I first want to say that this couple seems so wonderful, kindhearted and beautiful inside and out. I am heartbroken for their children, family, friends and the future they will never have together.
This has been a confusing case to follow, with information that seems promising only to be later refuted. I’ve been all over the map with my own personal theories and have come full circle to believe anything could be possible, and I’ll just have to be patient and see how LE solves this tragic mystery.
I did want to add some information about dentistry that might be helpful to some. My husband is an orthodontist (had to become a dentist then specialize with a residency for a few years following dental school). Most of his friends are various types of dentists- many are general dentists (like ST was) as well as dentists who have specialized (periodontists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, etc). He was saying it is very common when you initially sign on with a dental practice to sign a non compete agreement. Some people farther up on this thread were asking about a previous employer having a legal issue with ST, but I suspect this was simply a standard non compete agreement ST had to respect when he was looking for a practice that would offer him more doctor days. It is very common for all types of dentists to work at multiple practices to get enough doctor days. That often means a lot of time commuting.
I also asked my husband about dentists prescribing narcotics. He says at the end of dental school you can choose what type of license you want to get. You can choose to have one where you can only prescribe things like antibiotics, or you can opt for the license to prescribe narcotics. Orthodontists and pediatric dentists for example often don’t opt for the narcotic license because there is no need for it in their line of work, but most general dentists and other dental specialists get the narcotic license. I have never thought to ask his friends about their experience with drug seekers, but my husband had a strange experience with someone a few years ago. About a week after we met this individual at a neighborhood event she reached out to my husband complaining about pain and asking if he could prescribe her a certain narcotic. He was able to honestly answer her that he can only prescribe antibiotics, but it was an uncomfortable and slightly unnerving experience. I wonder if given the fairly sketchy description of where the Tepes lived if ST was ever asked by locals (or an addicted friend or family member) for a prescription. Not at the top of my list of reasons to be murdered, but perhaps it is one to consider.
One last thing to add is that from what I’ve seen through my husband and our other dentist friends is how close knit everyone becomes in a dental office- dental assistants, front desk, insurance coordinators, etc. They spend more time at work than with their families many days of the week, and they talk and share a lot. Of course this depends on the personality of the dentist and the staff- most dental staff seem to be fairly bubbly and extroverted whereas the doctor can be hit or miss in the talkative department. Sounds like ST was a super friendly, outgoing guy. I imagine the staff loved him, and they all had a great rapport with each other. I would be venture to say he told his staff things his family didn’t even know, not maliciously, but because they spent so much time together. Likewise, he probably knew a ton about the various assistants he worked with. The discrepancy in education level/pay scale can be a problem sometimes, however. My husband and his friends have experiences with assistants and other members of the staff asking for loans, asking for a place to stay, and being surrounded by a lot of drama. Looking at the bios where ST worked, the staff members in general seem deeply rooted in the practice and have worked there for a long time which is a good sign. Shows professionalism and loyalty in a profession that can have A LOT of turnover. I hope LE interviews every office member, especially hygienist and dental assistant, that ST has worked with, because chances are if something weird had been going on with a neighbor, one of the kids he was mentoring, a homeless man he had befriended or a family member, there is a good chance he mentioned it to someone. Even a patient might have important information for LE. Some of the dentists we know are so chatty with their patients as they work on them. They end up becoming good friends and inviting them to football gatherings, birthday parties, etc!
I’ll also add it’s a lot different being a dentist who is the owner of a dental practice than a dentist who is an associate. There is so much pressure on the owner. Of course the associate has a huge responsibility in terms of patient care, but they don’t have the same employee responsibility that the owner does. I think the owner handled this situation very well, especially considering they were on vacation.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope it sheds light upon some of the nuances on ST’s profession!
