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

[Knitpicker]

We should know more when the autopsy reports come out?

While it seems obvious MT was the target we don't know how paranoid, delusional, and crazy the killer is. Did he somehow irrationally blame ST for everything?

At the least, the killer knew ST was more able to stop him. So he probably thought he had to shoot him first, two times to be sure.

Maybe he shot MT only once, so she would die more slowly.
He was a vascular surgeon, he probably thought about this part of it.

A wife abused by her husband in her first marriage, would know the second she saw her ex in the bedroom in the middle of the night what it meant. If she had any doubt, the second she saw her husband killed in cold blood, she knew she was next.

And yes a young mother is immediately going to be terrified for herself and children. How much the killer tormented her in addition to that we don't know.

Its unsettling to think that she could have been laying there alive for any amount of time, after she was shot, until she died, suffering. Knowing her husband was gone, and kids int he other room. A shot to the side could have missed her heart but got at another organ or her lungs.

 

[turaj]

Yes I was thinking of that listening to a podcast where it was mentioned they all went to the same university though age difference between them. The curious thing is why she waited a year to file for divorce. Did she lead him to believe there was hope? Just speculating-no blame intended.

Edit: I am wondering if Spencer kept a gun in the house. If they find one he can always say he came there to talk to her about something. Self defense? (I’m thinking of the Betty Broderick case) How could he plead not guilty?

<Modsnip> we don't know much about them. We know nothing about Monique and what happened during her marriage with McKee. <Modsnip> I sure what to know the whole story, <Modsnip>I think there is just so much more to know. I am still bothered by that 911 call from that address in April.

<modnote: making it more victim friendly without changing the base of the comment>

 

[stmarysmead]

Maybe in his mind, they had 5 great years together, but she just couldn’t tolerate the loneliness and trials of his training years. She would have been looking at another move, another 5-6 years.

So she finds someone with those training years behind him and staying in Columbus near her family.

Did he, now that he was established, think he could move his practice to Columbus and win her back?.

I wonder if he had been trying to contact her?

 

[Knitpicker]

Yes. Pay more for the new one with newest training.

I can’t imagine a startling salary for a new Doctor-general surgery-over 300K. When she was working 30 years and worked up to 300K

 

[Inthedetails]

I am still trying to process that he will plead "not guilty"?

Almost every defendent pleas "not guilty" at first, even if they admit guilt later.

It's up to the prosecution to prove guilt and if they can't do that, the defendent won't be convicted at all. It's worth the gamble to most people to hope the prosecution fails and they can go free.

Of course, some defendants do eventually plea guilty, but almost never right away.

And, even if they do admit guilt, the prosecution STILL has to present the evidence and the judge cannot simply accept a guilty plea without proof it is true. This case has a ways to go.

jmopinion

 

[Knitpicker]

the thing that concerns me is people are setting this couple up as saints and we don't know much about them. We know nothing about Monique and what happened during her marriage with McKee. Absolutely nothing justifies what happened but I sure what to know the whole story, What prompted this extreme anger. When did the relationship with Spencer begin. Did Spencer and McKee know each other back in college? I think there is just so much more to know. I am still bothered by that 911 call from that address in April.

911 call from Spencers home?
Yes, social media does that-makes a life look perfect. You never know.

Also interesting at the wedding, her father mentioned to the group that she called him 2 weeks before the wedding, said she found “the one” (or similar comment) and asked if he would officiate the wedding.
That leads one to believe he didn’t even know she was dating him and never told her father about Spencer, and the wedding was planned 2 weeks prior? She may have been pregnant just going on the age of the oldest.

This will be an interesting case. It’s just so sad for the kids and the family. I can’t even imagine.

 

[Knitpicker]

Almost every defendent pleas "not guilty" at first, even if they admit guilt later.

It's up to the prosecution to prove guilt and if they can't do that, the defendent won't be convicted at all. It's worth the gamble to most people to hope the prosecution fails and they can go free.

Of course, some defendants do eventually plea guilty, but almost never right away.

And, even if they do admit guilt, the prosecution STILL has to present the evidence and the judge cannot simply accept a guilty plea without proof it is true. This case has a ways to go.

jmopinion

Well I should have said “how does he think he can get away with it “?

 

[turaj]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/us/michael-david-mckee-motive-tepe-murder

'Now, authorities in Ohio have 30 days to bring him to the state so proceedings can begin, according to Joey Jackson, a criminal defense attorney and CNN legal analyst. McKee’s public defender indicated to the judge that his client intends to plead not guilty in Ohio'.

