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

  • #4,341
Here's the first I've seen mention of future hearings, sounds like it could be no earlier than Jan 23:

"As for the murder charges, McKee made his first court appearance on Monday. He has waived extradition and will be transferred from Illinois to face those charges. He did not enter a plea but assistant public defender Carie Poirier told the judge that he intended to plead not guilty.

The next hearing in that case was originally set for Jan. 19. However, court records show the court was informed it would not be possible to extradite him to Franklin County, Ohio by that date. According to the docket, a status on transport hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23 and it could be vacated if McKee is transferred before that date."

Clipped from here: Doctor accused of murdering ex-wife and Ohio dentist has ties to Las Vegas
 
  • #4,342
It's going to interesting to learn what the trigger for the murders were. I'm very curious about Mckee's financial situation and what it looked like over the past year. It's crossed my mind that he may have been under significant financial stress (Nevada suit). How any of this related back to Monique is really beyond me. But the way he was handling that suit was not normal by any means.

Despite tracking McKee's current medical license to Rockford, Illinois, in November, repeated phone calls made by Laird went unanswered. Laird was unaware of the Columbus murders until ABC6 Investigates informed him this week.

Laird told ABC6 Investigates that he also found it unusual that an attorney did not contact him on McKee's behalf who would be funded by malpractice insurance. Laird is now determining if McKee did not extend this insurance when he left Las Vegas. If he did not, Laird calls the action unusual due to unforeseen complications or claims by former patients.


 
  • #4,343
An order filed Tuesday, Jan. 13, with the the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit says the court was informed the transport of McKee to Franklin County, Ohio, will not be feasible by Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

Instead, the original court set for Monday, Jan. 19, is stricken and a new date is set for Friday, Jan. 23, for a status on transport. The court says the new date will also be stricken if McKee is no longer in custody at the Winnebago County jail.

 
  • #4,345
I understand not wanting to jump to conclusions, but family members and friends of the Tepes have been open about how scared Monique was of him. There have been claims (on MM's family's social media, so I guess I get the hesitation see them as 100% reliable?) that MM held a pillow to her face and threatened her life while they were married, which is allegedly what prompted her family to help her escape the situation. There have been claims that he threatened to stalk her and told her he would kill her if she ever left him. Textbook stuff for a narcissistic abuser, but important context nonetheless.

If you're wanting a reliable news source on this, NBC news has reported on how terrified Monique was of MM due to him threatening her life when they were married. She was still openly scared of him, which speaks volumes: Family member shares details about Monique Tepe’s former marriage to suspect

NBC even points out that when the Tepe's family and friends found out Spencer and Monique were murdered, only one person came to mind. That is worth repeating. The victims' family members all assumed one person was responsible for their deaths. That, in and of itself, is enough for me.

It is so glaringly obvious that this man abused Monique. She was still talking about it to her brother-in-law and others. YEARS later. It doesn't matter that he was a surgeon or adopted or stressed or a failure or whatever. He didn't "snap" and, judging from what his coworkers have said, he didn't have any mental health issues, or at least none that they picked up on (which, if you're going to blame breaking into your ex's house and murdering her and her husband on "mental health issues," I think you'd have to show SOME sign of those health issues in other aspects of your personal life. He didn't. He was perfectly able to put on one personality to coworkers before AND AFTER breaking into his ex's house and murdering her and her husband.)

It's nice to give the benefit of the doubt in cases where it's deserved. This is clearly not that.

This is a black and white case where a victim's family and friends are yelling from the rooftops that this man terrorized Monique and scarred her enough to make her scared of him YEARS later. And now we know that Monique was right to be scared. This man was planning his revenge on her for years. He drove from Chicago to Columbus to kill her and her husband. To leave their children parentless. She has paid the ultimate price for falling into the trap of a sociopath. The least we can do is believe her.

Let's save the "I don't want to jump to conclusions" energy for someone who deserves it. This guy can rot.

JMO MOO and everything else

I agree.

Yes, the law is you’re innocent until proven guilty.

That is why MM has a lawyer and will have his day in court.

