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

[turaj]

I don't see where it said no one was contacted? It was put on the docket but later removed. There could have been notice, even electronically. It's possible there wasn't and it's a nothing-burger but I just don't see a definitive no here. Seems like more inconclusive reporting but a possible trigger.

Clerical error reopened Ohio newlywed's divorce case just months before slayings: docs

Michael McKee and Monique Tepe officially divorced in May 2017, but the case reportedly received a new hearing that appeared on the docket in June 2025.

nypost.com

the addresses of record were not up to date and no email. I think this is a nothing burger.

 

[academyrd]

I think brandishing refers to intimidating or instilling fear in the victim? Using it in a menacing way?

@stmichael said it way better than I did, that the charge is essentially a formality based on what they already knew.

 

[Cassie P]

There is a post a while back that says no new divorce notice was sent to either party.
In case it got missed here it is again:
Post in thread 'ARREST MADE - EX-HUSBAND OH - Spencer and Monique Tepe found shot to death at home 2 children unharmed, Columbus, 30 December 2025'
ARREST MADE - EX-HUSBAND OH - Spencer and Monique Tepe found shot to death at home 2 children unharmed, Columbus, 30 December 2025

Was it posted online? MM was apparently obsessed and focused on MT and the divorce. He might be the kind of guy who goes back and re-reads it when he is depressed, angry, paranoid.

 

[Cassie P]

@stmichael said it way better than I did, that the charge is essentially a formality based on what they already knew.

Like I said before, the prosecutor is throwing the book at this guy and rightly so. I think we are going to see the DP.

 

[ttjo]

Was it posted online? MM was apparently obsessed and focused on MT and the divorce. He might be the kind of guy who goes back and re-reads it when he is depressed, angry, paranoid.

IDK, is there a way he could have found out somehow, some way? Like could he have been searching his name in records for something else and it popped up? How long was it in that database. It confuses us so maybe it confused him, if somehow he found out?
But if that was the case., most people would try to find out what it was about before choosing to kill (allegedly)

 

[Cassie P]

IIRC his attorney in Illinois said he planned to represent himself in Ohio.

Does this sounds like he is just going to plead guilty and be done with it?
Or wants to go to trial to grandstand and rail at the world with all his imagined grievances?

 

[stmichael]

So the brandishing part doesn't necessarily mean the gun was used to instill fear or intimidate the victim?

If you pick up a gun, point it at a person (it's brandishing at that point technically) and then shoot them you have committed "brandishing" within the act of shooting. Yes, that's a technicality but they want as many charges to help with the mandatory prison time and leverage for the prosecutor. And I believe in OH it adds more mandatory time in the execution of another crime so they want that as well.

In a high profile case or if the skell arrested is a menace, the arresting officer and/or prosecutor will try to jam them up with as many charges. In a lot of less severe cases the charges are often pleaded out so this helps with legal leverage. When I worked with NY there were many specific laws on the books (very specific penal code for knives, for instance. Carry a gravity knife was a stronger offense). If some skell was giving an officer a hard time or was a menace, you could write him up for a gravity knife if any knife was found on him, because of the technicalities of the code. Most of the time they would sadly catch and release these repeat offenders but you need leverage for prosecution and you will often see a lot of incidental charges (by the book) in a higher profile heinous case. Hope that helps.

 

[academyrd]

Like I said before, the prosecutor is throwing the book at this guy and rightly so. I think we are going to see the DP.

I hope they do. Only problem is Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018. If anyone deserves it, it’s him

 

[MerBeach]

Have we heard any details of how his arrest went down? Could he have “brandished” a weapon to resist arrest?

 

[Voidz]

the addresses of record were not up to date and no email. I think this is a nothing burger.

We will find out…
But I believe he definitely received a notification which caused the spiral.

 

[stmichael]

Haven't read all the the recent thread posts but I see he DID use a suppressor. Interesting since OH is a suppressor-friendly state but IL where McKee lived and the firearms were recovered is NOT. In any case that tags on 6 more years.

McKee also was charged with aggravated burglary. Two of the aggravated murder charges are related to the burglary charge. The other two aggravated murder charges are for prior calculation and design.

