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

[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.

 

[Bigditch]

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).

If they did have an alarm system, others would likely have their own code. Dog walker, repair man, etc.

 

[moonglow123]

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

I have no familiarity with the area. Is it well-trafficked enough that someone trying to scope out the house, walk by repeatedly, walk in the alley, park there for an extended amount of time etc. wouldn't attract much notice?

If it was a Kohberger type or jilted patient - someone that knew of Monique and Spencer but wouldn't be intimiately familiar with their home - they probably would've had to scope out the house. Especially since they broke in so easily. I wonder if they'd been caught on camera in the area previously.

 

[stmichael]

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.

Not always. The Richmond spree murders (2006) they just walked up to a family with an open door and strolled right in. Did it a few times. Totally random.

There's been other cases. Again they are rare but they happen al the time. Tweakers and mentally unstable people are irrational and given the record this house was down the street from a park frequented by both. They are on a main walkway and relatively busy street in close proximity to that traffic in a nice looking home that seems in my professional opinion a little more style than substance security wise.

 

[stmichael]

If they did have an alarm system, others would likely have their own code. Dog walker, repair man, etc.

No one has my alarm code. I don't know if they had a walker for the golden doodle or if they were lax enough to give a code to repair men. I do know there was crime events in their area that I would not be comfortable being lax with PERSEC around my kids but yes, many are more relaxed with this unfortunately. Heck at that conjecture maybe they just left their doors unlocked.

 

[Inthedetails]

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 recall one time a neighbor was tipsy/drunk and thought our place was his place and attempted to come in our front door. It was a rare occassion when our door was unlocked. It all ended up fine and the encounter lasted a few seconds (and ended with him profusely apologizing)....but I am recalling that situation in this case. Was this perp drunk, thought he was in his house or a friend's house and shot "intruders" he found in the bedroom?

I know that would be far-fetched, but just tossing it on the table to consider.

jmopinion

 

[OhioGuy]

I have no familiarity with the area. Is it well-trafficked enough that someone trying to scope out the house, walk by repeatedly, walk in the alley, park there for an extended amount of time etc. wouldn't attract much notice?

If it was a Kohberger type or jilted patient - someone that knew of Monique and Spencer but wouldn't be intimiately familiar with their home - they probably would've had to scope out the house. Especially since they broke in so easily. I wonder if they'd been caught on camera in the area previously.

It’s pretty well trafficked, both by foot and car. Not to exaggerate, but you could probably walk up and down 4th St in the block their house is on ten times a day and not attract attention.

 

[OhioSleuth614]

I have no familiarity with the area. Is it well-trafficked enough that someone trying to scope out the house, walk by repeatedly, walk in the alley, park there for an extended amount of time etc. wouldn't attract much notice?

I would say that is correct. There are a lot of apartments in the area, including two new large complexes down the street on the corner of 4th and 5th. I live on a street that is less busy than 4th and consistently see new people walking by on a daily basis.

 

[stmichael]

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

Well there have been several murders in that small area in recent years, including stabbings, gun homicides, and a man killed by being bashed with skateboard. I'm not from the area but my colleagues say there is plenty of activity in the actual park at night, and one of the neighbors interviewed (I posted upthread) said the same and even said he's "used to hearing gunshots'.

I am still leaning to some connection, though maybe a distant or passing one.

 

[academyrd]

They were living in a bit of a fishbowl and they didn’t even know it. Again Kohberger vibes for me. But I understand the random tweaker theory as well. My hope is the random tweaker because in some ways that is less horrifying.

 

[armchairagatha]

There is an alternative explanation I can think of - MOO. The kids didn't wake up through the shooting and the dog didn't make a sound. If anyone entered the house in the middle of the night, how could they be sure they wouldn't awaken them even if they were known to the family? But if it is a murder-suicide, the parents could have given the kids and dog a mild sleep medication that would make them drowsy and they would sleep through the night. The only reason everyone is ruling out murder-suicide is the lack of a murder weapon at the scene. But given that some friends appear to have entered the premises before LE (am I right here?) could they have taken the weapon away if they saw one of the Tepes with the gun in their hand? They might have realized what happened (murder-suicide) and to avoid the stigma on the Tepes forever, took the weapon away so LE and everyone else is left looking for a non-existent intruder. JMO.