The reality still remains that Spencer and Monique were murdered in their home, and LE scrutinized the videos which show a man using MM’s car to get to the Tepe’s neighborhood right before the murders and use that car to leave right after. Plus the person seen walking in the surveillance video that did not rule him out as being MM.

So yes, legally he’s innocent as of now, but he was seen near their home at the matching time period, her family picked out right away that it could be MM due to their history (potential motive), and therefore as of now I believe he is the murderer.

JMO
 
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  • #4,346
It's going to interesting to learn what the trigger for the murders were. I'm very curious about Mckee's financial situation and what it looked like over the past year. It's crossed my mind that he may have been under significant financial stress (Nevada suit). How any of this related back to Monique is really beyond me. But the way he was handling that suit was not normal by any means.

Despite tracking McKee's current medical license to Rockford, Illinois, in November, repeated phone calls made by Laird went unanswered. Laird was unaware of the Columbus murders until ABC6 Investigates informed him this week.

Laird told ABC6 Investigates that he also found it unusual that an attorney did not contact him on McKee's behalf who would be funded by malpractice insurance. Laird is now determining if McKee did not extend this insurance when he left Las Vegas. If he did not, Laird calls the action unusual due to unforeseen complications or claims by former patients.



The fact that he was using a false address and a fax machine phone number has me wondering if he also was being hounded by bill collectors and creditors.
 
  • #4,347
The fact that he was using a false address and a fax machine phone number has me wondering if he also was being hounded by bill collectors and creditors.
I would hope that a bank wouldn't approve a mortgage for someone with creditors breathing down his neck.
 
  • #4,348
This is why these types of statements are considered hearsay and not admissible. The older I get, the more I remind myself that I wasn't there, and even if I was there, the perception of that moment is probably completely wrong. This is why emotional intelligence is so very important. Labeling everyone a monster or a narcissist, not so much.
What may seem to be emotionally intelligent to you may not be emotionally intelligent to another person. Emotional intelligence is about feelings and emotions, which are subjective. I am sure you don’t mean it this way, but by saying people should be emotionally intelligent by behaving the way you are behaving, it comes across as those who aren’t behaving the way you’re behaving are not intelligent people. No one here has labeled everyone a monster or narcissist, so that is not a viable argument.
 
  • #4,349
I’m not sure if it’s as bad as Rikers but from what I’ve read it’s considered dangerous with poor living conditions.

IIRC, there’s been reports of raw sewage backing up and flooding the floors, heating/cooling issues and reports of prisoners dying.

JMO
Oh wow yeah that sounds on par with rikers

Moo
 
  • #4,350
Imagine the grinding and damage he has done to his jaw/teeth due to the stress of seeing his ex live her best life. Could have masseter muscle hypertrophy due to it.

Imagine if he avoided dentists because he resented Spencer so much. That’s probably how bitter and psycho he is….
I haven’t had a chance to catch up on all of the posts here so I apologize if this has been mentioned. I wonder if some of his facial changes (and possibly body changes) could be related to steroids. If he was using steroids, could this have contributed to emotional/psychological instability and/or rage?
 
  • #4,351
I haven’t had a chance to catch up on all of the posts here so I apologize if this has been mentioned. I wonder if some of his facial changes (and possibly body changes) could be related to steroids. If he was using steroids, could this have contributed to emotional/psychological instability and/or rage?
Or psychiatric medications.

not saying that he's mentally ill.

Jmo
 
  • #4,352

BIL now on record talking about MT discussing emotional abuse from MM. NBC saying it’s backed up by “a second family member”.
 
  • #4,353
@connie9030, your post is “shaded” as unverified and there is no way to answer “shaded” posts.

However, if it gets verified, it basically disproves one of the rumors or “allegations” certain people make.

At the risk of my post being deleted, I still want to ask everyone:

If by December 2025 the soon-to-be murderer (allegedly! Unverified but still!) does not know the address of his ex-, who has been living there for five years, what gossip does it effectively disprove?

Or, not quoting this post, but remembering that the neighbors report having seen a man resembling MM a few days before the murders in the neighborhood- loitering around, not entering the house - this looks like he didn’t know the address and the place, doesn’t it?

