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

[tricia]

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[knla]

While I have never worked in the medical field before, I believe one of the license is his state medical license and the other license is his DEA license to prescribe prescription drugs.

DEA license is only needed to prescribe Narcotics and drugs than can be addicting. Schedule 2 , 3, 4 and 5 medications. Some doctors get their DEA license taken away if they get in trouble. Law is very lenient on physicians.

 

[su5ie]

DEA license is only needed to prescribe Narcotics and drugs than can be addicting. Schedule 2 , 3, and 4 medications. Some doctors get their DEA license taken away if they get in trouble. Law is very lenient on physicians.

Wonder was he self medicating???

 

[nerosleuth]

Is it a correct assumption that the firearm that was taken as evidence and analyzed is indeed the firearm used to commit the crimes?

Does this potentially trigger a federal charge and conviction, since a firearm and suppressor crossed state lines to commit a felony in another state?

That's an interesting thought.

In addition to federal gun charges, could he also be facing federal murder charges for traveling across state lines to commit murder?

The potential federal gun charges may be the reason why he was arrested last week by federal ATF agents instead of the FBI or the United States Marshalls.

 

[Cassie P]

Additionally, this program to incentivize medical professionals to practice in underserved communities could be a factor, at least in Dr. Tepe’s case, as it’s been said on the forum that the practice he worked in was in a poorer area of the state.

Current Programs and Incentives to Overcome Rural Physician Shortages in the United States: A Narrative Review - PMC

Access to healthcare continues to be a top priority and prominent challenge in rural communities, with 20% of the total U.S. population living in rural areas while only 10% of physicians practice in rural areas. In response to physician shortages, a ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Yes indeed. The OSU Dental College is known for outreach to vulnerable populations.
It appears that Dr. Spencer Tepe was the embodiment of the Ohio State University Dental College philosophy.

https://dentistry.osu.edu/

From their website:

Community Education and Outreach​

The Ohio State University College of Dentistry is committed to being a leader in caring for vulnerable populations within the state of Ohio and meeting the needs of underserved communities while preparing student practitioners to serve diverse populations.

The OHIO Project​

As part of The Ohio State University’s long-standing community service mission, the College of Dentistry addresses the statewide need for access to care through the OHIO (Oral Health Improvement through Outreach) Project.

 

[Spectrix]

What about in Nevada? I suspect that’s where the weapon was obtained.

As far as I can understand, Nevada defaults to federal law where silencers are concerned, which means that they can be obtained via the ATF/NFA approval process (fingerprints/photo/background check and waiting period).

It's worth mentioning that the vast majority of firearms do not have the threaded barrel to be able to take a suppressor in the first place. Also, a suppressor is usually specific to a certain firearm (or class of firearm). So one for a handgun is likely to be quite different to one (for example) for a hunting rifle.

The information I can find is that Mr McKee had a hunting licence in Ohio. I can't find any solid info on which weapons (or silencer) were actually registered to him. Only that he had a number of weapons in his possession, one of which had a preliminary match to the murder weapon. (I'm assuming that is a 9mm handgun, since 9mm shell casings were left at the Tepe residence)

He may very well have sourced a 9mm handgun & matching suppressor illegally

 

[Madison1905]

What about in Nevada? I suspect that’s where the weapon was obtained.

Do you mean that’s where the weapon was purchased or that’s where he could carry and conceal? Sorry I just thought I read that they found the weapon with him while he was arrested at Chik-fil-A or during a search at his condo in Rockford Illinois?

 

[kwins]

That's an interesting thought.

In addition to federal gun charges, could he also be facing federal murder charges for traveling across state lines to commit murder?

The potential federal gun charges may be the reason why he was arrested last week by federal ATF agents instead of the FBI or the United States Marshalls.

I think the ATF became involved in the arrest because he crossed state lines with a firearm to commit a felony. State officials from other states do not have jurisdiction to just come and arrest someone from another state; that's why Ohio sought federal assistance, because the feds have authority over interstate matters (commerce).

 

[OneLove]

I wasn't disputing that it was a real thing... I just don't think it's the case with Monique. I should have been clearer about what I meant in my post.

Oh, I absolutely agree with you on that. Its comedy sometimes just seeing the spaghetti defense attorneys throw at the wall to see what might stick.

When I saw the post on this particular oddity, I thought the syndrome so very out-there, I just wanted to point out, as weird as it is, that it does happen and exactly as written. You never know where it might pop up. We were all in disbelief watching it overtake our dear friend and fellow mom who was otherwise very very intelligent, loving, and creative.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Occam's Razor, which is not surprising based on statistics. It is however sick and twisted that this loser took two kind, loving, productive people out of this crazy world and left two little children without parents.

