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

[PGHJW]

Correction - we don't know a ton about these people. Just what the BIL has publicly shared. OTOH, LE definitely knows a lot by now and I expect they will come out and do a news conference of sorts pretty soon to give an update on the case. Isn't that typical in these types of cases?

We absolutely do know a ton comparatively to so many other cases. These were not private people by any stretch of the imagination. Could they have had private matters that only some knew about? Yes and that's the portion that we don't know but I guarantee you that anyone who matters, meaning authorities who will officially solve this, know all of it by now.

This wasn't a private childless couple who didn't socialize. They were the exact opposite. If something that could've been risky, whether intentional or not, was going on, it's going to be learned.

People these days are all about themselves. Attention. Breaking the news. I have never seen more people pop up and say "I knew them" or "I have connections" in public forums than I have in this case. If this was done by someone connected to them in any way, and I don't see how it could be the opposite, it's going to be known fast. People love talking, people love being in the center of "hot" news and people will volunteer that info quickly.

Couple that with technology of this age. There's no way on earth that the seconds of a person walking down in alley is all that was caught on camera. Various people have pointed out the many cameras in the area that are visible with a quick Google search. That's not including any that aren't readily obvious. The shuffling person with the skinny legs is simply all they're throwing you so that you'll have something to go on. Just like the people who will get their attention-needs fed by volunteering info, the authorities would be ALL OVER the news to get attention considering this has become a national story. They aren't. They're silent. Why? Because solving something like this is the BEST press that they can get.

 

[PGHJW]

Your problem lies with the media, not the victim.

Thanks for validating my previous response to you.

 

[Moonchime]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a case where a family member was this outspoken with the media before an arrest was made let alone trial….

I've been following true crime since I was young, and I'm old now — and I haven't ever seen a family member speak out this much either. It's rather odd and unsettling to me.

 

[midwesttowest]

i also noted that RM hasn't really seemed to say much to or about the perp. i think when he was asked what he would say to them he kept it pretty calm and just said they took 2 wonderful people. but i honestly don't blame him, he could be in fear himself. i don't know if i would necessarily go all "we're gonna find you, you [expletive]!" with the killer still on the loose. just a different perspective.
MOO

I agree here, fear could be a factor. But if it was, I don’t think I’d be doing interviews with my name on people magazine and my face on podcasts.

I do find it interesting there hasn’t been much of a plea to please send any and all tips to law enforcement, etc. Unless I missed that. Of course he may be shocked and it could be assumed that of course he would want that. I just find it different than other family member responses during a huge event with a murderer at large.

 

[midwesttowest]

So we have either:

1) random skell / druggy wandering into a house opportunistically and up the stairs

2) professional hit hired by someone with a grudge or financial incentive

3) jealous plotting friend/relative/little brother, someone local and unstable but in their extended social circle

Place your bets, 1, 2 or 3?

2 or 3

 

[PGHJW]

I've been following true crime since I was young, and I'm old now — and I haven't ever seen a family member speak out this much either. It's rather odd and unsettling to me.

I'll be honest, I haven't watched a single second of him talking. Everyone in every public forum discussing this has been repeating his every word so I haven't felt the need. I do think he's a prime example, though, of what I think will end up solving this.

People love to interject themselves. Seeing as that he's family I would consider him a victim, so I'm sure info that he's given has helped piece together the puzzle, but there is still very much a need for attention among his generation. I'm not far off in age from the victims and likely this man as well, so I see it every day.

I'm not sure if anyone made him the "family spokesperson" or not, but he's certainly become it. I'm sure that he doesn't ENJOY or LIKE anything about what happened, but it's still feeding the modern day need for attention. Combine that with the fact that it's been pointed out that he's an aspiring filmmaker.

When you take all of that there isn't a thing odd about it at all. These aren't the meek, terrified and traumatized parents of murdered children of the '70s. These are people that have the ability to appear on camera, and broadcast it to the world if they desire, every single day.

 

[wibbleflea]

I'll be honest, I haven't watched a single second of him talking. Everyone in every public forum discussing this has been repeating his every word so I haven't felt the need. I do think he's a prime example, though, of what I think will end up solving this.

Not really disagreeing with your general point, but hearing him speak is quite different from reading the selected snippets.

