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

[Hexe]

His wife is Monique’s sister. But I agree BIL is not responsible for these murders.

His wife is Spencer's sister. The media article confirming that was just quoted again in this thread.

 

[Cassie P]

Oh for sure. But would he? Are they even allowed to do that? I dont know the laws in Ohio or all the 4th amendment stuff.

In Ohio if LE believes a resident in a private home is in need of immediate protection or medical treatment, and is in harm's way, they can gain immediate access to the home. 4th amendment does not apply in emergency situations. In fact the responsibility goes the other way. They are obligated to assist and cannot say they were unable to access the home because of a fence or locked door.

 

[Cassie P]

I researched Monique’s prior marriage and divorce. The case number is 17DR-001691 for anyone wishing to do the same or read through it but a few things that stood out:

- This was an incredibly short marriage (7 months) wherein he lived and owned property in a different state the entire time. He also worked in a different state.
- She worked at Nationwide, in Columbus.
- Monique filed for the divorce
- It was uncontested and pretty quick from start to finish (6 weeks). No party claimed joint assets, no children, and extremely minimal debt ($3,500 in CC debt and a few individually owned vehicles)
- Monique was ordered to pay him roughly $1300 in “misc debt” which she did.

Their divorce paints the picture of a couple who largely lived separate lives and didn’t or rarely even lived together. It also paints the picture of a relatively amicable divorce stemming from a very short term marriage and a very quick divorce which neither party fought or even had attorneys.

Given all of this I would be absolutely shocked if the ex or her prior marriage was a factor in this in any way shape or form.

I agree, the ex as a serious suspect seems far down on the probability list. Possible, but not probable.

 

[Cassie P]

Even if the 911 call was made by Monique, I don't think that means a whole lot. Show me a married couple who has never had an argument, and I'll show you a doormat!

Most couples have arguments, but most couples do not call 911 during those arguments. Typically the wife does not feel she needs police protection and assistance.

 

[Loudmouth]

I feel so bad for the victims and their families.

I have 3 theories:
1. Someone they have financial entanglements with, like a business partner or gambling buddy
2. An irate patient
3. Former/Current love interest

 

[Firstsnow4]

Of course, too early to tell what is the motive here, but one thing did strike me about the phone call from a distressed woman that this couple seem to have known. The Teppes seem to be a couple that would go out of their way to help someone in a bad situation, for example, an abusive relationship. We've seen this before in a few cases, where the anger of the rejected male is meted out to the helpers of the abused woman, as without their influence, he perceives that she will be back under his control.
This couple would both be in their social circle and therefore would probably know the keypad code. Just speculation.

I have read through the posts and I agree. As an earlier poster mentioned, if there was a female living at the residence (that corresponded with the same time period as the domestic dispute call to 911) and the Tepe’s were helping her out/persuading her to leave her abusive partner, the partner could have taken offence and got their revenge. That would explain the lack of forced entry as presumably the abusive partner would have known the door code. MOO.

 

[indicolite22]

I feel so bad for the victims and their families.

I have 3 theories:
1. Someone they have financial entanglements with, like a business partner or gambling buddy
2. An irate patient
3. Former/Current love interest

Few of those would have a code to enter their house.

 

[Justice101]

Apparently they were fans of the show Friends, because they put a few references to it in the wedding. It seems a bit cringe afterwards, although they likely didn't intend to be judged by the general public.

It shouldn't be too hard for the police to find out who had access to the door code, even better if there were multiple codes. I don't think they would give the code to just any guest or worker. People who did not have this type of access (e.g. disgruntled strangers) could be off the hook.

We have a side entrance with a door code. We have our own regular code and then a temporary code that we use for dog sitter when we are gone. We try to change the 2nd code regularly but don't always do that because you have to look at the manual every time to figure out how to delete the temporary one and add a new one since we are old people lol

 

[academyrd]

This is so bizarre. Did the Tepe's have a babysitter or friend who often stayed the night in their home? Or a relative who had been the victim of "domestic violence?" Perhaps they provided emotional support to the victim of domestic violence or encouraged that person to leave their abuser? The abuser blames the Tepe's for the ultimate end to the relationship?

