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

[Cryptic]

Yes, but there would be legal fees to get to that point. Sometimes punishment in itself. Look how this ‘bombshell’ accusation of murder has spread to be discussed as credible on reputable websites like this one.

I understand your good point.

I have no idea what prevents 1A suppression type lawsuits. As you stated they would seem to be a useful tool ala: "I don't like your speech. Here is a defamation lawsuit. Yeah, I know that I will lose. But, I can afford to spend the money to file it- you cant afford the defense."

At the same such opinion based accusations are routine on this forum. Yet.... the Forum has evidently never been sued for defamation. Likewise, defamation based lawsuits appear to be very rare.

I am thinking that they are rare due to a mechanism of some sort. Maybe courts routinely dismiss obvious 1A protected lawsuits out of hand? Or, the plaintiffs in such harassing 1A lawsuits can be counter sued for legal fees and penalties?

 

[ttjo]

Thought so… heard it on those 911 calls .

I posted earlier that you could hear there was some confusion. No idea how that happened? Maybe the address was reported wrong? We will find out soon enough. It sheds some light on why the officer didnt see the bodies.
Here’s the 911 call I was referring to.
Post in thread 'OH - Spencer and Monique Tepe found shot to death at home 2 children unharmed, Columbus, 30 December 2025'
OH - Spencer and Monique Tepe found shot to death at home 2 children unharmed, Columbus, 30 December 2025

 

[Izzylizzy]

dbm

 

[Cassie P]

i was just about to post this. it complicates things now imo. could it be a coincidence? absolutely. how likely is it to be one? i'm not quite sure (i never was very good at probability/statistics, ha)

but i do feel like it kind of opens the possibility of the killer being random/a stranger to them, though i do lean away from that.

MOO

I agree, it bolsters the random/stranger theory.

 

[shonyakay]

It could just be that he was more of a threat.

For example in the Delphi case one victim, Abby, was cut once and the other victim, Libby was cut multiple times. Blood evidence shows Libby was walking through the area in her own blood while Abby appeared to be incapacitated and died where she was found.

Edited to add: My post is in reply to Sadi - who said Spencer was the target and Monique was collateral.

 

[justtrish]

“Now they’re smashing on my door. I think they’re trying to get in. They’re banging on my doors,” the woman told 911 dispatchers.
This was minutes from the Tepe's, December 19, at around 2:30 am.

Neighbor of slain Ohio dentist, wife reported stranger ‘banging’ on door just days before mysterious killings

A neighbor of the slain Ohio dentist and his wife called 911 to report a stranger banging on her door — just days before the couple were found dead.

nypost.com

An area with a History of Violence, despite transitioning.

I've often maintained there is a higher risk in this "upcoming" gentrified area that many dismiss. Yes, living in the city has crime risks but people seem to gloss over the murders in this small area (Weinland Park) over the past few years, the recent string of burglaries and the park right down the street that interviewed neighbors still say has plenty of drug activity (and was where an 8 year old was shot in 2022). Often people let their guard down in an "transitioning area" forgetting that many of those past connections are still there. One of the Tepe's interviewed neighbors said he "hears gunshots all the time", The quote was used by neighbor Chris Micciche to illustrate the prevalent violence in the neighborhood, but he also stressed that he heard "nothing that night or the morning of" the specific incident involving the Tepes. Also there is local resentment to "gentrification" and a divide between the have and have nots.

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=z11xx43p119450c119450d00----v11xx43d--43--b--43--&gca-ft=46&gca-ds=sophi

What surprised me about this call is the 911 operator asking her if she asked the person what they wanted or why they were there. this was 2:30am when most people are sleeping and nobody would be coming to help so that is why she calls the police, who could safely come investigate. It sounded like the person calling was scared and whispering. WHY would she ask the person she was fearful of outside what they wanted? Now that person knows she is inside. It seems very unsafe for her to ask that. IMO

 

[Sadi]

It could just be that he was more of a threat.

