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

[stmichael]

I'm not sure Weinland Park and nearby neighborhoods shouldn't be worried.

Well, the area's overall crime rate is 152% higher than the national average.

Interviewed neighbors talk about the drug activity in the park just down the street and hearing gunshots. I would imagine the Tepe's and their neighbors had some concern when the 8 year old girl was shot in an argument at the park down the street--their own daughter was young when it happened--I would imagine it came up. There have been murders in this area while the Tepe's lived there. So living in such a transitional area should bring an elevated sense of security and situational awareness. I understand that sometimes people moving to such a neighborhood might rationalize or downplay the risk but that naive positivity can be a downfall. I might even speculate their co-workers an hour away at the office had their own opinions about their area and it's past rep, being only recently gentrified (Tepe's house was built just 5 years ago).

 

[BryanHall]

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.

 

[stmichael]

I mean, it could be, right?

Why do men kill, if it's not for personal gain? The list isn't that long.

Alas, senseless violence and no respect for life has become a thing in many cities, especially in gang and drug culture.

I've seen cases where a 17 year old ventilated a kid over a dirty pair of Air Force Ones and ran before taking them off their body. You have to remember there is no logic to people that are illogical (strung out, fiending for a fix, mentally ill, etc.) You have stupid skells with no moral compass making impulsive opportunistic decisions and ofter screwing that up epically. So yes, there are clear motivations, and then there are all these crazy senseless things that do happen. I still think with the dearth of other details supplied it may be that but at the same time it's likely the investigators are sitting a piece of information that would clarify a direction.

 

[stmichael]

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.

Possible. But so far we got 3 9mm casings in the 2nd floor BR, 2 shots to the male, one shot to female. Some secondary details seem to indicate they were in bed, or at least Specncer fell out of bed. Crime scene forensics and the trajectory would figure all this out on day one. Agree with you on the last sentence.

 

[Angelcat13]

Wow! I guess that shouldn't surprise me, yet it does.

I don’t know if it’s that people are completely unaware of this tragic case or if it may be because that most people may not bring up such a tragedy in “casual conversation”. (Unless, of course, they know our interest in sleuthing and justice.)

I have found that, in this case and many others, if someone DOES bring up a “case” in a casual conversation that others in the conversation acknowledge being aware of the case. They just may not necessarily be the person to bring up the conversation.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

AND I still find it odd someone called 911 before checking at the house

The person who called 911 was 1,000 miles away, and the owner of the company. There are multiple reasons it makes sense to do that over sending an employee:

1) You send the person who knows how to do the job right. LE are trained to do welfare checks. In this case, LE didn’t do it well, but that’s beside the point. Employees don’t have any way of entering the house if needed.

2) He’s the boss. Assigning an employee to do a welfare check over an hour away is far beyond the scope of their job duties. How is that even appropriate? Way too high of a probability of it being either completely wasted time, traumatizing, or even dangerous.

3) Time is of the essence if there is a problem. This is the decision of a manager who has to look out for and be accountable to his missing employee, the other concerned employees, and his patients.

4) He can’t go himself, because he’s 1,000 miles away.

To summarize: A successful owner of a medical practice is likely to believe that if you’re going to do something, do it right.

 

[Cedars]

I keep hearing that it was a targeted hit.

If someone is claiming they know it was a targetted hit, that person has insider information and needs to be interrogated by police.

It is normal for there to be speculation when nothing is yet known.

 

[Cedars]

I have kind of a strange, unsettling question, and I feel like this group would be the best to answer it. Are there any statistics about how often murders in the dead of night occur? I ask because it seems like unless the victim sleeps with a nightlight the murderer wouldn’t be able to really see the victim and know where to shoot them. I’ve unfortunately been thinking about this ever since learning about ST and MT as I tend to my very wakeful infant in the middle of the night. Even after my eyes have adjusted I can still barely make out my baby. I don’t understand how someone creeping in a room with sleeping people can make out where they are well enough to only use a few bullets to kill them both. How do they even know where the bed is? Would that indicate they were familiar with the layout of the room? That they have night vision goggles? Do they use a flashlight? I certainly am naive, and maybe my eyesight is below average, but I can’t wrap my head around how this criminal managed to kill them without bumping into things and causing a big scene.

