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

[ElizaKate]

S&BBM <they were killed in cold blood and 'he' walked down the alley behind the garages like nothing ever happened. that's a 'hit'.>

The CCTV footage shows the POI walking in the direction of the Tepe house. If it is the killer, this would highly suggest the footage is captured before the killings, though this has not been confirmed by LE.

MOO

 

[Cassie P]

I still think this was a personal targeted crime. Either the person with motive did the killing themself, or hired someone to do it (less probable imo).

The Tepes seemed to have had a wide circle of loved ones, friends, colleagues, and if this was indeed personal, imo the field is wide open as to who known to them would have motive to want one or both of the Tepes gone.

IMO some theories are more plausible/probable than others.
One of my theories is it could have been someone who worked for them doing household tasks- housekeeper, babysitter, handyman, dog walker/sitter that might have been holding a grudge over a pay dispute or something else, was resentful and decided to take revenge. Might not be as probable as other scenarios but not totally out of the question.

I do agree with some others that LE should have held a PC to alert the community a killer was at large and to be vigilant, lock your doors, windows etc. It’s disappointing they didn’t in this case and I understand the community being upset about it.

I’ve followed true crime for a long time and have learned some LE departments are more vocal than others. Some have frequent pressers etc., and some are more tight-lipped. Actually, I wouldn’t be too surprised if we don’t hear from LE again until after an arrest is made, ugh.
So, we wait.
Hopefully not too much longer.

IMHOO

ETA-clarification

I agree that it appears to be a personal targeted crime against both S and M. Based on the limited information we have, so it is just a guess at this point.

I think a pay dispute over a relatively small amount of cash in the case of a sitter, or dog walker is lower probability. Committing a double homicide over a small amount of cash is a sign of mental illness and impaired judgement. Possible of course but lower probability.

This person would have most likely displayed this mental illness prior and their family and friends would be aware of it. Making it more likely they would be identified and apprehended.

If I may be forgiven for deviating from my usual professional demeanor and going on a bit of a rant: Yes I think the public and the Tepes deserve more from taxpayer funded public servants in this case. Public servants who have taken an oat to serve and protect.

The mayor and Chief of Police need to get off their duffs, stand up, look the public in the eye and make a few comments. At least act like they give a damn about the Tepes and the public. <End of Rant>

 

[wibbleflea]

If the killer has at least one other person in his household, this time of night may have been the only time available to him to carry out the murder undetected by people close to him. He knew that at this time, the other(s) would be asleep and not know he was out. He knew he would have time to clean up.

If that’s the case, it might explain why both the adults in the house were killed, rather than just one – MT & ST were both in the room and he couldn’t leave a witness.

It’s also possible that the killer’s partner, if he has one, knows what happened and what the grievance was. It could be that the partner supports the killing.

All this assumes that the killer is someone close to the Tepes.

 

[Cassie P]

i don't care if the parents' room was locked or not, if ST was on or off the bed, what time the 911 calls and the responders' stories jive/don't jive. they were killed in cold blood and 'he' walked down the alley behind the garages like nothing ever happened. that's a 'hit'. and nothing i've found in their finances (not to be posted, against sleuthing relatives) suggests any super-wealth or super-debt to say this was money-related...

and as i said in my first post on this thread in reaction to the perp caring about the children, well...'he' didn't care at all or 'he' wouldn't have shot their parents. hence a hired hit.

For someone to kill others in a premeditated, planned way and to be cool and calm about it does not mean it is a hired hit.
It would fit the profile of narcissists and sociopaths.

 

[fcavanaugh]

Police Say They've Gotten Multiple Tips About Person of Interest in Ohio Couple's Killing

Monique and Spencer Tepe were killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and no arrests have been made.

people.com

Police are reminding the public to contact them with any tips or information they have.


"Even if you don't think it's something that's relevant in that moment, it may have been something you saw last week," Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at Thursday's briefing. "It may have been something that you saw the day before. It could be relevant to this case."


Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

IMO it’s a little concerning the POI on video hasn’t come forward yet, and seems the tips r/t said POI haven’t led anywhere either as of yet.

This case has been all over the local and national news, across the Internet, showing the POI video clip. The person either doesn’t watch the news/is oblivious to current events, or lives under a rock.

Or they know LE are looking for them but afraid to come forward due to possible warrants out for their arrest and don’t want to go to jail, knows who the killer is and doesn’t want to turn them in, doesn’t like cops or dealing with them. Afraid LE might try to pin the crime on them if he talks to them. There may be other reasons but those are just a few off top of my head.

