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

[Fromeaster]

I was personally very surprised by people's logic. Maybe it's some psychological thing, when a person lives in an environment where they don't care about each other and are distant from others. Maybe they find it strange that someone could be looking for them.

 

[keek]

Iin truth, we all have different experiences in life. My supervisor would also send out a check if I didn't show up. (in fact, that is how a person who commited suicide was found in our company). It depends on the rules of the company, how close people are at work, etc. Some places I have worked at were "Didn't show up? Fired." Others are like where I work now.

But weird to check on someone who always shows up and didn't show up? Not to me. But for those who don't understand, it's not uncommon, just may not be your experience. MOO, as always.

100 percent correct.

 

[Little Jack]

So in your clinic

I want to make sure I understand what you are saying as I think it is important to this case.

Are you saying that in dental clinics if an employee is late to work, at the one hour mark you would call 911 in a panicked state and drive an hour and a half to do a wellness check?

I am not disputing your comments. Every profession has a different style and personality.

It is just odd even to those of us who have worked in other kinds of medical clinics and have patients also waiting in a waiting room for clinicians to show up. We might begin to get worried at the three hour mark but we would assume a car accident or family emergency. I am not sure a group of staff would get into a car to drive an hour and a half away. This leaves the clinic even more understaffed and possibly put them in harm's way driving in winter weather, etc.

We might try to call a family member of the employee. The parents or siblings, etc. Most co-workers are aware of family members. Then call the police non emergency line. Someone might stop by the house later that day.

I think most employees would be taken aback if they were one hour late to work for a family emergency and 911 was called and co workers and the boss rushed to their home.

Edit to add: I am not being judgmental, just trying to understand the clinic dynamics as it pertains to this case. As I said, every profession has its idiosyncratic traits.

Yes. I am saying, as a dentist, if one of my other docs did not show up for work, was unreachable, their partner was also unreachable and no accidents had been reported we would be extremely concerned for their wellbeing and call the police/ send someone to check their home.

In fact as I said above we literally did just that for a hygienist recently.

I would hope my coworkers would do the same for me. We are not late and we do not miss work without letting anyone know. It simply isnt done.

If that is happening in practices you've had experience with im extremely surprised. A doctor simply not showing and not notifying anyone while patients wait? Unheard of in my world.

 

[academyrd]

Yes. I am saying, as a dentist, if one of my other docs did not show up for work, was unreachable, their partner was also unreachable and no accidents had been reported we would be extremely concerned for their wellbeing and call the police/ send someone to check their home.

In fact as I said above we literally did just that for a hygienist recently.

I would hope my coworkers would do the same for me. We are not late and we do not miss work without letting anyone know. It simply isnt done.

If that is happening in practices you've had experience with im extremely surprised. A doctor simply not showing and not notifying anyone while patients wait? Unheard of in my world.

It’s not so much about not showing up. It’s about calling 911 after just 1 hour. That just seems like a big decision… it’s probably nothing. But we don’t have a lot to go off of right now

 

[OhioGuy]

It’s not so much about not showing up. It’s about calling 911 after just 1 hour. That just seems like a big decision… it’s probably nothing. But we don’t have a lot to go off of right now

An hour is an eternity for a surgeon and someone you 100% know lives with that surgeon to be unreachable during a scheduled work day.

 

[sunflowermomma]

If only the dispatcher had done their job properly and not been rude as hell and dismissive to the callers - and determined there were babies in that house during these calls.

What did the dispatchers do incorrectly in this situation? They dispatched officers who showed up at the house multiple times when they were called. There is policy that must be followed.

 

[Kemug]

LE would have gone through the garbage, and this should have told them about the previous evening's meal. ie did they have takeout, or did they have a home-cooked meal? Did it seem like there had been an extra person there? Extra plates? If none of these, then maybe they went out to eat.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

Yes. I am saying, as a dentist, if one of my other docs did not show up for work, was unreachable, their partner was also unreachable and no accidents had been reported we would be extremely concerned for their wellbeing and call the police/ send someone to check their home.

In fact as I said above we literally did just that for a hygienist recently.

I would hope my coworkers would do the same for me. We are not late and we do not miss work without letting anyone know. It simply isnt done.

If that is happening in practices you've had experience with im extremely surprised. A doctor simply not showing and not notifying anyone while patients wait? Unheard of in my world.

My husband is a surgeon and this spot on how the medical field operates. You don’t just not show up.