IMO, every bedoom has a light switch just inside the door. Killers know how to turn them on, and turn them off as they leave .

 

[getthefax]

I have kind of a strange, unsettling question, and I feel like this group would be the best to answer it. Are there any statistics about how often murders in the dead of night occur? I ask because it seems like unless the victim sleeps with a nightlight the murderer wouldn’t be able to really see the victim and know where to shoot them. I’ve unfortunately been thinking about this ever since learning about ST and MT as I tend to my very wakeful infant in the middle of the night. Even after my eyes have adjusted I can still barely make out my baby. I don’t understand how someone creeping in a room with sleeping people can make out where they are well enough to only use a few bullets to kill them both. How do they even know where the bed is? Would that indicate they were familiar with the layout of the room? That they have night vision goggles? Do they use a flashlight? I certainly am naive, and maybe my eyesight is below average, but I can’t wrap my head around how this criminal managed to kill them without bumping into things and causing a big scene.

Some handguns are outfitted with bright flashlights. so when you pull the trigger, or push a button with your thumb, it shines a bright flashlight beam so you can see where you're shooting. You can easily add these on along with sights, etc.

 

[ttjo]

I have kind of a strange, unsettling question, and I feel like this group would be the best to answer it. Are there any statistics about how often murders in the dead of night occur? I ask because it seems like unless the victim sleeps with a nightlight the murderer wouldn’t be able to really see the victim and know where to shoot them. I’ve unfortunately been thinking about this ever since learning about ST and MT as I tend to my very wakeful infant in the middle of the night. Even after my eyes have adjusted I can still barely make out my baby. I don’t understand how someone creeping in a room with sleeping people can make out where they are well enough to only use a few bullets to kill them both. How do they even know where the bed is? Would that indicate they were familiar with the layout of the room? That they have night vision goggles? Do they use a flashlight? I certainly am naive, and maybe my eyesight is below average, but I can’t wrap my head around how this criminal managed to kill them without bumping into things and causing a big scene.

If their blinds were up, I would think that the streetlights would provide some light ? Seemed like a busy street with lots of streetlights?
Spencer was an early riser, I bet Monique was too (with a baby) no need to close blinds and sleep in.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

dbm

 

[MassGuy]

If someone is claiming they know it was a targetted hit, that person has insider information and needs to be interrogated by police.

It is normal for there to be speculation when nothing is yet known.

The scene itself wreaks of it being targeted.

There was no forced entry, and the killer apparently had a way to enter the home (may have known code or something).
No burglary.
The timing was such that the victims would be in bed.
As little as three shots may have been fired.
The kids were left unharmed.

It's very clean looking, and not like something you'd see with a random homicide.

 

[Cedars]

The scene itself wreaks of it being targeted.

There was no forced entry, and the killer apparently had a way to enter the home (may have known code or something).
No burglary.
The timing was such that the victims would be in bed.
As little as three shots may have been fired.
The kids were left unharmed.

It's very clean looking, and not like something you'd see with a random homicide.

I agree, analysis starts with details about the scene of the crime.

Seems police have said nothing about how the killer gained access, which they normally reveal. If, for eg, a door or window was left unsecured, they will often include that in their initial statement...

 

[MesquiteO21]

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!

Thank you for your insight.

Your last point about the owner is exactly what Ive been thinking too and why I’ve scaled back my suspicion about calling 911 after just an hour. One of your reliable employees not showing up and not communicating at all when you’re in the medical field and they have a scheduled patient is absolutely cause for panic. As the owner you just simply aren’t going to be laissez-faire “meh I’m sure he’ll stroll in, I’m sure we won’t get reprimanded, I’m sure this won’t affect us in any way, it’s all good man” no, you’re hypersensitive to anything that is amiss. I really don’t know how else to emphasize this for people who are adamant that his panic was performative or suspicious…I guess I’ll stop trying, ha

moo

 

[MassGuy]

Thank you for your insight.

