chance that, one night, there might be a door someone forgot to lock. This was ‘premeditated’….he had to have had a pretty solid reason to believe he could get in. They could still have been at her sisters for New Years. He had to gave had the most crucial part of this murder PLANNED….the fact that they would be there…and assured entry.

So, that leads us to speculate how he could accomplish that?

First, is this killer still practicing in Chicago. If so, he can’t be driving 10 hrs every night. So he had to know that on Dec 30, he could expect them to be home, on their beds, without a party going on, or a couple of Navy Seals spending the night.

He needed very precise info.

And he needed to feel confident that he could get past all the security stuff. Who could/would give him that information? If he is this once-abusive spouse, unlikely to be relatives or close friends. How likely is it that he would know who their gardener, or babysitter might be…and get that info that way?

I don’t think we can entirely rule out M feeling pity for him, or thinking she could manage his moods as she did in the old days. That could provide info but not the entry codes.

He drove there that night, walked in, killed them, drove another 5 hrs home. Just luck? I doubt it. There’s another big piece to this puzzle,

It has been reported that he was in Zanesville, near Columbus for the holidays. So he had a week or so to do his dry runs and finalize his plans without anyone missing him at work back in Illinois.

 

[Sundog]

It has been reported that he was in Zanesville, near Columbus for the holidays. So he had a week or so to do his dry runs and finalize his plans without anyone missing him at work back in Illinois.

I read one MSM report that was posted here early on that mentioned that MM had family in Zanesville, but other reports in MSM later reported that MM was estranged from his family. But we also know that he studied at OSU, so he may still have friends in the Columbus area and he could have stayed in a hotel in the region. Still lots we don't know. But many medical centers and clinics close for the entire week between Christmas and New Year, so it would make sense that he spent more than one day travelling from Illinois to Columbus so that he could carry out his premeditated plan.

 

[Justice101]

What if he stayed in Columbus and had no family that would see him and jsut sat there and wallowed in his self pity?

 

[Vaderman]

I wonder if MM will fight extradition in his court appearance today in Illinois.

I've also been wondering if this is going to be a quick confession, plea, and sentencing or if he'll drag it out and fight every step of the way.

 

[MesquiteO21]

What about if he faked a profile as someone she knew who texted and asked if they could stay over, Last minute, they’d be arriving late. So would they give a code or leave the door open?? Total speculation.
I know there are apps that allow you to make an incoming call /text and have your phone number appear as whatever you want it to show.
He managed to get in there somehow.

terrifying to think about but i wouldn't be surprised with the convoluted lengths some people go to. there was a case in my state not that long ago where 3 men actually dressed up as UPS workers with packages in order to be let into the home where they then killed 3 people inside

moo

 

[MesquiteO21]

I've also been wondering if this is going to be a quick confession, plea, and sentencing or if he'll drag it out and fight every step of the way.

he waited 8 years to do this so i get the feeling it will be the latter. i don't see someone who is so petty and narcissistic giving it all up easily, but, for the sake of the family and everyone else involved, i hope i'm wrong.

moo

 

[alexwood]

I hope they got his phone and his car is fancy enough to have the automatic GPS tracking if he thought he could outsmart everyone by using a basic purchased paper map.

Where did I hear (a YouTube true crime channel?) that he had used a rental car? Is that true? Or did he use his own vehicle?

 

[Sundog]

Where did I hear (a YouTube true crime channel?) that he had used a rental car? Is that true? Or did he use his own vehicle?

We don't know that yet.

 

[ttjo]

terrifying to think about but i wouldn't be surprised with the convoluted lengths some people go to. there was a case in my state not that long ago where 3 men actually dressed up as UPS workers with packages in order to be let into the home where they then killed 3 people inside

moo

It’s so convoluted it’s hard to believe, also hard to believe not many people know about that app. I see it used to get a hold of people who wouldnt answer.

 

[kwins]

It has been reported that he was in Zanesville, near Columbus for the holidays. So he had a week or so to do his dry runs and finalize his plans without anyone missing him at work back in Illinois.

I am not aware of any credible sources that have made these assertions. Vascular surgeons also work through the holidays. Surgeries are also performed at hospitals through the holidays.