 

[moonglow123]

Steve Goncalves definitely spoke up this much trying to get justice for his daughter, and got a similar amount of hate for it. I do think some people are just more outspoken.

That being said, it does seem like the BIL may take a step back. He seems affected or hurt by all the hate he’s getting.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

My understanding regarding the terminology POI is that it means Person of Interest - not necessarily the PERP.

It could be someone who happened to be caught on camera in the vicinity and LE wants to talk to the person to get info if they saw anyone etc. So a POI can be someone who has information OR they could be involved in the killing.

I agree whole heartedly with the BIL that the guy we saw on camera in the alley could be the killer but it's also possible he is not.


JMO

edit to add- in the Brown University shooting the POI that LE was looking for, turned out to be the guy who led police to the killer and was totally NOT involved in the killing

Brown never labeled the person they were looking to speak with as a POI as I recall. They specifically described him as someone who interacted with their POI, and therefore they wanted to speak with him. And that was after this person had already come forward to say they had an interaction with the POI that day. After receiving that tip, Brown police verified that someone did interact with their POI as that person had described, and then released that image to get in contact with them. So, very different situation.

I didn’t think there was anything suspicious looking about the man in the footage either, he absolutely looked like he could be a local walking home from a bar or a friend’s house. It’s just not a helpful opinion or possibility for the BIL to share when the goal is to get people to provide additional tips about that POI to police, given 1) many are already distrusting of the police and their competence at conducting the investigation, and 2) he is a family member, and people will assume the family has received non-public information from the police.

But like I said, I believe it’s most likely the BIL just didn’t think about the consequences of his role as a family spokesperson, and was instead talking with the interviewer just like we do with each other in here.

 

[Hailyourself423]

and it wouldn’t be extremely obvious with a lot of proof (ring footage, any cameras on interstates that can read license plates) that the BIL is cleared at this point? It’s not a simple 20 minute drive down the street and back in the middle of the night.

 

[lg2019]

Everyone needs to get over the brother in law talking,.. in my opinion, it’s not him. I’m sure him & his wife (Spencer’s sister) have talked to the police & his own father in law is a lawyer. Not to mention his own wife is Spencer’s blood, I’m sure if she wasn’t cool with him talking she would say that to him.

Unfortunately I think we just have to be patient.

 

[shonyakay]

The details of this crime is so bizarre. It has Idaho four vibes.

 

[Speculaytor]

No strong evidence for any 911 calls from the house. The call from years ago was RM recently recalling an incident that Spencer had told him about but which may not have involved a call – we’ve certainly seen no evidence of it.

The second call, for which an audio recording has been made public, has no publicly known ties to the occupants of the house. It was a dispatcher calling back a number after the caller had hung up. We don’t hear an address being asked for. (That part of the call could have been edited out or she gave an address when making the call and then hung up.) But it’s not clear that she’s even inside the house – see posts about this above. And it’s a woman’s voice but very unlikely to be MT’s. Would suggest looking on other places to see the posts from MT’s friends and family, who knew her voice and are absolutely adamant it isn’t her.

Thank you!!! I was waiting for someone to point all of this out. How do we know where that woman was? The BIL only said the woman was at a party. He didn't say a party at ST and MT house.

 

[Speculaytor]

I'll be honest, I haven't watched a single second of him talking. Everyone in every public forum discussing this has been repeating his every word so I haven't felt the need. I do think he's a prime example, though, of what I think will end up solving this.

People love to interject themselves. Seeing as that he's family I would consider him a victim, so I'm sure info that he's given has helped piece together the puzzle, but there is still very much a need for attention among his generation. I'm not far off in age from the victims and likely this man as well, so I see it every day.

I'm not sure if anyone made him the "family spokesperson" or not, but he's certainly become it. I'm sure that he doesn't ENJOY or LIKE anything about what happened, but it's still feeding the modern day need for attention. Combine that with the fact that it's been pointed out that he's an aspiring filmmaker.

When you take all of that there isn't a thing odd about it at all. These aren't the meek, terrified and traumatized parents of murdered children of the '70s. These are people that have the ability to appear on camera, and broadcast it to the world if they desire, every single day.

You make a great point. I think the victims parents spoke out just as much, if not more in the OJ case, Delphi case, the Idaho 4 case, the Casey Anthony case. I disagree that families haven't talked as much. They need to, it is cathartic, and allows them to feel like they are doing something to help solve the crime for their loved ones. It really BLOWS my mind all of the criticism of the BIL, I don't understand?