Your last point about the owner is exactly what Ive been thinking too and why I’ve scaled back my suspicion about calling 911 after just an hour. One of your reliable employees not showing up and not communicating at all when you’re in the medical field and they have a scheduled patient is absolutely cause for panic. As the owner you just simply aren’t going to be laissez-faire “meh I’m sure he’ll stroll in, I’m sure we won’t get reprimanded, I’m sure this won’t affect us in any way, it’s all good man” no, you’re hypersensitive to anything that is amiss. I really don’t know how else to emphasize this for people who are adamant that his panic was performative or suspicious…I guess I’ll stop trying, ha

moo

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.

 

[MesquiteO21]

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.

Not to go too off topic but I just learned recently that Merritt actually told cops he was the last person to talk to the McStays like how stupid can you be

 

[fcavanaugh]

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.

RBBM
Could be but imo it’s risky to assume no one is inside at the given timeline 2-5am since imo most people are usually home asleep or getting up to start their day/getting ready for work etc.

Jumping off your post-
I think everything’s on the table since we haven’t heard much from LE. They’re holding things close to the vest so it’s hard to gauge what direction the investigation is going which is frustrating, but I get it. They’re protecting the integrity of their investigation.

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

 

[katydid23]

Not to go too off topic but I just learned recently that Merritt actually told cops he was the last person to talk to the McStays like how stupid can you be

Yes, which is why LE likes to keep suspects talking, even to other people, or to give interviews. For example:

In a 2014 CNN interview, when asked if he was the last person to see McStay, Merritt responded, "I'm definitely the last person he saw". He made similar statements to the Daily Mail in 2013.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Keep in mind, that doctors are a step closer to call 911 by their profession. And it is just the part of their professional mentality. As my father, a doctor, used to say in my childhood, “you know, potentially the risk of dying from appendectomy is 0.2%. But for those who got into that group, it is 100%”. So this knowledge, that for someone a highly uncommon occurrence may be a 100%, is part of how doctors think and operate. In short, I am not surprised at all.

Also, some of us call 911 easier because most times, unless it is an emergency it is not a fast call. They do ask some questions.

I called 911 twice over the people I knew only on FB.

Once, it was a concerning post no one but me saw. It was a tiny city in MN and the response of people was, “I don’t know him at all.” So my call was prompted by the fact that I was the only one who saw it and as I saw from the responses of mutual FB friends, the person was lonely. I called their police department, explained it how it was and that I asked to do just a safety check. They politely called back, explained that he was in no risk and later he called back via FB and said, “oh, I am sorry, miss, I was just high”. Well, glad that you are better now and don’t sound hopeless.

And the second time, I knew a person better and he just disappeared off the face of the earth. His family, whom he adored, did not respond. His phone was off. So I called the police department of (another tiny) city in California, again, explained the concerning thing (some irregularity) and that in his age group, heart attacks happened. They did a great job, called, called the phone company (it was a stationary phone switched off for nonpayment) and asked them to switch it back on. Very good people. Apparently, their appearance served to interrupt a long-lasting binge of which I didn’t know. And several years later, the person, indeed, died from a regular health issue. And I saw it on FB.

So 911 exists for people to call for safety checks. It takes some time if it is not a known emergency but: 1) if you explain what prompts you to call and 2) what kind of help do you expect to get,

It is a normal thing to do. The office of Spencer called because it was an irregular behavior and asked for a safety check. No big deal. For some people, calling 911 is unusual, but some of us may do it.

The rule of thumb is that you call 911 when you need an officer to respond to a scene. Officers are needed for many reasons.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

Why do you think it was a hired hitman?

I think it is a big risk to hire a hitman on the cheap. If he is apprehended, he can identify who hired him. The killer would have no loyalty for a $5K job?

And this kind of hired professional made a number of mistakes.

I listen to the podcast Police Off the Cuff which shares the perspective of a retired NYPD sergeant, and he scoffed at the notion of a “professional” hitman in general. Saying he never came across one in his whole career. In the context of the mafia and similar, their hit men get away with it just because they only kill each other. Just thought that was an interesting perspective. There are obviously cases of people being hired to kill someone, but like in the case of that professor who was murdered by someone hired, I think it was one or both’s first murder. And they made mistakes and got caught.

Personally, I think a hired hit is less likely in the case of a couple, especially with the children home.