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

[Cassie P]

All the time he was ruining Monique's life before he ended it (and Spencer's too of course), did he not realize that he was doing the exact same thing to himself? He can't be sane.

He may have thought he was too smart to get caught. Or could talk his way out of an arrest or being found guilty.

Or maybe he wants the attention of a trial, wants to present a manifesto about how the world has wronged him, air his imagined grievances.

Or maybe he no longer cared about what would happen to him.
Or didn't think through the consequences due to mental illness or drugs, etc.

 

[Knitpicker]

Me too, because it would be helpful to know timelines ( ie when He talked about moving next door) was that 5 years ago or recently?
Hard to put things into context when you dont know what has happened over the last 5 years and when

I wonder if Law enforcement was ever called.

 

[Knitpicker]

not sure... has he been going to some hack-a-thons? some people are sloppy about securing their devices. he might have just been prowling around and they got an alert.

Could it be he got into an opened laptop/ipad/ PC in the house?

 

[Cassie P]

He could have sent a pic of the house on apartments.com that says that house (1419) was for rent. Just seems awfully coincidental that she was upset the same day he was at their house, and he has threatened to move next door when there is actually a house for rent one house over.

I don't think it is coincidence. The two events are tied together.

 

[ttjo]

I wonder if Law enforcement was ever called.

IDK but there doesnt seem to be any history coming out? They have the drunk girl on a Tuesday night hanging up on 911, they have the neighbor 3 min away that called 911 about the naming on her door, you’d think if there was anything else it would have been discovered by mow.
Maybe she didnt want to set him off?
Scary to think that she was home most days alone with 2 small kids.

 

[ttjo]

I don't think it is coincidence. The two events are tied together.

I know, why threaten to move next door if there isnt a house next door available? Thats why I wonder if it was a recent threat.

 

[Cassie P]

I want to know how much danger the Tepes knew they were in. I'd like to see an article with a rundown of MM's behavior towards MT post-divorce, and lots more info about the Dec 6 incident.

The fact that the family knew right away who did the crime, and co-workers were panicked so quickly indicates that they knew the ex was harassing the wife, scaring her.

But they also could have figured that this ex was just a talker who never acted out on his threats. And was a doctor, so had a lot to lose. Sometimes these abusers who are professionals, doctors and lawyers, are really clever and know exactly how far they can go to skirt the law and consequences. They are playing mind games.

So perhaps they minimized it. What no one knew is that the killer's life had been spinning out of control and possible drug abuse.

 

[academyrd]

The fact that the family knew right away who did the crime, and co-workers were panicked so quickly indicates that they knew the ex was harassing the wife, scaring her.

But they also could have figured that this ex was just a talker who never acted out on his threats. And was a doctor, so had a lot to lose. Sometimes these abusers who are professionals, doctors and lawyers, are really clever and know exactly how far they can go to skirt the law and consequences. They are playing mind games.

So perhaps they minimized it. What no one knew is that the killer's life had been spinning out of control and possible drug abuse.

The biggest question to me is what happened on Dec 6 that made her upset. I really want to believe that if she knew 100% he was in or around her house while she was out of town, she would have called police and refused to go back there with her family. This leads me to believe that something happened Dec 6 but that she didn’t know for sure it was him. She thought he might be around, but didn’t have confirmation it was him, and thus she eventually minimized the threat in her own mind and was able to move on.

So sad to think she probably didn’t want to upset others or upset Spencer so she tried to take care of it herself. That poor woman. Heartbreaking.

 

[Cassie P]

So then they would know it isn’t working. And know he was messing with their security. That would definitely warrant a call to police.
I just had someone in for mine because the device needed replacing on one of my sliding doors. I wasn’t able to turn it on. Any issue with any window/door-that would happen.
How were they living secure at all knowing this guy was stalking them?
It was suggested on a podcast that she didn’t tell Spencer he was texting her on the 6th, so as not to worry him. Pure speculation. This woman also got it wrong that they just moved into the house (they were there 5 years)…..
I keep going back to how she looks to me in that Christmas photo. Very stressed. What a nightmare-the poor woman.

I noticed the same thing in that picture, it seemed quite obvious. She had lost weight and looked stressed out.

 

[Cassie P]

Some things just dont make sense. If she was that afraid, why didnt they take extra precautions? Or did they minimize it? and although it was stressful, did they just see it as more of a nuisance? 8 years later… that alone says hes a wacko.

What could they have done? If someone wants to harm you, what can you do to stop them short of hiring 24/7 body guards? Which is extremely expensive and not affordable for the regular person.

This is why women being stalked and threatened feel so helpless. The police may not take it seriously. Especially if the stalker is smart and knows how to avoid crossing a legal line.