For example in the Delphi case one victim, Abby, was cut once and the other victim, Libby was cut multiple times. Blood evidence shows Libby was walking through the area in her own blood while Abby appeared to be incapacitated and died where she was found.

Edited to add: My post is in reply to Sadi - who said Spencer was the target and Monique was collateral.

Yes, I agree with you that Spencer would be more of a threat than Monique.

 

[Sadi]

What surprised me about this call is the 911 operator asking her if she asked the person what they wanted or why they were there. this was 2:30am when most people are sleeping and nobody would be coming to help so that is why she calls the police, who could safely come investigate. It sounded like the person calling was scared and whispering. WHY would she ask the person she was fearful of outside what they wanted? Now that person knows she is inside. It seems very unsafe for her to ask that. IMO

No way would I say anything either. It’s an odd thing the operator said this.

 

[MarcieM]

can you elaborate?

It's a victim friendly forum so I have to watch my tongue but I personally don't believe this was a random attack. I don't even entertain the idea, if I'm wrong though, I'll eat crow. In my mind, an attack like this will somehow lead back to:
-money
-drugs
-love triangle

 

[stmichael]

i was just about to post this. it complicates things now imo. could it be a coincidence? absolutely. how likely is it to be one? i'm not quite sure (i never was very good at probability/statistics, ha)

but i do feel like it kind of opens the possibility of the killer being random/a stranger to them, though i do lean away from that.

MOO

There's been a lot of crime within walking distance of the Tepe's home within the last few years, including murders. There's been a string of burglaries in the area recently. The park down the street is know for drug activity (confirmed by neighbors quotes) and an 8 year old was shot there while the Tepe's were living there (imagine, they were raising their young daughter at the time. Oh, yeah an 8 year old was shot at the park). A neighbor interviewed says he "hears gun shots all the time". I listed a more comprehensive write up of all this with links 2 pages back. So yes a random crime is very much on the radar IMO. I still don't get the glossing over of these factual crimes in this small area which indicate a higher probability of such incidents.

 

[Sadi]

YalI I get swngrz vibes from this couple. I’m sure I’m wrong. Not being judgmental or even saying that they put themselves at risk if they were-not anymore at risk than say divorcing a spouse puts you at risk and it sounds like
M’s divorce was quite amicable.
I don’t think it was a robbery or mistaken identity or house
I do think like many he was targeted. But why:
Financial /business related-I did find it pretty odd the Police were called bc he didn’t show for work and wasn’t answering regardless of the fact they couldn’t reach the wife. I wouldn’t have found the 911 call odd if someone had already stopped by the home and didn’t get an answer at the door. Was being in Florida a coincidence or…
Personal grudge: No ex or kid that I remember reading about-maybe something not known to public yet though
I don’t think someone follows you home and lays in wait after feeling disrespected in traffic or somewhere and shoots you.
Maybe a disgruntled female patient-I say this bc of the male seen on camera. I just don’t see someone shooting you over a dental bill, but other issues someone may take into their own hands. NOT saying ST did anything either but I can factually say I once worked with someone that got themselves in trouble making false accusations such as this.

Interesting, if you don’t mind, can you share what makes you think this?

 

[Cryptic]

I did find it pretty odd the Police were called bc he didn’t show for work and wasn’t answering regardless of the fact they couldn’t reach the wife. I wouldn’t have found the 911 call odd if someone had already stopped by the home and didn’t get an answer at the door.

Though I agree with you that placing a 911 call simply because somebody failed to show up for work is odd in the general sense, this particular person was a medical doctor with scheduled patients. Thus, his failure to show up was more than just "not in his character".

As another poster mentioned, doctors always call when they cant come in for scheduled patients. This probably extends to air line pilots as well. I imagine that some may give uhhmm..... spun explanations ala:

"Hello, I cant come in today. (Coming off a three day bender- Yikes- no, I cant say that). I uhmm..... think I might (key word) have Covid.- showing multiple symptoms- especially the nausea and soreness (Imagine that)".

But, they always call.