 

[Tillicum]

he waited 8 years to do this so i get the feeling it will be the latter. i don't see someone who is so petty and narcissistic giving it all up easily, but, for the sake of the family and everyone else involved, i hope i'm wrong.

moo

IMO he probably holds a grudge against Monique's family who helped her escape him. I'm afraid he'll want them to sit through a trial and hear and see all the heartbreaking details.

 

[Gemmie]

I agree, but after 8 years?? You’d. think there has to be more recent activity than 8 years ago if they were talking about it. That divorce stuff, was it an admin glitch or not? I can’t remember if it had assigned a court date or if that was the malpractice suit.

I hear ya about 'after 8 yrs'. But what stood out to me in the divorce decree (linked in @Knox's post HERE) is the June 2025 date. Regardless of why it spit out of the system 7-8 yrs later... the fact is it DID spit out. That to me is what I think triggered him. It was like ripping a bandaid off or reopening an old (semi) healed wound. Their divorce. Once again he's reliving that, angry she left and especially with the way she left. She's happy now with a new man. They have 2 lovely children. Did he want children that he never got from her?

He's seething, angry, and can't stop thinking about the injustice to him. How dare she leave him. When he sees her laughing in pictures he thinks she's laughing at him. Everything is about him. He has to do something to get back at her. Kill her husband in front of her (likely, and JMO) so she had to live through that... then (likely) beg for her life while he laughed in her face.

I'm sure he had some things to say to her. To get off his chest. This was his moment for vengeance. He was probably so angry and worked up that spit flew as he spoke. Rage filled his eyes and his cheeks burned red. He hated her for leaving him and she must die.

And die she did. RIP Monica and Spencer. Neither you or your young children deserved this.

 

[Megnut]

From the affidavit -

..."This suspect was tracked to a vehicle which arrived just prior to the homicides and left shortly after the homicides. Detectives were able to identify this vehicle further and link it to Michael McKee. Detectives located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois and found evidence of McKee in possession of the vehicle prior to and after the homicides."

Just want to try tie a few things together to see what other ideas come to light.

One. this is charged as a PREMEDITATED murder. It was not spur-of-the-moment; it was planned. So wouldn’t a PLANNED murder have to contain an assurance that you could get into the house in the first place?

This was not some country home where one might leave the doors open and go to bed. This was in a ‘evolving’ neighborhood in a city the killer knew well. In his ‘premeditation’ he would most definitely expect this high value home for the neighborhood to have every security bell and whistle…alarm, lights, fancy locks, even a dog.

And it did.

No one, no matter how obsessed, is going to be making 10 hr round trips in the middle of the night on the off-chance that, one night, there might be a door someone forgot to lock. This was ‘premeditated’….he had to have had a pretty solid reason to believe he could get in. They could still have been at her sisters for New Years. He had to gave had the most crucial part of this murder PLANNED….the fact that they would be there…and assured entry.

So, that leads us to speculate how he could accomplish that?

First, is this killer still practicing in Chicago. If so, he can’t be driving 10 hrs every night. So he had to know that on Dec 30, he could expect them to be home, on their beds, without a party going on, or a couple of Navy Seals spending the night.

He needed very precise info.

And he needed to feel confident that he could get past all the security stuff. Who could/would give him that information? If he is this once-abusive spouse, unlikely to be relatives or close friends. How likely is it that he would know who their gardener, or babysitter might be…and get that info that way?

I don’t think we can entirely rule out M feeling pity for him, or thinking she could manage his moods as she did in the old days. That could provide info but not the entry codes.

He drove there that night, walked in, killed them, drove another 5 hrs home. Just luck? I doubt it. There’s another big piece to this puzzle,

In his head, he may have planned a double murder / suicide. Didn't care if he was on camera, didn't care if he set 100 alarms off. Kill them both and himself. Look what you made me do. You should never have left me. Marriage is for life. You caused this. Unhinged rant.

It would account for both premeditation and little attempt to conceal himself.

And then changed his mind and decided to spare himself, feeling he'd already made his point. For certain people, winning is all that matters, even if the rest of the world can't see how killing two people is winning at anything.

When it's actually failing at everything.

He had one job. Be a decent human being.

Full fail.

JMO

 

[PipeyRella]

It has been reported that he was in Zanesville, near Columbus for the holidays. So he had a week or so to do his dry runs and finalize his plans without anyone missing him at work back in Illinois.

where was this reported? I have not seen this, just people speculating or wondering if this may be the case. Can you provide the link?