This is as strong as theory as any based on the facts we know at this point, imo

 

[indicolite22]

I believe the proximity to Christmas is less about the victims and more about the suspect. This is the time of year where someone will have a mental breakdown, realize their life is heading nowhere, etc.

Some type of life event could have happened which exacerbated the need for the suspect to act out and do this.

Question remains, did the suspect get any material benefits or just satisfaction (e.g. revenge) from the murders? Did they choose the day so the children could be found quickly?

 

[Justice101]

This is as strong as theory as any based on the facts we know at this point, imo

I'm leaning toward your idea or a big brother family member who was enraged at him for an unknown reason.

 

[Izzylizzy]

It matters because it casts aspersions on an innocent victim.

It matters because if it was Monique, it could open doors as far as other possibilities go.

I think the call will be investigated to find out who the caller was because the call in itself has opened up "other possibilities" be it MT or not,

 

[BryanHall]

I think the call will be investigated to find out who the caller was because the call in itself has opened up "other possibilities" be it MT or not,

I agree. I think playing the call and reporting it were important so people could tell it wasn't MT. The 911 calls are public information and reporting this is as important as reporting on the banging on the door in the middle of the night.

 

[Justice101]

My prediction was an arrest by Friday... looking iffy now.

However, the lack of police information tells me they are working on a suspect. DNA from the shell casing like someone said, or the person in the video(s) has been identified and is being verified then questioned, etc.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Lol, he didn’t exactly clear it up. I believe he said it happened years ago, the date of the call was 4/15-25.

Yes, the BIL changed his claims quite a few times.
The edibles vanished like magic.

 

[BryanHall]

I just listened to the STS show that was streamed last night and thought the host had problems interpreting things and making sense of anything but the guests put him straight. Fil Waters, in particular. He and this show are new to me.

I listened to that show last night and someone claimed he was an OSU wrestler. Why is that claim going around?

 

[Vaderman]

I wish LE would hold a press conference to stop all of the garbage filling the vacuum JMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

We have zero proof that ST was abusive, or that MT was abused. EBM for extra words typo

No one accused ST of abusing anyone and MT being an abused woman.

Did you listen to the call?
Had you, you would hear when the dispatcher asked the female caller if there was any physical involvement before she answered him she paused for quite a few seconds then began crying when answering "no".
That was a huge indication that something physical most likely had taken place and the dispatcher was totally incompetent and dangerously so to outright believe her , a woman that sounded way under the influence of something with slurred speech and crying and he did not send LE to the address.
Eventually the identity of the 911 caller could be released.
imo

 

[stmarysmead]

He bought the house before they got married and had kids. So, he already had the house when they got married and started to have kids. After which, rates started to skyrocket and buying another house was not so easy. Especially when you are sitting on a 3% mortgage rate. Maybe they wanted to move at some point but it just didn't happen. Also. some people want to live in the city and have more access to things and more stuff going on. YUPPIES is a term for a reason...

Absolutely correct. But they now would have perhaps a 300,000 down payment, which could have lowered their monthly payment elsewhere. But I agree, they preferred to be in that environment. I just wonder if that made them less likely to lock doors, turn on the alarm, ignore banging at night.

If they saw that neighborhood as safe enough to raise children in, maybe they treated their personal security with the same mindset. Pertinent only because it might explain why there was no break-in.

 

[dotr]

Jan 7, 2026 #WSYX #ABC6 #News rbbm
''MORE: https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local...Columbus police are now investigating numerous tips related to a person of interest connected to the homicides of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique, who were shot and killed in their home last week near Weinland Park.CPD released a video Monday night of an individual caught on camera a few blocks from the Tepe home around the same time of the early morning deadly shooting.Retired FBI special agent Harry Trombitas watched the video with ABC 6, noting, "His face appears to be covered, you've got the dark coat, the light pants."Trombitas added, "Certainly the person doesn't appear to be in a hurry, they feel confident in what they’re doing, if in fact the person is involved."Trombitas suggested the individual might not be involved but could have crucial information. "Police must believe it must be someone who may have information on the case or be involved," he said.Despite multiple requests from ABC 6, police have declined on-camera interviews to maintain the integrity of the investigation.Trombitas explained that if investigators provide detailed information about where they are in the investigation, that could tip off the offender, that police are getting close to identifying a suspect.''