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

[stmichael]

This is so weird. And surprising....the last person I would have thought of doing it.

Never got over divorce? I dont get it. Why?

Statistically it's way up there.

But yeah, people are really messed up. I just posted a story of a 74 year old man who killed someone from high school. for putting on a jock strap on his head 50 years ago. He said he couldn't let it go, and tracked him down, rang his doorbell, asked him to verify his identity and shot him with his .45.

Divorces and exes get super ugly and emotional. Just in the past year we've had a ton of news stories on ex-husbands--and wives killing their ex, sadly often with young children involved.

The human animal can be savage.

 

[Starrlight]

I agree. But from my experience many homeowners don't always use what they have - don't always arm alarm, forget to recharge Ring camera, unplug the baby monitor. I'm with you, I was papa bear and my security errs on the side of overkill.

But I'm surprised they did not seem to list any of these indicators in the arresting complaint. No camera footage from the home, the alarm seemed to not get called in etc. Now the Ring doorbell cam on the front door was way up the stairs and would only motion detect if someone was right on top of it, but yeah I'd expect more security on that house in this day and age, and given the history of the neighborhood.

It really seems that this case relied on the neighbor's camera footage and the trail of other footage that linked him to his own car with his own plates. Thankfully, he was stupid enough or just too filled with rage to cover that. I'm sure more details of the above will emerge.

I was thinking they didn't have the alarm set and he went in through the basement. MOO

 

[lawyerlurker]

Ah, you're right. After a quick search, I don't think the 3:00 am time has been officially declared by LE.

Yeah, I don't think they'd open the door for the suspect. If he was at the back door, that means he jumped the fence or otherwise broke in to the yard in the dead of night, then casually knocked? Too sus. Especially if it comes out that the Tepes were worried about this guy.

Time of death listed for both at 3:52 am

2025CRA 000517

www.documentcloud.org

 

[stmichael]

I was thinking they didn't have the alarm set and he went in through the basement.

We have zero idea. It wasn't confirmed by police at all other than stating "no apparent forced entry:" All these details will come out later and just the other day the police said there was a lot of erroneous info being reported.

 

[Starrlight]

We have zero idea. It wasn't confirmed by police at all other than stating "no apparent forced entry:" All these details will come out later and just the other day the police said there was a lot of erroneous info being reported.

Yes I am very aware of all of that.

 

[stmichael]

Time of death listed for both at 3:52 am

2025CRA 000517

www.documentcloud.org

Technically that's the "offense time" listed on an arresting complaint, which can indicate when they were "injured" not necessarily expired. Official time of death will be determined by the coroner. I hope they didn't suffer.

 

[ttjo]

Based off the arrest warrant and posts from CPD, we know he traveled from Columbus to Rockford, IL after the murders. I will be curious to see where he drove to Columbus from - did he stay in the area leading up to the murders, or did he drive through the night from somewhere?

No source/unverified - I read on multiple other forums that he was adopted but estranged from his adoptive family so that would rule out the holidays with them.

Jmo but, if true, "rejection" from Monique, estrangement from his adoptive family, the known lawsuit mid 2025 in Nevada someone posted links to, holidays, etc could all be triggering factors for his heartless actions.

jmo, moo etc etc

Im kind of with you on Christmas being a possible trigger, that coupled with a lawsuit and the timing of the property in Chicago being sold. Wonder if he feels like his divorce was so hard to deal with that it held him back from any success. There is a lot of loss in his history it seems.

 

[stmichael]

Yes I am very aware of all of that.

OK, yes, it's possible the alarm was off and he went through the basement. There are many many other possibilities. I'm still waiting on how the friend who called 911 saw Spencer in a pool of blood on the second floor.

 

[Knitpicker]

Time of death listed for both at 3:52 am

2025CRA 000517

www.documentcloud.org

Seems they had to have found his DNA at the crime scene.

 

[warp3dwing]

Time of death listed for both at 3:52 am

2025CRA 000517

www.documentcloud.org

Sorry, I meant the CCTV time.

 

[Wishbone]

Time of death listed for both at 3:52 am

2025CRA 000517

www.documentcloud.org

Very specific time. Right down to the minute. Wonder what LE is basing that exact time on.........