And if he was stalking and harassing for 8 years, the victim may have become habituated it to it to some extent and figure the stalker is mostly talk and won't act out on it.

 

[Cassie P]

So then they would know it isn’t working. And know he was messing with their security. That would definitely warrant a call to police.
I just had someone in for mine because the device needed replacing on one of my sliding doors. I wasn’t able to turn it on. Any issue with any window/door-that would happen.
How were they living secure at all knowing this guy was stalking them?
It was suggested on a podcast that she didn’t tell Spencer he was texting her on the 6th, so as not to worry him. Pure speculation. This woman also got it wrong that they just moved into the house (they were there 5 years)…..
I keep going back to how she looks to me in that Christmas photo. Very stressed. What a nightmare-the poor woman.

Most people do not understand the legal and psychological complexities of abuse situations, stalking, harassment, threats, mental and verbal abuse, etc.

But psychologists, attorneys, social workers, court personnel are quite familiar with these dynamics, the psychology of the victim and abuser.

1. Victims of stalking and harassment know that a call to the police may go nowhere. Victim cannot prove her ex tampered with the security system. Especially when the stalker lives out of town and is a professional, police may be reluctant to do anything. These smart stalkers know how to skirt the law.

2. Women who are victims of stalking and harassment may not always report the situation in real time. They wish to shield family and friends from bad news. They may doubt their own reactions. Victims are traumatized and may not know if they are under or over reacting for any given abuse event. The stalker keeps drawing them into their insanity, the victim begins to feel crazy too. They become more isolated, more withdrawn. Have periods when they want to pretend all is normal, and do normal things. They do not want to scare their family or friends.

3. Victim may think that the ex has never acted out on this threats. Victim may not know the stalker's life has taken a turn for the worse with many setbacks, or that drug abuse is involved. Victim has been desensitized to the threats, habituated to living with insanity. They may feel things are getting worse but feel helpless as the police may not take things seriously or there is no legal recourse. They feel more isolated, more alone. Realizing the system or family cannot protect them from harm. Even a restraining order is no protection if someone wants to harm you.

 

[Knitpicker]

Most people do not understand the legal and psychological complexities of abuse situations, stalking, harassment, threats, mental and verbal abuse, etc.

But psychologists, attorneys, social workers, court personnel are quite familiar with these dynamics, the psychology of the victim and abuser.

1. Victims of stalking and harassment know that a call to the police may go nowhere. Victim cannot prove her ex tampered with the security system. Especially when the stalker lives out of town and is a professional, police may be reluctant to do anything. These smart stalkers know how to skirt the law.

2. Women who are victims of stalking and harassment may not always report the situation in real time. They wish to shield family and friends from bad news. They may doubt their own reactions. Victims are traumatized and may not know if they are under or over reacting for any given abuse event. The stalker keeps drawing them into their insanity, the victim begins to feel crazy too. They become more isolated, more withdrawn. Have periods when they want to pretend all is normal, and do normal things. They do not want to scare their family or friends.

3. Victim may think that the ex has never acted out on this threats. Victim may not know the stalker's life has taken a turn for the worse with many setbacks, or that drug abuse is involved. Victim has been desensitized to the threats, habituated to living with insanity. They may feel things are getting worse but feel helpless as the police may not take things seriously or there is no legal recourse. They feel more isolated, more alone. Realizing the system or family cannot protect them from harm. Even a restraining order is no protection if someone wants to harm you.

Right. But breaking into a home warrants a car to police,

 

[Megnut]

He may have thought he was too smart to get caught. Or could talk his way out of an arrest or being found guilty.

Or maybe he wants the attention of a trial, wants to present a manifesto about how the world has wronged him, air his imagined grievances.

Or maybe he no longer cared about what would happen to him.
Or didn't think through the consequences due to mental illness or drugs, etc.

Genius thought leaving his phone at work have him a solid alibi.

A little license plates hocus pocus and he thought he'd made himself invisible.

In 2025.

LE looks at phone usage. He created a 17 hour black hole. That's not suss at all. [Mop for the sarcasm.]

The license plate countermeasures show premediation. He used his own car! He left casings. He kept the murder weapon.

He made the cretin mistake so many criminals make. He thought no one would look past his pretty little alibi, his pretty little phone asleep at work.

He was wrong.

JMO

 

[Cassie P]

Could it be he got into an opened laptop/ipad/ PC in the house?

1. It is interesting to note that people are now legitimately asking the same questions the victims of a stalker start asking. However when the victims ask these questions they are accused of being paranoid. So the victims are in a no win situation. If they don't ask these questions they increase their risk level. But when they do ask them they get ignored or called crazy.

2. Yes it is quite possible that a stalker will try to access the victim's laptop for any number of reasons. For example, a stalker may send incriminating emails looking like it came from the victim to make her look bad, or look like she is the abuser. In some cases the victim can prove she did not send the emails because she was in a work meeting or at an appointment with witnesses at the time the email was sent.

