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

[JaimeInLA]

Just showed my daughter the video. She just graduated from Ohio State in May and lived on 15th & 4th — 7 blocks away — for the past 2 years.

This is total speculation but she said she sees a man in his mid to late 30s. She said current college age males: 1) wouldn’t wear skinny jeans. The in style cut is straight or wider legs. 2) wouldn’t wear jeans that light. The current style is darker. And 3) would not be out walking alone in that neighborhood between 3 and 5 AM. There aren’t even any bars down that way to walk home from. And if he had been at a High Street bar until closing time, he would’ve been stumbling, which he is not. It wasn’t a popular night of the week to go out. And it was winter break.

So in her opinion, this does not appear to be a random student walking home from a night out on the town. It appears to be a sober 30-something man on a mission.

 

[academyrd]

I am wondering if they actually have better footage, but are releasing this vague imagery to encourage folks to suspect him/turn him in, etc. LE don't always release the best footage they have this early on. They may be trying to get others to recognize the POI enough to raise suspicion and produce more info. MOO

What would be the benefit of this if they actually know who he is? I do agree they have more than this video to lead him to be an official POI

 

[acutename]

Weird, but a couple of weeks ago I had a package stolen off my front porch and my Ring camera never picked up the thief.

did they sneak around a corner and pull it away or something? flash a light at the camera?

 

[Charlot123]

It’s giving Kohberger vibes

It doesn’t give me any vibes but speaking about BK and the way this man walks…

First, I think that the hand gesture is to pull the hood over his head. He is holding his face down, too. Perhaps he wants his face not to be seen by the cameras. Maybe he has curly hair or bangs or something that might look individual. That’s all that is to it.

About the gait. It would be interesting to see if there is a linear crack on the ground or an ice-ground border where he steps. I’d hazard to guess that the gait is normal, his own but not something standing out. But if I were to take the wildest guess, I’d say he doesn’t like to step on cracks in pavement or any irregularities. Some OCDish trait but not extreme and probably not even super noticeable IRL.

He may be 6 feet to 6’2” - he is holding his head down and slightly hunching, too. He is lean but I won’t say, emaciated. Normally thin frame as opposed to “McDonald’s husky” one.

 

[vanessasherenow]

Considering possible motives for a targeted attack.

Money/valuables - none taken? Might a dentist have drugs at home?
Revenge - disgruntled patient? Bad debt?
Threat - business deal in jeopardy, a crime might be exposed?
Jealousy - unknown, but seemingly happy couple
Power - acquaintance or rival feels inadequate?

I am thinking it might be someone who owed the dentist money. Maybe something expensive, the doctor would have recognized him. OR someone he wouldn't/couldn't work on because they couldn't pay (for expensive work). They were in the community a lot, so they were likely recognizable (dr = money). People feel entitled sometimes, to recieve things for free ikyk.

 

[Knox]

Doesn’t seem that way to me. His clothes look pretty casual and those of a younger person. Hoodie, cargo pants or sagging jeans. Someone has to recognize that outfit and those clothes combined with the walk.

Looks like 50% of the male population between the ages of 16-40. There’s just nothing that stands out about him unfortunately. I’m hoping maybe this prompts more people to search their video for someone similar if nothing else. But if he’s not from the area it’s going to be a one and done sighting.

Can they do something with geofencing at that particular time/area?

 

[stmichael]

Regarding the POI walk/gait in the video. A few things to consider. They are walking with their hands in the pockets of the jacket/hoodie (which will effect your walk to more of a waddle) and the street seems in poor shape with snow --so deliberate footing on unsteady ground. They are also hunched over a bit in the hoodie. Unfortunately really undistinguished video.
During the Brown University shooter (were we to witnessed the inadequacy of surveillance) some sleuths ran computer gait analysis.
Also this is just a POI, given the dearth of info this quite possibly could not be the killer of course, but a person that my have been in the area and viewed as a potential witness. When I lived in a major city we'd see dudes like this walking around all the time in the winter, and at all hours. There is nothing from the poor quality of this particular video that stands out to me.

I do believe indicators at the crime scene and forensics may help. How chaotic was the crime scene? We don't know. Was it clinical and professional or anything at all disturbed or sign attempted theft? We don't know other than what the BIL stated, which is not concrete. Police should also know when the electric lock on the door was opened (it's not a keypad from what I saw but a fob style.perhaps remote operated linked to an alarm), if it was unlocked, if there was an alarm any keypad activity there, of course any ring cam footage (front door was equipped). Of course there's the 4 year old and what she may have heard, though tragically this is very tough territory and I feel they may have been tucked away and witnessed nothing. But, the actual inside of the crime scene that we know nothing about and other incidentals are now crucial in such a murder without apparent typical motives/mechanisms.

 

[ivegotcha]

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.

of course, hopefully the police have already checked the bars and taverns in the area with that video ...

 

[Cryptic]

I was wondering if some one saw a flat screen or a PC or some thing else of value through the house windows and thought "I'll just take it," but I still think that most random burglars who want to pawn something are not carrying a gun and killing the home owners

I fully agree. Especially with the emphasis on owners.

Like you, I can see an impulsive "Hmmm....Nice house! Woooah- there is a purse on the table!! Nice house means nice amounts of cash and cards. Even casualware jewelry in the purse is going to be descent And.. nobody looks to be in the room. Ok- its easy. Quietly try the door- get in if I can. Grab the goods and run." type motive.

I can even see such a burglar panic shooting an owner if confronted in the room- then fleeing. But...... I can see such a burglar going through the house and murdering a second victim.