This, to me, rules out one hypothesis recently walking around the internet. I didn’t believe it anyhow.
 
  • #4,354
I really feel so badly for his parents. I feel that they are going to have to be interviewed and studied by prosecution and defense.... just feels painful.
RSBM
I do too. But MM pretty obviously didn't. Who knows - do murderers even consider victims-on-the-side like their own family members? Probably not. Possibly So focussed on committing the murders they don't have space for other thoughts or considerations because those might detract from their awful goal.
 
  • #4,355
Or psychiatric medications.

not saying that he's mentally ill.

Jmo
Not sure how this is professionally/technically interpreted, but I can see where someone may need “psychiatric medication” (are medications for anxiety and/or depression considered “psychiatric meds”, especially if prescribed for situational and or short-term depression/anxiety?) but not be “mentally ill”? IMO yes (I think we’re on the same page - that just because you may need what could be used/considered a “psychiatric medication” does NOT mean you are mentally ill) but I would like to hear the thoughts of a professional in this field and/or personal knowledge about this type of situation. Thanks!
 
  • #4,356
I understand not wanting to jump to conclusions, but family members and friends of the Tepes have been open about how scared Monique was of him. There have been claims (on MM's family's social media, so I guess I get the hesitation see them as 100% reliable?) that MM held a pillow to her face and threatened her life while they were married, which is allegedly what prompted her family to help her escape the situation. There have been claims that he threatened to stalk her and told her he would kill her if she ever left him. Textbook stuff for a narcissistic abuser, but important context nonetheless.

If you're wanting a reliable news source on this, NBC news has reported on how terrified Monique was of MM due to him threatening her life when they were married. She was still openly scared of him, which speaks volumes: Family member shares details about Monique Tepe’s former marriage to suspect

NBC even points out that when the Tepe's family and friends found out Spencer and Monique were murdered, only one person came to mind. That is worth repeating. The victims' family members all assumed one person was responsible for their deaths. That, in and of itself, is enough for me.

It is so glaringly obvious that this man abused Monique. She was still talking about it to her brother-in-law and others. YEARS later. It doesn't matter that he was a surgeon or adopted or stressed or a failure or whatever. He didn't "snap" and, judging from what his coworkers have said, he didn't have any mental health issues, or at least none that they picked up on (which, if you're going to blame breaking into your ex's house and murdering her and her husband on "mental health issues," I think you'd have to show SOME sign of those health issues in other aspects of your personal life. He didn't. He was perfectly able to put on one personality to coworkers before AND AFTER breaking into his ex's house and murdering her and her husband.)

It's nice to give the benefit of the doubt in cases where it's deserved. This is clearly not that.

This is a black and white case where a victim's family and friends are yelling from the rooftops that this man terrorized Monique and scarred her enough to make her scared of him YEARS later. And now we know that Monique was right to be scared. This man was planning his revenge on her for years. He drove from Chicago to Columbus to kill her and her husband. To leave their children parentless. She has paid the ultimate price for falling into the trap of a sociopath. The least we can do is believe her.

Let's save the "I don't want to jump to conclusions" energy for someone who deserves it. This guy can rot.

JMO MOO and everything else
You sound like a professional. Agree x 100. Top notch!
 
  • #4,357
And there is this blatent comparison to the suspect in the Brown University/Boston professor killings.
He had been a brilliant man. And he too, had estranged himself from his parents, and stolen from them.
I wonder if there is some medical description for this condition, this dynamic. ??????
RSFB. I used to have a friend like this in high school and called it “pathological envy”, so I googled the answer:

Depending where you look. On Quora, there is a question:

“If I get angry when other people success excessively, is it normal?”

Answer nr 1: “I’d hesitate to call it normal but it Is common, actually closer to hatred, which down deep is actually self-hatred at not being the equal of those others.

PS It’s also very self-destructive.”

