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

[Inthedetails]

The word targeted doesn’t mean anything in this context. Of course this was targeted. Two people just got murdered inside their own house while sleeping. An asteroid didn’t fall out the sky and hit them. Of course they were targeted. The question is by who and why.

"Targeted" usually means the victims were specifically chosen in advance by the perp. We don't know yet that the killer specifically chose this couple to be killed and then entered to house specifically to kill them. Maybe, maybe not.

But, it certainly wasn't an accident, for sure.

jmopinion

 

[stmichael]

The issue is the lack of forced entry, and the victims being found in their bedroom. In a random event I'd expect one of the victims to be found dead near the door.

As I stated upstream those residential smart locks can be defeated with a magnet and paper clip. I've seen burglars these days with wifi jammer packs, and yes, random tweakers. The lack of forced entry is often misconstrued and we've seen many cases where random thugs just strolled in because the homeowner didn't follow through on proper personal safety protocols. I would be more interested on why there wasn't an alarm system or if there was, how it was disabled.

The time window of interest is now 2-5am. The skell could have entered the home and shot them in a botched robbery or a misguided slight etc. (I've seen random homeless people kill over perceived slights or a wrong look by "better off people judging them') This is in an area that has short distances and close to foot traffic in a city environment. I was surprised by the accessibility of the home and lack of further security in such an environment (a few years ago an 8 year old was shot in the park walking distance from this home). There is marginal activity near this area, yes it is gentrified and better than years ago, but it's an area based on the record that I would have advised more security. Again, random cases are rare statistically but with the weird circumstances in play it seems quite possible. The other main inclination I have is some revenge/perceived slight angle by an unstable person that may have been in their world circle but not even that close.

 

[acutename]

No, she worked in early childhood education.

would she have been a mandatory reporter?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Wow! Great minds think alike lol! MOO

what is the Sherman's house????

 

[Gators North]

what is the Sherman's house????

Barry and Honey Sherman.

 

[Gigglingtoes]

The issue is the lack of forced entry, and the victims being found in their bedroom. In a random event I'd expect one of the victims to be found dead near the door.

It’s giving Kohberger vibes

 

[Knox]

Street View of 1411 N 4th St · Google Maps

1411 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201

www.google.com

Anyone think this may be it?

70K views · 248 reactions | Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of December 30th in the upstairs of their residence. Recovered video footage shows a person of interest walking

Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of December 30th in the upstairs of their residence. Recovered video footage shows a...

www.facebook.com

 

[waldojabba]

If I am looking at the video of a POI walking, they appear to be traversing ice or fallen snow or uneven ground? So it makes it difficult to determine their typical gait. I at first thought they were inebriated, but it might simply be difficulty or caution on the ice or fallen snow? MOO

It looks to me like just a guy from the neighborhood walking home after last call from his local bar - confident/comfortable in a walk he has done many times.

It's cold outside and he maybe has no gloves so his hands are in his pockets, with his hoodie up and his eyes to the ground bc of the icy/uneven conditions - he could be a tipsy or not.

If I did not know about the murders I don't think I would not find it suspicious at all .

When I lived in another similar size city and liked to stay out late - I would see guys like this all the time. The local bar where I lived was about four blocks away.

If I were the Tepe's and just getting home I might wait until he was a block away or so to pull into my garage to be on the safe - bc lots of times criminal don't "look" like criminals.

Someone will know who he is for sure.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

It’s giving Kohberger vibes

That's just such a rare event, and entry was easy for him because of an unlocked door. I don't think that's in play here.

I'm leaning towards them knowing their killer, and this person knowing the code (or some other way to make entry).

 

[moonglow123]

would she have been a mandatory reporter?

Good thought, definitely possible. I don't think it's been clarified what her actual job title was, teacher, aide, or something else, so I'm not sure. But if she was a teacher or an aide, yes, most likely.

 

[acutename]

I know some have said electronic locks are easy to bypass or "lockpick", but it's still odd he had enough confidence to just stroll up and attempt it. No worries about floodlights going off, alarms going off, dogs barking, Monique or Spencer waking up, failing etc. Makes me lean more towards someone that knew them and less towards a Kohberger type, but who knows.

does not fit a good pattern IMO- for a robbery, picking an occupied building, killing people and then not taking anything...there are home invasions, but the invaders (usually multiple) go after some $ or property...

 

[stmichael]

The word targeted doesn’t mean anything in this context. Of course this was targeted. Two people just got murdered inside their own house while sleeping. An asteroid didn’t fall out the sky and hit them. Of course they were targeted. The question is by who and why.