Obviously they wouldn’t come forward to LE if they are the killer.
I’ll eat my hat if that happens.

I’m sure LE are poring over surveillance to see if they can track more of the POI’s movements from before and after the alleyway near Tepes residence.

What worries me if it goes much longer, if the POI is the killer, they potentially could go into hiding or already has, are on the run/left the state etc., or god forbid, committed suicide somewhere. I hope not but we have seen it happen before in other cases.

Hope LE apprehends the perp whomever they are, sooner than later.

IMHOO

 

[Cassie P]

Then you have another extreme where pros find murder-suicide possible, when the victims would have been tested by now for gunshot residue.
I think must pros think in terms of probability.

I am trained as scientist and clinician. The training is to think in terms of probability based on data and evidence. Data tells you the truth and you stick close to your data. You make a list with high probability theories on top of the list, lower probabilty theories on the bottom. You move the theories up and down the list as more data comes in.

Yes of course the M/S theory is most likely on the bottom of the list now or thrown of the list entirely due do quite a bit of available crime scene evidence. Blood splatter, bullet trajectory, gunshot residue, position of bodies, location of casings, etc etc.

 

[stmarysmead]

It has been said (Shakespeare) that after death, ‘the good is oft interred with our bones.’ I see the opposite. NO one wants to speak ill of the dead, especially the tragically dead.

But all these victims in all these cases were human. Good days, bad days, impatient moments, irritated moments. These two were certainly well-loved individuals, but there could be a person who saw a different side to them, to one or the other of them, even if it were just for one moment or one time. ‘I babysat for them one time, and that Rich B argued with me about my pay.” Sometime seemingly random and silly like that.

But it festered…every time they walked past that expensive house while they struggled in their own life. Especially when high or drunk.

These are things no one will remember hearing from the victim, no victim repeats to friends, just the normal irritations of life…unimportant to the victim…greatly important to the unhealthy mind of the killer.

It was posted upthread that the local school has 100% of its children living below poverty level. Yet, we have this beautiful SAHM in the neighborhood, perhaps walking her babies in an expensive stroller back to her $700,000 home. Observed by an unhealthy mind, on a regular basis, the stark disparity to their circumstances can be a motive in itself.

All they needed to act on their festering anger was opportunity. A tidbit of information overheard, or just the luck of an unlocked door.

Not a quick and easy case for the police if these are anything like the circumstances.

 

[steeltowngirl]

My gut is telling me it's someone in their circle who asked for money/a loan and was told no. Something along those lines. But I've been wrong before....

I considered that also, but it seems that type of murder would happen during an actual argument where a person asking for money is refused, gets angry, and pulls a trigger. Done in an emotional state.

Killing the Tepes in bed in the middle of the night would serve no purpose if the end game was to get their money, unless the perp somehow was to benefit from their death (insurance, estate, etc.) Otherwise, killing them in revenge after already being denied money only adds to the person's issues - now they are also wanted for murder.

I get that murderers may not be acting logically, but this particular murder feels more planned and thought out.

JMO

 

[su5ie]

I keep hearing that it was a targeted hit. What if it was a petty robber with a gun entering the home through an unlocked door thinking nobody is there? He encounters MT getting up to attend to the youngest. She screams and the robber grabs her as ST wakes up. The robber holding MT says don't come at me or I will shoot her. The robber then panics and shoots ST multiple times as he comes at him. Sensing trouble, the robber leaves immediately without taking anything.

Just because nothing was taken doesn't mean it wasn't an intended robbery.

I was thinking this too well similar scenario.

Monique was shot through the side of her chest

So I was thinking did a gunman hold a gun to her side while restraining her with an arm hold ,kind of like a hostage situation

Spencer is woken up or is awake and is threatened for money , drugs ,valuables in a safe etc and because the perp wasn't getting anything because there was nothing to be gained he shot spencer twice and then Monique in the side and escaped from the house.

Burglars can be very nimble and quiet and perp could have had a gun in case home owner had one beside the bed for defense

Children not disturbed because he didn't come to murder he came to steal something easily placed in a jacket pocket

It's the first time I've actually felt a targeted robbery by a stranger could be possible

 

[steeltowngirl]

When I'm suspicious of someone in a case, I'm almost always right (watts, Stauch, Merritt, etc). But I have never been fooled by someone who wound up being the killer.

There is no one here that's even given me a little bit of pause.

Are you still leaning towards a hit? Ever since you mentioned Betty Broderick upthread, a jilted lover has been in the back of my mind. Or possibly an unhinged stalker, or a short fling gone bad - a bunny boiler.