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

Are people still in the habit of leaving a key with a neighbor? The lack of forced entry makes me wonder…

 

[Gators North]

No one has my alarm code. I don't know if they had a walker for the golden doodle or if they were lax enough to give a code to repair men. I do know there was crime events in their area that I would not be comfortable being lax with PERSEC around my kids but yes, many are more relaxed with this unfortunately. Heck at that conjecture maybe they just left their doors unlocked.

No one has my alarm code except for my stepson, my brother and my best friend, but I trust them.

 

[nerosleuth]

I live in the Columbus area. My thinking is that the victims were targeted and killed by someone that they knew.

Years ago the neighborhood where the victims lived was not a very good area at all.

There used to be a violent street gang known as the Short North Posse operating in that area.

Look up Short North Posse on google and you'll understand how bad that area was.

I just wonder if there are any bars and taverns nearby in that neighborhood on North Fourth Street and on Summit Street in that area.

I do know that in Ohio all bars and taverns are required to close at 2:30 a.m. in the morning.

And some bars may close earlier than the 2:30 a.m. closing time.

It wouldn't be unusual to see someone walking in the alley between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. if they are walking home from a bar.

 

[Gigglingtoes]

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).

I kinda think they have better images/video of this person but have a reason they’re releasing this segment as is. Look at Melodee Buzzards case..they had way more footage of them than they originally shared.

 

[Ghostwheel]

Someone wondered why this might be a poi. As a thought, IF there is something else that tells LE between 2 and 5 am ( example: baby monitor camera feed showing one or both parents changing the youngest at 2 on one end or the like and an alarm that was set for 5 am and not turned off on the other end), and this person just happens to be in the area exactly between 2 and 5 AM, POI might also be presented as this person might have seen or heard something. Remember, POI is not SUSPECT. ( though it could turn out to be)

I'll take "statistics on the likelihood of people walking around in a neighborhood between 2 and 5 am at exactly a time murder took place" for $1000, please.

I hope they were able to stop the garbage and recycling before they were picked up. Great place to drop a gun.

 

[OhioGuy]

There is an alternative explanation I can think of - MOO. The kids didn't wake up through the shooting and the dog didn't make a sound. If anyone entered the house in the middle of the night, how could they be sure they wouldn't awaken them even if they were known to the family? But if it is a murder-suicide, the parents could have given the kids and dog a mild sleep medication that would make them drowsy and they would sleep through the night. The only reason everyone is ruling out murder-suicide is the lack of a murder weapon at the scene. But given that some friends appear to have entered the premises before LE (am I right here?) could they have taken the weapon away if they saw one of the Tepes with the gun in their hand? They might have realized what happened (murder-suicide) and to avoid the stigma on the Tepes forever, took the weapon away so LE and everyone else is left looking for a non-existent intruder. JMO.

I thought about that initially, not that exact scenario of the friend removing it but what if the 4 year old took the gun and moved (effectively hid) it somewhere not even knowing what they were doing. However, by this point I’d think the house has been turned upside down by authorities and the victims were tested for gunshot residue. You could conceivably get rid of the gun in a bunch of ways, but you can’t hide that.

 

[Charlot123]

IMO he’s walking casually and if I saw someone walking on the side of the rd like him it wouldn’t trigger a something is wrong response. I don’t think we can infer anything about his mental health or what occurred, simply that they aren’t panic walking

Eta - not referencing pigeon toed or stance or anything just that he seems calm and collected

I don’t see anything unusual with the gait. It is slightly rolling from the heel to the toes and I’d call the person light-footed. Looks youngish. I’d call them “sure-footed.” Good control of the body posture, ex-athletes have it. The person on the photo doesn’t trigger any concern.

JMO.

 

[armchairagatha]

I thought about that initially, not that exact scenario of the friend removing it but what if the 4 year old took the gun and moved (effectively hid) it somewhere not even knowing what they were doing. However, by this point I’d think the house has been turned upside down by authorities and the victims were tested for gunshot residue. You could conceivably get rid of the gun in a bunch of ways, but you can’t hide that.

Gunshot residue if the trigger was pulled close to the victim? That could have been done by self or someone else, correct? How can they rule out who fired the gun from gunshot residue but no weapon?

 

[N S Sherlock]

Looking at this again, this isn’t the alley directly behind the Tepe’s home. There isn’t room to park a car like the one seen in the video. It’s either further down at the end where the apartments are, or the alley on the other side of the street - I posted a photo of the business that has a camera that points that way.

It’s neither. I have little faith in this video.