I tend to agree. All reporting should be taken with a grain of salt and police statements are often ambiguous during a pending investigation.
My friends still on the job say: "there is targeted and there is targeted". A somewhat random tweaker who has walked past your nice house that was built just a few years in a transitional area and assumes you have money cause he notices you every time he walks to the park to get his score is targeted. So is a jealous mentally unstable ex husband that has vowed revenge and some recent life even pushed him to act.

 

[Canaille]

With her reportedly having been shot in the chest from the side, am I the only one who pictures the perp with his arm around her and a gun to her chest? Like she might have been shot in front of her husband.

 

[OhioSleuth614]

Wait you live in the alley?

I do not live on the same street but I do live in the immediate area.

 

[maamager]

Actually I think it's here - this is north in the alley right before 9th. Unfortunately, if you go any further the street view is from 2019 and the area looks completely different. My guess is the camera is on the tan garage on the right, you can kind of see the gutters and the door to the white house on the left in the video CPD shared. I could be wrong but it looks pretty similar IMO.

i think i have that exact area on video on my drive the other day. here’s the video (it’s not very well done, sorry)

 

[waldojabba]

I'm struggling to figure out where that video even came from. The area looks vaguely familiar but it does not look like it was recorded in the alley directly behind their home.

Editing because I hit enter too fast:

I do find it odd that people would be walking through the alley at that hour, especially in the winter. However, after going back and looking at my Ring footage from the past few weeks, it’s actually more common than I would have guessed. It’s also worth noting that a lot of homes and duplexes in this area don’t have garages but have rear parking, so many residents use the alley and back door as their main entrance.

My brother in Chicago lives in a similar set up - garage in rear alley etc. I have never entered their house from the front door - they always use the rear alley to park in the garage or not, and then enter from the rear. I bet its the same situation here for residents.

JMO

 

[stmichael]

does not fit a good pattern IMO- for a robbery, picking an occupied building, killing people and then not taking anything...there are home invasions, but the invaders (usually multiple) go after some $ or property...

It doesn't and I agree. Which is what makes this case compelling in the news and web-sleuthing.

But it can happen. Kohberger and other cases (the new years even family that left the door open, forget the name now, horrible case in a slew of random home invasions with murder) have reminded us that it does. It's the lack of fitting a pattern here that points to something more random or extravagant. Irrational psychos don't operate in the usual patterns, but we still don't know all the crime scene details and IF anything was attempted stolen or there's any signs of revenge/slight/targeted anger.

 

[academyrd]

That's just such a rare event, and entry was easy for him because of an unlocked door. I don't think that's in play here.

I'm leaning towards them knowing their killer, and this person knowing the code (or some other way to make entry).

But a Kohberger stalker type literally would know his victim inside and out. This is how those people operate. They know the daily routines of someone despite the victim not knowing they exist. Given the house location it’s possible they were being surveilled for long enough that the person figured out a way in the house. Terrifying thought.

 

[Bigditch]

It looks to me like just a guy from the neighborhood walking home after last call from his local bar - confident/comfortable in a walk he has done many times.

It's cold outside and he maybe has no gloves so his hands are in his pockets, with his hoodie up and his eyes to the ground bc of the icy/uneven conditions - he could be a tipsy or not.

If I did not know about the murders I don't think I would not find it suspicious at all .

When I lived in another similar size city and liked to stay out late - I would see guys like this all the time. The local bar where I lived was about four blocks away.

If I were the Tepe's and just getting home I might wait until he was a block away or so to pull into my garage to be on the safe - bc lots of times criminal don't "look" like criminals.

Someone will know who he is for sure.

JMO

I think the hand gesture is a mannerism specific to the person, as someone upthread mentioned, as if brushing hair from their eyes.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

So based on the camera footage the police just released and the lack of more info overall they seem to haveI am leaning to thinking this is the rarer random incident. The history of crime at the park has been well documented.

Long-troubled Weinland Park neighborhood thriving despite tragedy​

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2026/01/03/isolated-slayings-wont-alter-weinland-park-success-residents-say/87993041007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx33p119450c119450d00----v11xx33d--44--b--44--&gca-ft=206&gca-ds=sophi

The footage is, as I thought, very inconclusive with hoodie obscuring face, though a certain gait is displayed.

‘Person of interest’ in mystery murders of Ohio dentist, his wife seen in eerie video released by cops

The person of interest had their head down and their hands in their pockets as they strolled at a calm pace, the surveillance footage showed.

nypost.com

Unfortunately with Ring cameras, and residential CCTV in my experience we get imperfect shots, placement and of course winter in OH, the hoodie/mask combo was to be expected (just like in the many porch pirate videos etc. you often see).

Forensics and crime scene evidence will weigh more heavily and further expanded surveillance requests (they as of yesterday have narrowed the requested window to 2-5am).

There have been several recent residential burglaries nearby in recent weeks, some overnight, per public records.