Throw the book at him, and hopefully we won't have to hear about his 'poor coping' skills or his bad childhood. I'm sick to death of of murderers using mental health issues as a scapegoat for their actions.

JMO

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Found this today. And it applies to McKee’s allegedly not training his PA or NP in a procedure. It seems he left the state after that and gave fake addresses to evade processors delivering summons. His life was beginning to disintegrate (speculation) and maybe he blamed his despondency on the failure of his marriage, the malpractice lawsuit and ultimately his loss of control. MOO.

https://www.mdlinx.com/article/doc-disappears-during-a-malpractice-case-months-later-police-link-him-to-a-double-murder/68YTgECetlJs7344On99gu?show_order=1&utm_campaign=reg_evening-edition_20260116_daily-nl-pm-v4_registered-users-a180-alls&utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email

 

[Cassie P]

Wonder was he self medicating???

Yes it is possible.

 

[Cassie P]

Occam's Razor, which is not surprising based on statistics. It is however sick and twisted that this loser took two kind, loving, productive people out of this crazy world and left two little children without parents.

Throw the book at him, and hopefully we won't have to hear about his 'poor coping' skills or his bad childhood. I'm sick to death of of murderers using mental health issues as a scapegoat for their actions.

JMO

I think the discussions are about trying to explain and understand why a person commits such senseless brutal murders. Not excuses or a defense, but an explanation.

When faced with tragic events, people try to understand what happened. It is human nature.

But yes trying to blame vicious murders on "poor coping skills" as you put it is absurd. There is going to be much more to the back story.

The vast majority of people with mental illness do not hurt anyone.

 

[Cassie P]

IMO, it’s unlikely that MT and MM were ever notified about the docket entries. At least in my experience, docket updates are emailed to the lawyers on the case, not the individual parties.

Would the attorneys then call the court to verify, or call the clients, or ignore it?

 

[princessandthegoblin]

As far as motive, it could be something as simple as “I was adopted, my birth mother didn’t want me and tossed me away, and now Monique did the same thing — I won’t let it happen again without getting revenge”

Don’t try to assign logic or rational to his motive. He is a psychopathic killer, not a healthy sane individual, clearly, based on what he did.

I've been following this thread since the beginning, making my first ever WB comment now.

As I follow this case, I keep thinking of the term destructive entitlement. People carry an internal “ledger” of fairness. Most balance it constructively. They seek therapy, build healthy relationships, or even give back and prevent harm to others. But unfortunately, they can go the opposite way into destructive entitlement: trying to “balance” perceived unfairness by hurting others.

For adoptees, even in loving circumstances, separation from biological caregivers can create early attachment injuries. Estrangement or discord with adoptive families can compound this. If those wounds remain unaddressed, someone may feel entitled to a secure attachment and project that need onto anyone they have perceived as a close attachment figure at some point.

Unfortunately, destructive entitlement will persist until the person finds a constructive way to balance the ledger. Attempts to soothe it, by avoidance, other failed relationships, overachieving (MM certainly seems to be a high achiever) may provide temporary relief, but if the person does not find a constructive way to balance the ledger, harmful behavior will continue. Unfortunately, here, it seems to have ended the worst way possible, with the most entitled behavior possible: ending lives and forever changing many others.

That said, you're correct. It does not make sense at all. Destructive entitlement is the epitome of counter-productive. Romantic partners, present or former, do not owe us perfect or uninterrupted attachment; the ledger of fairness cannot be balanced by harming others. My heart breaks for the whole Tepe family and everyone who loves them.

MOO

Disclaimer: am a systemic therapist sharing a theoretical perspective. I have no direct knowledge of anyone involved, and this is not a diagnosis.

 

[stmichael]

As it's alleged that a firearm suppressor (silencer) was used during this crime, I've been looking into the legality of actually being in possession of one in the US.

In Illinois, where Micheal McKee lived and was arrested, civilians are not permitted to be in possession of suppressors under any circumstances.

In Ohio and other states where suppressors can (technically) be legally obtained, the process involves selecting and paying for the suppressor at a registered dealer, and then applying (via the dealer) to the ATF for a permit before you can take it home. That process can take between 3 - 9 months

The requirements for the permit:
- Background check passed
- Fingerprints taken / registered
- Passport style photo registered

What about in Nevada? I suspect that’s where the weapon was obtained.

I did a write-up on suppressors a few pages back as someone who shoots with them.


Suppressors are NFA items. You need a tax stamp to buy them $200,).