 

[stmichael]

Seems they had to have found his DNA at the crime scene.

How so? I do not see anything indicating that in "Summary Statement of Facts in Support of Probable Cause".

As I read it they only got him based on the neighbors camera, and subsequent cameras tracing him walking back to a car registered to Monique's ex husband. When they located the car in IL, he was in possession of it so they arrested him. Anyway that's what they explained for probable cause.

 

[flowershop]

If it’s just about yearning for the good old days, why would he not do this earlier? After wedding? After baby #1? Why wait until 7 years later. It will be something to do with alimony or retirement funds which is why we saw movement with the divorce court file.

Maybe he was at an all time low in his life in general. And then he got to thinking about his ex. JMO

 

[Sleuthingstylist]

My thoughts are that MM is a textbook narcissist and Monique, along with most people in his eyes, were his property. If she was the one to file for divorce from him, that would be a humiliation to him.

Years go by and his income increases along with his ego. He keeps tabs on her through past mutual friends and knows she's truly in love and happy with this dentist, someone who probably makes less money than him. Another humiliation to him.

He finds himself in a lawsuit. Big humiliation for him.

Again, these are just my thoughts on what might trigger someone from years ago to commit such a brutal crime but I think his fragile ego couldn't cope with what life was dealing him and someone had to pay for it. Who better than the genuinely happy couple who has embarrassed him (in his mind)?

I don't believe for a minute that any door was accidentally left unlocked. We've got people in this neighborhood saying gunshots are not uncommon. We've got ST's entire staff at work concerned enough about him to call 911. I think something recently happened for the Tepe's to know that MM might be in town for the holidays and they we're probably on high alert, even sharing their concerns with friends and ST's coworkers possibly. I don't think they would be lax in keeping their home secure each night.

Again, all of the above are just my opinions.

 

[getthefax]

The Dispatch article is paywalled for me, but I see posters saying it’s very informative about the ex.

I have a silly thought which I know is dumb, because these two things are very different, but I’ll say it anyway.

He’s a vascular surgeon. A surgeon’s hands are his or her livelihood.

Maybe, being expert with his hands, the steadiness required, and the absolute attention to the tiniest movements, he can feel his way through picking a lock?

Again, I know it’s two different things, but I was wondering.

If you click the X in the top right of the blue box, the paywall looking thing disappears (at least did for me)…

 

[getthefax]

It has been reported that they both had a court ordered mutual RO.

Michael McKee, Monique Tepe's marriage details emerge after Spencer Tepe murder

Records show they married on August 22, 2015, and separated in March 2016. Formal divorce proceedings began in May 2017.

www.hindustantimes.com

This is standard in Ohio divorces— it is NOT because of any misdeeds.

 

[ttjo]

I can’t access the malpractice info, what is that about?

 

[lawyerlurker]

Why would divorce cases be automatically opened after 8 years?

Apparently 8-year alimony terms are common in Ohio, altho not sure either party had alimony (possible admin error). Could also be opened for specific reasons such as certification/verification if a party requests a certified copy of documents. Wonder if he asked for certified copies in applying for a mortgage, although it seems too coincidental being on the anniversary of the finalization of the divorce

 

[ttjo]

Apparently 8-year alimony terms are common in Ohio, altho not sure either party had alimony (possible admin error). Could also be opened for specific reasons such as certification/verification if a party requests a certified copy of documents. Wonder if he asked for certified copies in applying for a mortgage, although it seems too coincidental being on the anniversary of the finalization of the divorce

Even though that was his listed address, I am not sure if that property in Chicago was even owned by him? Maybe he rented, any way to check?
Where did he actually live? Rockford, Chicago?
He does seem a bit evasive anyway.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Spousal support? I do not know if this is something enforced in OH but possibly requested to change the amount spousal support paid. Or angry that he had to pay any? It wouldn’t be listed in the filing but included in the decree.

I would be surprised if a divorced spouse continued to receive alimony once they remarried. Everyone I ever knew who was receiving alimony lost it when they divorced remarried [sorry, typo]. I’m not an attorney. Only speaking anecdotally..