Ex-husband charged in Tepe killings makes first court appearance
The first court hearing was held Monday afternoon for the 39-year-old man charged in the deaths of a Columbus couple found shot in their home.
Michael McKee is charged in the deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe. Documents from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas confirm that McKee is Monique’s ex-husband.McKee waived his extradition hearing, meaning he will be transported to Ohio.
It’s unclear when he will be extradited.
Hours before his court appearance, the charges against McKee were amended from murder to premeditated aggravated murder in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Records say police were able to identify McKee as a suspect through neighborhood video surveillance. He was reportedly tracked to a vehicle that arrived just before the shootings and left shortly after.
Detectives were able to identify the vehicle and link it to McKee, according to court records. They later located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois and found evidence that McKee had ownership of the vehicle.
According to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office website, McKee was booked on Saturday morning.
Partial transcript
Timestamp 0:31
-- Your -- Honor.
What's your position at this time?
Yes, at this time,
Your Honor,
on behalf of Mr. McKee.
I will assert his right to counsel.
I will assert his right to remain silent.
And
Mr. McKee believes that the most expeditious manner
in which he may defend himself against the charges pending in Ohio
and to plead not guilty
would be to waive his right to an extradition hearing and
to have a governor's warrant
and to agree to his immediate transportation to Ohio.
Understood.
Thank you.
We will set this matter then for 2 o'clock on Monday
for status on the transfer.