BUYING NFA Firearms State by State
NFA firearms are weapons regulated under the U.S. National Firearms Act (1934), including machine guns, silencers (suppressors), short-barreled rifles/shotguns (SBRs/SBSs), destructive devices, and "any other weapons" (AOWs), requiring federal registration, background checks, and a $200 tax stamp for legal transfer or making, administered by the ATF. These items are often called "Class 3" items because they are handled by specially licensed dealers.
Nevada is a very gun friendly state but just as suppressor friendly as Ohio. They can be legally bought, used, and used in hunting purposes. Virginia where he lived prior is as well.

Now IL is a completely prohibited state. In fact Cook County/Chicago is one of the most restricted "ban state" areas in the entire country with it's own very specific AW bam and has had supreme court cases in the past (guns were actually banned outright there).

It is a class 3 felony to have one where McKean lived. For him to be in possession of a suppressor there would be enough to give him jail time so that was a risk most law abiding citizens would not make. It's the same basically as holding a kilo of blow

Understanding the Cook County Assault Weapons Ban

Understanding the Cook County Assault Weapons Ban List

Learn about the Cook County assault weapons ban list, how it affects residents, and how the Hirsch Law Group can help navigate related legal challenges.

hirschlawgroup.com

.

So Ohio; as suppressor friendly as gets, a constitutional carry state (permit-less carry) since 2022, no AWB.

IL, Cook County; suppressor strictly prohibited, CCL required for carry, mag capacity limits, strict AWBan enacted

So where he lived and OH are black and white on the spectrum of gun laws.


I used to live in a "ban state" with an area of it's own further draconian laws (NYC) and had plenty of crime and now I live in a state with constitutional carry (one of the lowest crime rates in the country). Feel free to ask any further questions.

 

[stmichael]

As far as I can understand, Nevada defaults to federal law where silencers are concerned, which means that they can be obtained via the ATF/NFA approval process (fingerprints/photo/background check and waiting period).

It's worth mentioning that the vast majority of firearms do not have the threaded barrel to be able to take a suppressor in the first place. Also, a suppressor is usually specific to a certain firearm (or class of firearm). So one for a handgun is likely to be quite different to one (for example) for a hunting rifle.

The information I can find is that Mr McKee had a hunting licence in Ohio. I can't find any solid info on which weapons (or silencer) were actually registered to him. Only that he had a number of weapons in his possession, one of which had a preliminary match to the murder weapon. (I'm assuming that is a 9mm handgun, since 9mm shell casings were left at the Tepe residence)

He may very well have sourced a 9mm handgun & matching suppressor illegally

To add what I just posted above you don't need to register anything (non NFA) in Ohio and can use suppressors for hunting there. Same for Nevada. Just a standard 4473 form if buying from an FFL/Store or nothing at all in private sales (cash, no paperwork). This is for long guns and handguns. Both are constitutional carry states. Now bringing those into Cook County is another story but I don't think he followed the law there.

And all suppressors/NFA firearms are Federal. They are NFA items (see link in post above). Only state law can supersede and ban NFA items, but having a suppressor is a Federal tax stamp process regarding the Federal NFA act.

 

[Sundog]

A lot of people have Amazon Echos and the like, pretty sure they capture audio.

If so, it will be interesting to see how captured audio would play out in the courts. I have read some articles in the past that suggest that in some states, being recorded without knowing it in a private residence is against the law, there are two-party states and one-party states regarding recording of others. I would hope there are laws that allow this kind of recording to be used as evidence in a crime like this, but I'm not a lawyer, and don't know how this law applies to Alexa, Echo, nanny cams, and other recording devices. Perhaps a lawyer here may weigh in on this.

 

[LAborn]

If so, it will be interesting to see how captured audio would play out in the courts. I have read some articles in the past that suggest that in some states, being recorded without knowing it in a private residence is against the law, there are two-party states and one-party states regarding recording of others. I would hope there are laws that allow this kind of recording to be used as evidence in a crime like this, but I'm not a lawyer, and don't know how this law applies to Alexa, Echo, nanny cams, and other recording devices. Perhaps a lawyer here may weigh in on this.

I'm hearing Echo isn't always recording, I guess someone has to say "wake". Anyway, I would imagine if the recording happens automatically or happenstance, like a ring camera, etc. it's might be allowed because it's not a secret recording. I have no idea, just thinkin' it through.

 

[Megnut]

I'm hearing Echo isn't always recording, I guess someone has to say "wake". Anyway, I would imagine if the recording happens automatically or happenstance, like a ring camera, etc. it's might be allowed because it's not a secret recording. I have no idea, just thinkin' it through.

Looks like Ohio is a one-party state where recording conversations is concerned.

Privacy Laws Govern Tape Recordings

I recently learned that one of my friends has been tape recording all of our telephone conversations without ever telling me. Is he allowed to do that?

www.ohiobar.org