 

[nerosleuth]

Weird, but a couple of weeks ago I had a package stolen off my front porch and my Ring camera never picked up the thief.

It could be possible that the thief used a WiFi jammer to momentarily jam the Ring camera which prevented your Ring camera from recording the thief stealing your package.

 

[OhioGuy]

Combining angle of the camera plus the distance this person was from it, they should be able to give us an approximate height. Not that it would help a ton, this person doesn’t seem to be significantly anything. Not tall, not short, not heavy, not skinny.

Edit to add: agree with others that this person looks hunched over or “scrunched up.” I know when I’m walking in the cold I’m typically shoulders scrunched trying to stay warmer.

 

[stmichael]

I was wondering if some one saw a flat screen or a PC or some thing else of value through the house windows and thought "I'll just take it," but I still think that most random burglars who want to pawn something are not carrying a gun and killing the home owners and then not taking anything. Not a purse, not a wallet, not some electronic device. And I am not convinced that crime connected to street drugs involves picking locks- more like smash and grabs. IMO. Wonder if there was any sign of a confrontation.

Look, there are teenagers on the streets of every major city that carry handguns (9mm in this case being most ubiquitous) at most times including when doing random scores. Many irrational tweakers panic when something goes wrong, shoot and bail, I can recount more cases than I care to remember of something along those lines happening, with a skell killing the victim out of panic during a botched robbery and running away without anything.

 

[Charlot123]

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

Or, there may be a personal code for a workplace computer that some people know.

Few change their code for different devices. If Dr. Tepe was not great with computer system in workplace…I once had a colleague for whom I always had to fix something electronic. To hook back his computer to the router, even. And he had a computer pin. Of course I am not a person to check if one’s pin fits other places, lol, I’m extremely lazy to be that entrepreneurial.

But, some people are not lazy. And relationships in workplaces are different.

 

[livelyfalls]

We know they had a Ring camera but no mention of a security system.

In one of the videos of the front of the home from 10tv you could see a simplisafe sign in the front yard

 

[armchairagatha]

I highly doubt any friend would risk being imprisoned for life by handling a gun to save a deceased friends face.

And yet these friends showed up at the scene before LE. And is it really life imprisonment for taking a gun from a crime scene especially if you know there is no murderer to be found (since he/she is already dead)? Murder-suicide is really Occam's razor to me in this case. Just 3 shots to kill 2 people - I think an outsider would have likely fired more shots (2-3 per person) to ensure they were truly dead. Kids and dog not locked up in their room (at least not that I have heard) but heard/did nothing - which points to mild sedation. Again only something the parents could have done. JMO.

 

[Aquabot13]

And yet these friends showed up at the scene before LE. And is it really life imprisonment for taking a gun from a crime scene especially if you know there is no murderer to be found (since he/she is already dead)? Murder-suicide is really Occam's razor to me in this case. Just 3 shots to kill 2 people - I think an outsider would have likely fired more shots (2-3 per person) to ensure they were truly dead. Kids and dog not locked up in their room (at least not that I have heard) but heard/did nothing - which points to mild sedation. Again only something the parents could have done. JMO.

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that it's possible that the friends/coworkers who initially arrived at the house aren't the same coworkers who were at the office that day. I hadn't thought of that but I do think it makes sense.

MOO

 

[midwesttowest]

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.

Made an account just to reply to you and say I completely agree!!! If you look closely, you can see the two black horizontal industrial bars that are to the left of the doorway as he walks by. You can also see the stone divider and an area to park. I also noticed that it turns into much more old/cracked unfinished pavement at this part (compared to their driveway/garage area) and that’s how I first noticed.

I actually think this is him walking towards the house then actually, which means he must have left in an opposite direction otherwise the camera should have caught him twice?

 

[steeltowngirl]

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.

Were both victims found in the upstairs bedroom?

We have heard no forced entry, nothing appeared missing. I wonder if there was any sign of physical struggle, at all. Defensive wounds on either Spencer or Monique, other injuries, sexual assault?

Was expecting they would have nearby camera video of a car arriving or leaving. But if the killer was on foot, he could have ducked in anywhere and avoided cameras as he left the area.

This case may not get solved as quickly as we hoped.

 

[stmichael]

And yet these friends showed up at the scene before LE. And is it really life imprisonment for taking a gun from a crime scene especially if you know there is no murderer to be found (since he/she is already dead)? Murder-suicide is really Occam's razor to me in this case. Just 3 shots to kill 2 people - I think an outsider would have likely fired more shots (2-3 per person) to ensure they were truly dead. Kids and dog not locked up in their room (at least not that I have heard) but heard/did nothing - which points to mild sedation. Again only something the parents could have done. JMO.

GSR and ballistics would easily prove or disprove this. Police will definitively know this.

If the husband or wife discharged a firearm they would likely know by now and the ballistics/crime scene configuration would also be telling. If they were shot, even from across the room, the forensics/blood spatter, entry & exit wound angle, etc. will tell a different story so the "friend taking the gun" would not cover up a murder/suicide.

edit: btw the crime scene forensics will also be able to tell if they were both laying in bed when shot or if they were upright or one of them upright etc. etc.

 

[Charlot123]

I’m sorry, I should have clarified. I didn’t mean the actual Walking Man from the scene of the Sherman murders. I meant to say that there seems to be another Walking Man at the scene of the Tepe murders. MOO

Ah!

Well, he can be a witness, too. After the “poi” in Brown shooting, who appeared to be the witness, I am never sure.