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

[MSU24]

Commenting on my own post, a robbery could happen at any time of day, but what other reason(s) would be likely for middle of the night? Someone else mentioned a drug deal? Jealously by someone who one of them was involved with? Owed money to someone and they were tired of the delay in paying?

Even if they were buying drugs, which we have absolutely no reason to believe, a drug deal seems very highly unlikely after 2am, when he had to be up for work in 4 hours or less.

Everything still points to it being targeted. The BIL had reason to believe so, police are guarding the family and there's been no community safety alert issued.

 

[Sadi]

Even if they were buying drugs, which we have absolutely no reason to believe, a drug deal seems very highly unlikely after 2am, when he had to be up for work in 4 hours or less.

Everything still points to it being targeted. The BIL had reason to believe so, police are guarding the family and there's been no community safety alert issued.

True, as always, waiting for the answers and announcement of an arrest requires patience, mine is a bit short lately. Hopefully they’re “watching” someone right now.!

 

[Trino]

Stats 2025: Source: getsafeandsound.com

Peak Vulnerability Window: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM accounts for 65% of all residential break ins.

Research consistently shows that approximately 50% of burglars know their victims or live within proximity to targeted properties. Many burglars live within a two-mile radius of their targets.

Seasonal variations significantly impact burglary frequency. Summer months experience 10-15% higher rates.

The average break-in lasts just 8-12 minutes in total, with the actual entry phase completed in under 60 seconds.

• Front doors: 34% of all break-ins
• First-floor windows: 23% of incidents
• Back doors: 22% of entries
• Garage access: 9% of break-ins

 

[Sadi]

Stats 2025: Source: getsafeandsound.com

Peak Vulnerability Window: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM accounts for 65% of all residential break ins.

Research consistently shows that approximately 50% of burglars know their victims or live within proximity to targeted properties. Many burglars live within a two-mile radius of their targets.

Seasonal variations significantly impact burglary frequency. Summer months experience 10-15% higher rates.

The average break-in lasts just 8-12 minutes in total, with the actual entry phase completed in under 60 seconds.

• Front doors: 34% of all break-ins
• First-floor windows: 23% of incidents
• Back doors: 22% of entries
• Garage access: 9% of break-ins

Interesting, thanks for sharing this information.

 

[KMouse]

While this can be true, I don't think it's necessarily applicable in this case. They lived in a house that they could have fairly easily sold for ~$700k which is more than sufficient to buy a place in a more "family friendly" suburb.

How much is the mortgage on the home? The home may be worth $700,000 but they may owe a lot on it. Somebody else mentioned having student loan debt, either him or both of them. Plus add in the cost of children. They likely weren't living large.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Just uploaded

 

[stmarysmead]

The use of a drone is a brilliant suggestion. But that possibility means that ST could have been discovered in the upstairs master bedroom. To my knowledge, we do not know where his wife was found. Were they both sleeping, was she in bed beside him, and was she was shot first…waking her husband who then was shot several times to subdue him?

With the little we know now, it seems the killer was able to just walk into the house in the early morning hrs. Whether targeted or a random burglary attempt, that’s some luck. Surely a hired killer or vengeful enemy would have to have had a plan to get in the house and not just depend on luck or carelessness.

But I also think of the heinous Petit family home invasion. The killers were inside for a long time. Maybe the new timeline is intended to reference when the killer left, not necessarily when he entered.

My guess is the friend used a simple drone to peek inside the upstairs window. Younger generations have them and use them often just for fun, but it’s the first idea that popped into my head if I wanted to look inside windows upstairs.

 

[Parsnip]

What's most strange are the dates on the divorce between the ex and the victim. The divorce was wrapped up in 2017 and this summer, it was reopened? With no children involved, that seems really odd.

The more recent action uses “CUST” as a descriptor. So a custody action, rather than a divorce action? I’m not sure it’s relevant to the double murder, but it’s interesting since the parties claimed no children at the time the divorce began, and the divorce was uncontested and appears to have moved along rather quickly and smoothly.

 

[airportwoman]

I doubt it. The court divorce record states ‘divorce no children’. They were divorced in 2017.

While we're on the subject, does anyone know if Spencer was also previously married?

 

[JaimeInLA]

While we're on the subject, does anyone know if Spencer was also previously married?

He was not.

 

[MSU24]

While we're on the subject, does anyone know if Spencer was also previously married?

He was not

 

[Warwick1991]

The more recent action uses “CUST” as a descriptor. So a custody action, rather than a divorce action? I’m not sure it’s relevant to the double murder, but it’s interesting since the parties claimed no children at the time the divorce began, and the divorce was uncontested and appears to have moved along rather quickly and smoothly.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, at least yet. Maybe it's a typo or category used when the software lacks an adequate description of the situation?

 

[BrownRice]

What's most strange are the dates on the divorce between the ex and the victim. The divorce was wrapped up in 2017 and this summer, it was reopened? With no children involved, that seems really odd.

Maybe they owned joint property and it was recently sold? That could be a completely dumb thought, but can’t think of anything else. Or maybe she had to pay him alimony?

 

[Warwick1991]

DBM

 

[Parsnip]

It doesn't make a lot of sense, at least yet. Maybe it's a typo or category used when the software lacks an adequate description of the situation?

Yeah, idk. Where I live in PA, any action in a case considered “family” involving the same parties will use the same docket number, but the suffix indicates the type of action. For example, 2026-00001-A would mean the first family action involving the two parties in 2026. “A” would mean protection from abuse. We also have “y” for alimony, “d” for divorce, “c” for custody, etc. But the Ohio docket lists all of the cases as “DR.” Domestic Relations. Where I live, “DR” cases are always child support cases and are not linked to family court actions. It’s a stumper, moo.

 

[OhioGuy]

How much is the mortgage on the home? The home may be worth $700,000 but they may owe a lot on it. Somebody else mentioned having student loan debt, either him or both of them. Plus add in the cost of children. They likely weren't living large.

Per the Franklin County auditor, home was purchased in May 2020 for 487k. Rates were in the 3s at that point.

 

[OhioSleuth614]

How much is the mortgage on the home? The home may be worth $700,000 but they may owe a lot on it. Somebody else mentioned having student loan debt, either him or both of them. Plus add in the cost of children. They likely weren't living large.

The house was purchased for $487.5k back in 2020. All of the newer builds in this immediate area are tax-abated, so the monthly payment is lower than similarly priced homes elsewhere in Columbus. Even so, you could easily buy a home at that price point in many of the more “family friendly” suburbs around the city.

 

[Voidz]

I believe it’s a scorned ex who has mental issues. Probably thinks Monique hid money from him or something, hence the recent divorce activity. She probably answered the door because she knew him. If my ex turned up and said “it’s me, open up” through the door; I would open.

I also find it normal how the workplace responded. At my work; we have done welfare checks for less. And it was nowhere near as important as a dentist who had patients to see.

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
OhioGuy !!​

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[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
Voidz !!​