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

So we have either:

1) random skell / druggy wandering into a house opportunistically and up the stairs

2) professional hit hired by someone with a grudge or financial incentive

3) jealous plotting friend/relative/little brother, someone local and unstable but in their extended social circle

Place your bets, 1, 2 or 3?

I think #3 is most likely, but I’m not as quick to rule out #1 as others here, just because of local news stories I’ve seen of home invasions that have resulted in murders.

For example, there was this case: Wife of famed music executive Clarence Avant killed in apparent Beverly Hills home invasion

The victim was an 81 year old woman. How much could she have really derailed their plans? There was no reports of items missing, though there was forced entry. (If memory serves, they caught this guy because he later went to break into another house in a different nearby city, and accidentally literally shot himself in the foot.)

And here, "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband shot and killed at Encino home, suspect arrested, police say,

A couple was murdered by a random man who broke in, with no signs of forced entry. Reports don’t mention whether anything was taken. Subsequent news reports revealed the couple was shot with their own gun, the shooter called the police on himself and that’s how they located him, and he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.

The only thing that distinguishes these cases for me really is that the police described them as possible home invasions (though, that’s not an insignificant distinction).

Then there was this older case, which was not a home invasion, but was ultimately determined by the police to be a “robbery gone wrong,” even though the “robber” didn’t bother to take the victim’s purse that was sitting beside her (suspect committed suicide, so no trial). SHOCKER! Oscar Publicist Ronni Chasen Shot And Killed In Beverly Hills Driving Back From 'Burlesque' Premiere In Hollywood

(That said, while I’m generally not a conspiracy theorist, I have a conspiracy theory on that case, so I don’t personally believe the robbery motive. I recall reading a funny comment at the time from someone saying that if they are ever murdered in Beverly Hills, to please drag their body across the border into Los Angeles. While the BHPD are really great at what they do, murder investigations are not something they generally do, because not many people get murdered in Beverly Hills.)

 

[stmarysmead]

Everyone needs to get over the brother in law talking,.. in my opinion, it’s not him. I’m sure him & his wife (Spencer’s sister) have talked to the police & his own father in law is a lawyer. Not to mention his own wife is Spencer’s blood, I’m sure if she wasn’t cool with him talking she would say she that to him.

Unfortunately I think we just have to be patient.

I’m confused. Isn’t he married to Monique’s sister? The lawyer is Spencer’s Dad though.

 

[moonglow123]

I’m confused. Isn’t he married to Monique’s sister? The lawyer is Spencer’s Dad though.

No, BIL is married to Spencer’s sister.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

Thank you!!! I was waiting for someone to point all of this out. How do we know where that woman was? The BIL only said the woman was at a party. He didn't say a party at ST and MT house.

He did, though.

Misleh, who is married to Spencer's sister, initially told the Surviving The Survivor Podcast that the 911 call was made during a house party at the Tepes home, but now clarifies to PEOPLE that the incident he recalled on the podcast was from years earlier, and he had mixed up dates.

(From previously linked People article.)

and

[Misleh] added that Spencer and Monique “liked to entertain” and frequently hosted gatherings. Based on conversations with individuals who were present that night, Misleh said the caller was likely a female guest who had been drinking heavily or experiencing a mental-health episode.

(From Mysterious 911 Call Complicates Ohio Dentist Killing Case)

 

[Speculaytor]

Yeah, I think he had a non-compete based on the lawsuit over non-compete from the dentist at office where S.T. previously worked.

I also wonder how long has he been at the new dentistry practice, because some articles say he recently started working there?

I am interested in the Dentist at the office where ST previously worked bringing a lawsuit over non-compete? May I ask when was the lawsuit, and who did it involve?

 

[MassGuy]

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Columbus police released a 911 call reportedly made from the Tepes’ Weinland Park residence in April 2025.

Someone called 911 and hung up; a dispatcher then called back and briefly spoke to a woman.

NBC4 news managers listened to the call multiple times and played it for a friend of Monique Tepe; a relative of the Tepes’ said the voice did not belong to Monique. Police records also show that the caller did not live at the Tepes’ Weinland Park address.

NBC4 has decided not to play the call’s audio

https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/weinland-park-community-reels-after-tepes-killings/