''Prosecutors want to limit the information they give the public for two reasons, he said: to limit the details provided to the defense, and to preserve the integrity of witnesses’ accounts.
Jackson said he’s “not surprised” that even if investigators do know the motive, “that they’re not telling us.”

'Columbus police have not said whether McKee is believed to be the person shown in the video, and they’ve not said why they were seeking information about the person.'

Jan 12, 2026
'In Monique Tepe's vows to Spencer Tepe, she talks about "wrong relationships" and a "waterfall of tears." Was she talking about her ex-husband, Michael David McKee? He's now charged with shooting and killing the Ohio dentist and his wife in their Columbus home. While police have not released a motive, Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson asked forensic criminologist, Dr. Laura Pettler to take us back into the "Murder Room" to further process the crime, victimology and suspectology.'

as I recall in the extradiction document it mentioned a component of probable cause was the video with him walking to the condo and away and the match with time of death. I think they know it was him in the video.

 

[Inthedetails]

Well I should have said “how does he think he can get away with it “?

I'm not convinced he expected to get away with it, even if he tried to cover his tracks.

I think part of the motive, whether he was conscience of it or not, was to escape his own life. He achieved that. He's going to prison, with no pressure now to be a successful doctor or husband.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

as I recall in the extradiction document it mentioned a component of probable cause was the video with him walking to the condo and away and the match with time of death. I think they know it was him in the video.

I do too.

I think LE was onto him from the start.

jmopinion

 

[Knitpicker]

I'm not convinced he expected to get away with it, even if he tried to cover his tracks.

I think part of the motive, whether he was conscience of it or not, was to escape his own life. He achieved that. He's going to prison, with no pressure now to be a successful doctor or husband.

jmo

I think you are right, and I was thinking he just snapped. Work related issues, lawsuits, like a psychotic break.

 

[Inthedetails]

I'm not convinced he expected to get away with it, even if he tried to cover his tracks.

I think part of the motive, whether he was conscience of it or not, was to escape his own life. He achieved that. He's going to prison, with no pressure now to be a successful doctor or husband.

jmo

And to add again, but it's up to the prosecution to prove he's the perp. I think they will manage that just fine, but it remains to be seen. There is the slim chance they mess up and the perp goes free. It's worth the "not guilty" plea at this time. It could change.

jmo

 

[Marie A]

Its unsettling to think that she could have been laying there alive for any amount of time, after she was shot, until she died, suffering. Knowing her husband was gone, and kids int he other room. A shot to the side could have missed her heart but got at another organ or her lungs.

She was shot multiple times per arrest warrant

 

[Knitpicker]

She was shot multiple times per arrest warrant

View attachment 636977

Wow. So what is this about her only being shot once?? This was 2 days ago. I guess social media hasn’t caught up yet.
Thanks for this

 

[turaj]

I do too.

I think LE was onto him from the start.

jmopinion

I am sure family ID'd him in the video right from the start. Not sure where he was for those days before arrest. LE was silent so we could think they were not on to him. They did interview and he had alibi which then did not pan out. Lied t o LE.

 

[kwins]

Yes I was thinking of that listening to a podcast where it was mentioned they all went to the same university though age difference between them. The curious thing is why she waited a year to file for divorce. Did she lead him to believe there was hope? Just speculating-no blame intended.

Edit: I am wondering if Spencer kept a gun in the house. If they find one he can always say he came there to talk to her about something. Self defense? (I’m thinking of the Betty Broderick case) How could he plead not guilty?

Why would he plead guilty at an extradition arraignment? He will also plead not guilty at his initial arraignment in Franklin County. People plead not guilty to preserve their rights, review the evidence against them, challenge the prosecution, and position themselves for a better plea bargain. Everyone should initially plead not guilty.

 

[turaj]

She was shot multiple times per arrest warrant

View attachment 636977

he probably picked up casings and missed a few. It was a brutal murder. As an MD he knew just where to shoot.

 

[Inthedetails]

I am sure family ID'd him in the video right from the start. Not sure where he was for those days before arrest. LE was silent so we could think they were not on to him. They did interview and he had alibi which then did not pan out. Lied t o LE.

Even before the video, I'm thinking the family alerted LE to the ex. He was on their radar on day 1, imo.

jmopinion

 

[Sheila Terranova]

Ok guys, sorry, I’m lost again in the details, help please. Am I reading that recently, June, the old divorce was reopened? Was this a trigger? Thank you everybody.

 

[turaj]

My hunch is the phone call and the recent break-in attempt in the neighborhood are both unrelated to this case.

jmopinion

i'd have to go back and listen to it but I believe they stated the address from which the call was made.