 

[ttjo]

More news statement from police chief:

Columbus officer called to perform welfare check at Tepe house originally went to the wrong address, police chief says

Chief Bryant spoke Thursday afternoon for the first time about the deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe.

www.10tv.com

 

[stmarysmead]

I wonder if S kept a gun in the bedroom. It could be someone got into the house, maybe drugged or drunk..walked into their bedroom.

S grabbed a gun out of a bedside table. There’s a struggle. The intruder grabs the gun away, shoots them both…and left with the gun. He may not have even had a ‘motive.”

 

[MesquiteO21]

After reading the news you posted on the 911 call and the 911 call made by a woman down the block 11 days before the murders when she was awakened at 2 :15 am (ish) by someone pounding on her door and the police report saying it stopped at like 2:45 am, no report that and officer had been sent to her home or even canvassed the neighborhood and spoke with her,
So as far as it looks in both cases the dispatcher didn't send an officer to the house.
The crying woman 911 call had a dispatcher who when asked her if there was physical involvement the woman who appears to be on something, visibly upset and crying and slurring her words hesitated to answer him for a noticeable amount of time began crying again as she told the dispatcher "no".
That is a huge red flag in DV cases and he just took her word for it and didn't send an officer.
He didn't even ask for her name.

So an officer going to the wrong house just amplifies incompetence again and it wouldn't surprise me if the dispatcher give her the wrong address.
imo

so they didn't even send an officer to canvass the area after the person had been banging on the woman's door for half an hour??? i thought it was pretty standard procedure to send an officer out for stuff like that? i don't think i've EVER heard of 911 being like oh they left? oh ok case closed *shrug*

That is a huge red flag in DV cases and he just took her word for it and didn't send an officer.
exactly! not sending for that call doesn't make any sense either. as others have pointed out, someone could've been standing right there intimidating her to tell the dispatcher she was fine and an officer wasn't needed. someone should've been sent regardless of what she was saying, that's crazy to me.

MOO

 

[lawyerlurker]

I agree, it bolsters the random/stranger theory.

Also interesting that this incident was another weekday night (late Thursday into Friday). To me that makes it marginally more likely the two incidents are connected than if the prior incident had happened on late Friday or Saturday night, when there are more drunk bar-goers around

 

[Aquabot13]

Right now I'm leaning towards
1. Random killer, possibly meant to rob the place but got spooked/things escalated much further than expected
2. Romantic interest of someone who was staying at the house - maybe the killer was mad that the Tepes provided a way out for his ex?
3. <modsnip: Removed speculation based on no known facts>

 

[Izzylizzy]

so they didn't even send an officer to canvass the area after the person had been banging on the woman's door for half an hour??? i thought it was pretty standard procedure to send an officer out for stuff like that? i don't think i've EVER heard of 911 being like oh they left? oh ok case closed *shrug*

That is a huge red flag in DV cases and he just took her word for it and didn't send an officer.
exactly! not sending for that call doesn't make any sense either. as others have pointed out, someone could've been standing right there intimidating her to tell the dispatcher she was fine and an officer wasn't needed. someone should've been sent regardless of what she was saying, that's crazy to me.

MOO

I deleted the post because in an earlier article I read it didn't contain the audio from the dispatcher and the article just said that "it stopped (banging) at 2:44 am.
So I wrongly assumed (lol) that an officer wan't sent to her house.
I just listened to the audio that was in the article just posted and an officer was sent.

 

[maamager]

oh wow. the reputation of CPD being incompetent isn't going away anytime soon.
MOO

you nailed it. there is a reason the community doesn’t trust CPD, but if this is related, then it’s gloves off. i’ll reserve my rage for confirmation, but i don’t often believe in coincidences when it comes to murder

 

[ttjo]

you nailed it. there is a reason the community doesn’t trust CPD, but if this is related, then it’s gloves off. i’ll reserve my rage for confirmation, but i don’t often believe in coincidences when it comes to murder

I wondered if the “no news” had anything to do with how this was going to be explained ( wrong address) . It had to come out eventually,
Question: how big of an impact will this have since friends entered crime scene?