 

[MesquiteO21]

IMO he probably holds a grudge against Monique's family who helped her escape him. I'm afraid he'll want them to sit through a trial and hear and see all the heartbreaking details.

that's a good point (unfortunately, ugh )

moo

 

[su5ie]

From the affidavit -

..."This suspect was tracked to a vehicle which arrived just prior to the homicides and left shortly after the homicides. Detectives were able to identify this vehicle further and link it to Michael McKee. Detectives located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois and found evidence of McKee in possession of the vehicle prior to and after the homicides."

Just want to try tie a few things together to see what other ideas come to light.

One. this is charged as a PREMEDITATED murder. It was not spur-of-the-moment; it was planned. So wouldn’t a PLANNED murder have to contain an assurance that you could get into the house in the first place?

This was not some country home where one might leave the doors open and go to bed. This was in a ‘evolving’ neighborhood in a city the killer knew well. In his ‘premeditation’ he would most definitely expect this high value home for the neighborhood to have every security bell and whistle…alarm, lights, fancy locks, even a dog.

And it did.

No one, no matter how obsessed, is going to be making 10 hr round trips in the middle of the night on the off-chance that, one night, there might be a door someone forgot to lock. This was ‘premeditated’….he had to have had a pretty solid reason to believe he could get in. They could still have been at her sisters for New Years. He had to gave had the most crucial part of this murder PLANNED….the fact that they would be there…and assured entry.

So, that leads us to speculate how he could accomplish that?

First, is this killer still practicing in Chicago. If so, he can’t be driving 10 hrs every night. So he had to know that on Dec 30, he could expect them to be home, on their beds, without a party going on, or a couple of Navy Seals spending the night.

He needed very precise info.

And he needed to feel confident that he could get past all the security stuff. Who could/would give him that information? If he is this once-abusive spouse, unlikely to be relatives or close friends. How likely is it that he would know who their gardener, or babysitter might be…and get that info that way?

I don’t think we can entirely rule out M feeling pity for him, or thinking she could manage his moods as she did in the old days. That could provide info but not the entry codes.

He drove there that night, walked in, killed them, drove another 5 hrs home. Just luck? I doubt it. There’s another big piece to this puzzle,

Excellent post , I feel the same that he had to be sure they were in and he had to br sure he would gain entry

So if we go down that line of thinking we either have to introduce a second person either aware or unaware or some sort of tech such as a listening device , small spyware camera or hack into the system ( not easy )

We know some neighbours said WiFi was down , we also know there are numerous ways to break into a house undetected from a simple credit card trick of cutting a triangle from the middle and then swiping downward over the lock or using a locksmith tool .

Could someone be in touch with both of them, absolutely, in any given state there is probably 6° of separation. He could also have been monitoring their family and friends social media ,look how easy it is for anyone of us to slueth family members

It's the alarm system and the code off the back door that baffles me . That and how did he locate where they slept or did he get lucky with the first room he tried and was the dog in the 4 year old bedroom as claim or crated downstairs

I know a lot of parents will sleep with bedroom doors open when young children are in other bedrooms so they can hear if a child wakes or if a child needs them during the night but did Spencer and monique

 

[kwins]

Are there any credible sources that Michael McKee was adopted and that he was estranged from his adopted family, or is this just more speculation again?

 

[Megnut]

Perhaps he hired a sketchy PI to do "surveillance". I would think that, as a surgeon, he could command/demand credibility due to normal people's internal biases.

Might have had a solid expectation of much of their routines.

It's a also possible this wasn't his first attempt. Maybe it was just his last.

No forced entry could mean he breached the lock, found an unlocked windows, got lucky, would not have been deterred by an alarm, was going in one way or another.

I think they heard him, heard something, and if not them, I think their dog might have alerted them to something, something Spencer was about to investigate, which might explain his terminal position and two shots.

I suspect he did considerable research/reconnaissance on their specific door lock and security system and was could he could beat it.

JMO

 

[Sundog]

Where is Michael David McKee from?​

Publicly available information shows McKee has family members in the Zanesville area. He attended Ohio State University for undergraduate and medical school.

McKee played football at Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans High School, where Ohio High School Athletic Association records show he earned honorable mention all-state honors his senior season.

Source is the Columbus Dispatch, someone posted the link upthread.