 

[Bigditch]

What did the dispatchers do incorrectly in this situation? They dispatched officers who showed up at the house multiple times when they were called. There is policy that must be followed.

I did not hear the 911 call because I did not know the source link that was posted. Is there a transcript?

 

[Bigditch]

To be fair, most professionals (not just whitecoats) take their jobs seriously. Let's move on.

 

[sunflowermomma]

I did not hear the 911 call because I did not know the source link that was posted. Is there a transcript?

Not sure about a transcript, but at least one recorded call is in this video, as well as a timeline of 911 calls:

 

[Sadi]

I think it is completely weird that people think it is weird that they were worried and called. My employer would be calling me within 5 minutes of being late, and begin calling my emergency list within 15- 30 minutes if I had not called in, or they had not heard from me.

Any professional who sees clients, or is responsible for other people, cannot just not show up for work. I couldn't believe the ignorance of the 911 dispatcher on that call. Maybe service workers, a hairdresser, a waitress, cashier, janitor etc could get away with not showing up, but to think a small office of professionals, who know each other well, would NOT be alarmed is the stranger thing to me.

Totally agree with you!!

 

[Bigditch]

Not sure about a transcript, but at least one recorded call is in this video, as well as a timeline of 911 calls:

Not sure about a transcript, but at least one recorded call is in this video, as well as a timeline of 911 calls:

Thank you. I did not hear the 911 operator on that call.

 

[sunflowermomma]

Thank you. I did not hear the 911 operator on that call.

I don't think it's been released. But they called around 9, the police got there at 9:22, and came back after the second call with more info just after 10:00. That tells me that the dispatcher and police both did their jobs, dispatching and showing up at the calls in a timely manner - all IMO. Unfortunately the police can't enter without a warrant and needed the additional information about seeing one of their bodies in order to enter. JMO.

 

[Sleuthingstylist]

Totally agree with you!!

I agree. However, with all due respect, I am a hairstylist and disagree with being able to get away with not showing up for work. Anyone who is counted on to provide a service to a client is going to be noticed when they haven't shown up for the appointment.
I also feel the other dentist who mentioned being on vacation on the 911 call probably mentioned that because it was another huge reason ST would've let someone know he was running late knowing he most likely had a packed overloaded schedule with the other dentist away from the office.

 

[Bigditch]

I don't think it's been released. But they called around 9, the police got there at 9:22, and came back after the second call with more info just after 10:00. That tells me that the dispatcher and police both did their jobs, dispatching and showing up at the calls in a timely manner - all IMO. Unfortunately the police can't enter without a warrant and needed the additional information about seeing one of their bodies in order to enter. JMO.

Totally makes sense. I was responding to someone saying dispatch was rude. Mustn't have been that 911 call.

 

[OhioGuy]

My understanding of 911 operators is, if not explicitly stated, to be ‘cold.’ That doesn’t mean they’re rude or have no empathy, but they need to be detached and get the what and where from the caller as clearly and concisely as possible so that the appropriate professionals can respond. It isn’t uncommon to hear 911 calls in these cases that become high profile and think “damn, they didn’t even care!” when in reality all the routine calls that never get aired publicly are the same.

 

[ttjo]

The houses do appear close enough to see in each other's windows.

But they are reflective I noticed it because it looked nice.
You would have to get close enough to see in, literally put your hand between your face and the window) . The basement ones you can get close enough to see in. Is the backyard window where the room would be? Looks like it might be from the Zillow pics. Easy to get in the yard. If the gate isn’t locked.
In one of the redfin/ Zillow pics you can see the gate, to the right if you are facing the front of the house. The police officer managed to get through to the back.
As well, there were motion detectors inside the house in those pics also hoping they worked and were monitored. They will call the company listed on the sign on the front lawn and check it out.

 

[academyrd]

My understanding of 911 operators is, if not explicitly stated, to be ‘cold.’ That doesn’t mean they’re rude or have no empathy, but they need to be detached and get the what and where from the caller as clearly and concisely as possible so that the appropriate professionals can respond. It isn’t uncommon to hear 911 calls in these cases that become high profile and think “damn, they didn’t even care!” when in reality all the routine calls that never get aired publicly are the same.

The 911 operator was horrible. Should be fired. Listen to the calls if you don’t believe me

 

[Fromeaster]

I wonder if the gun was silenced, it's unclear if the neighbors heard anything. The houses are so close to each other, it's quiet at night, so someone should have heard.