And my own Googling: “a condition when you get angry if someone you used to look down upon snatches your coveted prize”

The answer: “ This intense anger stems from a potent mix of
narcissistic injury, envy, perceived injustice, humiliation, and a threatened sense of superiority or entitlement, where someone deemed "inferior" winning your prize shatters your self-image and triggers rage, often associated with narcissistic rage or hostile envy
.

Key Psychological Factors:
  • Narcissistic Injury/Rage: Your inflated self-image is threatened when someone "lesser" succeeds where you expected to, leading to explosive anger and shame, notes Verywell Mind.
  • Hostile Envy: This involves resentment and anger towards the person, feeling they manipulated or undeservedly gained something you desired, according to Psychology Today.
  • Perceived Injustice: You see the outcome as fundamentally unfair, as it violates your belief that you deserve the prize more, says psycnet.apa.org.
  • Contempt: Your prior disdain for the person is magnified when they succeed, fueling anger and making it feel even more outrageous, explains PMC.
  • Zero-Sum Thinking: Believing that someone else's gain must be your loss, exacerbating the feeling of being cheated, according to Psychology Today.
In essence, it's a feeling of profound entitlement being violated by someone you've devalued, creating a deep sense of shame, injustice, and uncontrollable rage.”

Anyhow: JMO, what I can see more and more is that MM must have been an impossible person to live with. For this reason I don’t believe the gossip that Monique was in contact with her ex- after the divorce. In fact, she probably tried to forget him as a nightmare. But I do suspect that MM, with his sense of superiority, was convinced that Monique would live under the bridge without him. And having seen her happy and successful on the video, and everyone considering her new husband a great guy, he could not contain his narcissistic rage. (But, I suspect that something else could have happened shortly before, someone refused a second date or such).
 
  • #4,358
You sound like a professional. Agree x 100. Top notch!
Thank you, kind stranger. I have a background in sociology and a specialization in gendered violence. Unfortunately this case is as textbook as they come. My heart absolutely breaks for Monique and Spencer. She did what everyone always encourages women to do, but even then, her worst nightmare found her.

It might be because this case in particular is so open and shut (in my opinion, at least), but it actually makes me so sad to see people dismiss Monique and her experiences with MM. Aside from the fact that it's pretty cut and dry that he killed her and Spencer, it's also coming to light that she was very open about her experiences during her first marriage and how she was still terrified of him (sadly, rightfully so). Why people still insist on defending him or try claiming they're waiting to find out how their marriage "actually was" (spoiler: their marriage was abusive, like Monique said) is lost on me.

Monique and Spencer seemed like such a lovely couple. Just genuinely nice people from everything I've seen. It's such a shame that one subpar sociopath could ruin that. :(

(Edited to add JMO because it is just my opinion, but one I think is correct!)
 
  • #4,359
Does anyone think he will be transported to Franklin County before Tuesday?
 
  • #4,360
There's a lot of talk (mostly elsewhere) about the divorce and whether it was really re-opened, or whether this is a mistake or the result of some automated procedure.

The site for searching court records is here:
Case Information Online

The case number (17 DR 001691) has to be entered completely. There's a text box for the '17', a pop-up for the 'DR' and another text box for the '001691'.

I've attached a screenshot of what I see. To me, the 2025 entries look like the result of a mistake – this continuance has been added to the wrong case file. Note: I am not familiar with Ohio court records.

The attached screenshot shows the last regular entries in 2017, with some apparently automated entries in 2018.

Then, on 17 June 2025, there's a new entry: continuance, which mentions a court date of 26 September 2025 and a previous hearing date of 16 June 2025 at 11 am. But there is no record of a previous hearing on this date in this case. This is what makes me think this is a mistake, and this continuance was meant for another case.

Also on 17 June 2025, there was a 'copy of hearing notice filed'. The court date remains 26 September 2025.

A day after that, 18 June 2025, 'strike schedule date', which I take to mean the court date of 26 September 2025 has been struck without the court appearance ever having occurred.

I think this was an administrative mistake – an update on the 17th, struck on the 18th. Anyone here experienced with Ohio court records?
On a different (but close) case number 17 DR 001641 there was a continuance filed on June 18.

Possible this was a keying error and corrected on that date.


JMO
 

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