All the counts include a 3-year firearm specification for using a gun to commit aggravated murder and a 6-year firearm specification for using a firearm suppressor.

McKee faces four aggravated murder charges in deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe

A Franklin County grand jury returned an indictment Friday against Michael McKee, Monique Tepe's ex-husband, who faces life in prison if convicted.

www.wosu.org

 

[Maat99]

We will find out…
But I believe he definitely received a notification which caused the spiral.

I’m wondering if she had some interest in the house or other assets that she walked away from just to end the marriage quickly. And he interpreted that notification as her wanting to revisit whatever that agreement was.

 

[ttjo]

I don't see where it said no one was contacted? It was put on the docket but later removed. There could have been notice, even electronically. It's possible there wasn't and it's a nothing-burger but I just don't see a definitive no here. Seems like more inconclusive reporting but a possible trigger.

Clerical error reopened Ohio newlywed's divorce case just months before slayings: docs

Michael McKee and Monique Tepe officially divorced in May 2017, but the case reportedly received a new hearing that appeared on the docket in June 2025.

nypost.com

This is the only thing i could find.

 

[Charlot123]

Playing a team sport and being good at it is probably just about the best social head start you can get. He must have been really screwed but because he was by all accounts a very good football player.

Playing sports is not that much socializing
Unless they have some events they attend together as a team
What i mean by socializing is "talking"
Perhaps even "speech therapy" to develop pragmatic speech

 

[Charlot123]

Agreed.

The divorce by all indicators seemed clean. He kept the house (that was in his name), there was no alimony, kids, support of any kind (the mutual ROs were formality) . She wanted out fast and paid for a private judge. But it was quick and almost a decade in this past.

It seemed more of an emotional keynote in this miserable "grievance collectors" life and had things been spiraling for him the fact that he got some notice that the divorce was "refiled" would likely set him off or at least put Monique on his emotional radar again.

OK but this is a guy who's already hiding from the lawyers.

Chances are, he never called the court to ask.

Did the court notify him that it was in error?

Because if not, it is where the problem may be.

 

[Cassie P]

Im not sure, is there a w

IDK, is there a way he could have found out somehow, some way? Like could he have been searching his name in records for something else and it popped up? How long was it in that database. It confuses us so maybe it confused him, if somehow he found out?

In Ohio, you can go to each county and view legal records, criminal and civil. These are public records.

You enter a name and then a list of legal events, charges, etc pop up for that name.
He could search his own name, and the divorce would show up.
He could also search any name he wants.

I just went to the Franklin Co website and yes the divorce is still there.

EDIT to change the content as I could not verify some of the other records for this MM. But the divorce is there.

 

[ssarahbg]

It was on Facebook and I would not know how to find it. It was a compilation of photos and was posted as his dating profile. People have been talking about that yoga for a couple of days. I wish I could find it now. I tried. Because it has been discussed I assumed it was legit.

True Crime mama is the name of the page I saw it on.

 

[stg]

Playing sports is not that much socializing
Unless they have some events they attend together as a team
What i mean by socializing is "talking"
Perhaps even "speech therapy" to develop pragmatic speech

There is a ton of talking/socializing when you are on a sports team. You talk in the locker room, on the bench, and on the playing surface, along with attending events together as you mention. Sports is a great way to socialize and build long-lasting relationships. Your teammates are some of the closest people in your life.

 

[Cassie P]

I hope they do. Only problem is Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018. If anyone deserves it, it’s him

In Ohio the DP is on the books, but on hold due to problems obtaining lethal injections.

So people can be sentenced to the DP. But they are sitting on death row hoping that some company does not suddenly provide suitable lethal injections. I think that Death Row in Ohio is at the Ross Correctional facility which the internet says has faced some "challenges."

 

[ssarahbg]

Same thought as well. JMO but it's possible he's been thinking about this for a long time and this was a "sign", along with all the other stressful noise going on in his life.

I wondered this too and wondered if he somehow was notified of her address at this time. Possibility that he was unaware of exactly where she lived until the court paper work was sent out? They would have no reason to hide the address if there wasn’t a “true” no contact order in the case.