Also the stalker may order unwanted items or cause other financial or work hardships for the victim. They can do all kinds of unbelievable things once they gain access to the laptop.

 

[Cassie P]

Genius thought leaving his phone at work have him a solid alibi.

A little license plates hocus pocus and he thought he'd made himself invisible.

In 2025.

LE looks at phone usage. He created a 17 hour black hole. That's not suss at all. [Mop for the sarcasm.]

The license plate countermeasures show premediation. He used his own car! He left casings. He kept the murder weapon.

He made the cretin mistake so many criminals make. He thought no one would look past his pretty little alibi, his pretty little phone asleep at work.

He was wrong.

JMO

Yes indeed, this killer thought he was smarter than the average bear. And could outwit everyone. Or at the very least, create reasonable doubt in front of a jury.

But he was a first time killer, an amateur, and made mistakes.
The hallmark of the amateur is they plan and stage the crime based on TV, books, movies.

They don't understand how real life LE operates. So the plan and crime scene cover up is off. Mistakes are made.

 

[starlightstarbright]

Two things that come to mind:

(1) I wonder if part of the Dec 6 visit was to deduce the door codes. It could be as simple as coating the key pad with something that would glow under a black light allowing him to see their finger print patterns. My son has an ‘invisible ink’ pen that would do exactly this.

(2) I wonder if the reason MT left the game was because of worry for the children. They surely didn’t take a 4 & 1 year old to a game with an 8pm kickoff. The children must have been with family. Maybe knowing he was lurking around their house sent her into a panic that he might go to her parents’ house next or some other family member and she knew the kids were staying there. That certainly would have left me utterly panicked. MOO

 

[Cassie P]

Two things that come to mind:

(1) I wonder if part of the Dec 6 visit was to deduce the door codes. It could be as simple as coating the key pad with something that would glow under a black light allowing him to see their finger print patterns. My son has an ‘invisible ink’ pen that would do exactly this.

(2) I wonder if the reason MT left the game was because of worry for the children. They surely didn’t take a 4 & 1 year old to a game with an 8pm kickoff. The children must have been with family. Maybe knowing he was lurking around their house sent her into a panic that he might go to her parents’ house next or some other family member and she knew the kids were staying there. That certainly would have left me utterly panicked. MOO

She could have left the game to avoid others seeing her upset. And yes she wanted to check on the children and warn whoever was taking care of them? Perhaps she was also filing a police report on the phone and wanted privacy to do all of this.

 

[Cassie P]

I know, why threaten to move next door if there isnt a house next door available? Thats why I wonder if it was a recent threat.

I meant his being at the house and her being upset at the same time was not coincidental.

But yes the threat of moving in next door may suggest he had been looking at properties there.

 

[nerosleuth]

The whole alarm system issue bugs me because especially if she knew he was around Dec6, why didn’t they have the alarm system on on 12/30? Or was he able to deactivate it?

Maybe he damaged the security system and the Tepes were working on getting it repaired or replaced? Or he tampered with it somehow in a way that was not noticeable but gave him access to the home?

Here's a thought. He could have hacked into their security system by making it appear that everything is in working order and secure when it really wasn't.

In other words he somehow hacked and tampered with their security system and gave the Tepes a false sense of security.

 

[Cassie P]

The biggest question to me is what happened on Dec 6 that made her upset. I really want to believe that if she knew 100% he was in or around her house while she was out of town, she would have called police and refused to go back there with her family. This leads me to believe that something happened Dec 6 but that she didn’t know for sure it was him. She thought he might be around, but didn’t have confirmation it was him, and thus she eventually minimized the threat in her own mind and was able to move on.

So sad to think she probably didn’t want to upset others or upset Spencer so she tried to take care of it herself. That poor woman. Heartbreaking.

Even if she knew it was her ex, what were her options? She cannot prove it was him. It would take time and an investigation to do so. Do the police want to go to Illinois and arrest a possible stalker? One who is a rich doctor with good attorneys?

Also he most likely did not steal anything. So it is a break in with no burglary. Police are not going to put this high up on their list.

But the stalker often leaves signs he had been there that only she would know. But to others look benign or made up. And if she talks about the stalker planting devices they police begin to roll their eyes and think she is paranoid.

Some women in this situation hire a private detective, usually retired LE, who will come in and do a security sweep and identify any hidden cameras and trackers on the car.

A woman in this situation typically does not want to upset her husband and children, move them out of their home based on her fears. And she knows that there is no safe place when it come to the stalker. He is wily, clever, determined. She cannot live in a hotel forever and it is safer perhaps to be in her own home not some hotel.