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

[Charlot123]

Last I heard the expression "my man" from a case in Indiana (Delphi). I remember, KA said it about her husband, who became a suspect and finally a convicted double murderer. Hope, I remember well.

Interesting

But to me, it would look like:

- KA might have heard it from her parents and never left the area for her language to evolve

- the term is grammatically correct, just patriarchal. From the 60-es or 70-es. KA had a patriarchal family style.

It could be a “calque” from another language, too, but we have to ask multilingual people if they think it is possible. Definitely not from mine or any Slavic languages, we’d use it only in the context of “he was my first man” but there may be languages where relationships between people may be described in more vague ways, too.

 

[Charlot123]

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

I think we all tend to feel that it was no random. Question is, who of nonrandom people known to the Tepes could fly under the radar?

 

[indicolite22]

Is the BIL getting compensation for releasing photos to the media and for doing media such as the podcast?
Usually photos are credited as “courtesy of the Tepe family” etc - he’s really getting his name out there.

Doing media certainly helped the family's fundraising campaign. He's been promoting it at every opportunity.

 

[Charlot123]

It is from the area of “random crazy neighbors”, but if they were killed in a bedroom, is there any house having their upper floor directly in view when a person uses binoculars/telescope?

 

[FromGermany1]

Interesting

But to me, it would look like:

- KA might have heard it from her parents and never left the area for her language to evolve

- the term is grammatically correct, just patriarchal. From the 60-es or 70-es. KA had a patriarchal family style.

It could be a “calque” from another language, too, but we have to ask multilingual people if they think it is possible. Definitely not from mine or any Slavic languages, we’d use it only in the context of “he was my first man” but there may be languages where relationships between people may be described in more vague ways, too.

I just realized: here in GER it is common to say "my man" instead of "my husband". Saying "my husband" would sound a bit over the top.

 

[clearskies1]

My gut is telling me it's someone in their circle who asked for money/a loan and was told no. Something along those lines. But I've been wrong before....

 

[FromGermany1]

Police Say They've Gotten Multiple Tips About Person of Interest in Ohio Couple's Killing

Monique and Spencer Tepe were killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and no arrests have been made.

people.com

Police are reminding the public to contact them with any tips or information they have.


"Even if you don't think it's something that's relevant in that moment, it may have been something you saw last week," Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at Thursday's briefing. "It may have been something that you saw the day before. It could be relevant to this case."


Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

 

[Cassie P]

I listen to the podcast Police Off the Cuff which shares the perspective of a retired NYPD sergeant, and he scoffed at the notion of a “professional” hitman in general. Saying he never came across one in his whole career. In the context of the mafia and similar, their hit men get away with it just because they only kill each other. Just thought that was an interesting perspective. There are obviously cases of people being hired to kill someone, but like in the case of that professor who was murdered by someone hired, I think it was one or both’s first murder. And they made mistakes and got caught.

Personally, I think a hired hit is less likely in the case of a couple, especially with the children home.

Any professional who says something doesn't exist because they never saw it in practice is foolish. Especially when we all know something actually exists. People have been known to hire other people to commit crimes for them, including murder.

This kind of professional bias makes them less effective because they immediately dismiss possible scenarios before they even evaluate the situation carefully. Their minds are made up from the getgo which makes for very bad problem solving.

He would be more accurate to say something is low probability but keep it on the list to think about. And rule in or out as more data and evidence comes in.

I agree that in the Tepe case it appears at this point to be low probability that a professional hitman was hired. The casings were left at the crime scene. The crime was committed in a crowded urban area where the houses are close together, lots of cameras, etc. Wife and children in the home, etc.

As others have suggested if it was a for hire murder, it was done on the cheap with an amateur. But that would be quite risky.

 

[indicolite22]

Any professional who says something doesn't exist because they never saw it in practice is foolish. Especially when we all know something actually exists. People have been known to hire other people to commit crimes for them, including murder.

This kind of professional bias makes them less effective because they immediately dismiss possible scenarios before they even evaluate the situation carefully. Their minds are made up from the getgo which makes for very bad problem solving.

He would be more accurate to say something is low probability but keep it on the list to think about. And rule in or out as more data and evidence comes in.

I agree that in the Tepe case it appears at this point to be low probability that a professional hitman was hired. The casings were left at the crime scene. The crime was committed in a crowded urban area where the houses are close together, lots of cameras, etc. Wife and children in the home, etc.

As others have suggested if it was a for hire murder, it was done on the cheap with an amateur. But that would be quite risky.

Then you have another extreme where pros find murder-suicide possible, when the victims would have been tested by now for gunshot residue.
I think must pros think in terms of probability.

 

[indicolite22]

It is from the area of “random crazy neighbors”, but if they were killed in a bedroom, is there any house having their upper floor directly in view when a person uses binoculars/telescope?

Even if that were the case, if a door code was used to enter, strangers likely wouldn't have access.

 

[BlaiseFinlay]

Any professional who says something doesn't exist because they never saw it in practice is foolish. Especially when we all know something actually exists. People have been known to hire other people to commit crimes for them, including murder.

This kind of professional bias makes them less effective because they immediately dismiss possible scenarios before they even evaluate the situation carefully. Their minds are made up from the getgo which makes for very bad problem solving.

He would be more accurate to say something is low probability but keep it on the list to think about. And rule in or out as more data and evidence comes in.

I agree that in the Tepe case it appears at this point to be low probability that a professional hitman was hired. The casings were left at the crime scene. The crime was committed in a crowded urban area where the houses are close together, lots of cameras, etc. Wife and children in the home, etc.

As others have suggested if it was a for hire murder, it was done on the cheap with an amateur. But that would be quite risky.

If ever there was a market that could sustain a hit man business, one would think it would be NY. Not knowing of one in 30 years with NYPD Homicide is significant. But to be clear, he wasn’t scoffing at the notion of someone being hired to murder someone. He was scoffing at the “professional” qualifier and the associated expectations. Basically saying the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” type hit men don’t generally exist outside of movies.

Meaning, someone hired isn’t going to have training or vast experience on how to do murders. Those with the experience keep to their own world. So, the fact the shooter made mistakes doesn’t weigh that heavily against the possibility of the murderer being a hired hit man.

But that said, it’s not my favored theory, nor his.

 

[Cassie P]

I’ve followed true crime for a long time and have learned some LE departments are more vocal than others. Some have frequent pressers etc., and some are more tight-lipped. Actually, I wouldn’t be too surprised

RBBM
Could be but imo it’s risky to assume no one is inside at the given timeline 2-5am since imo most people are usually home asleep or getting up to start their day/getting ready for work etc.

Jumping off your post-
I think everything’s on the table since we haven’t heard much from LE. They’re holding things close to the vest so it’s hard to gauge what direction the investigation is going which is frustrating, but I get it. They’re protecting the integrity of their investigation.

I still think this was a personal targeted crime. Either the person with motive did the killing themself, or hired someone to do it (less probable imo).

The Tepes seemed to have had a wide circle of loved ones, friends, colleagues, and if this was indeed personal, imo the field is wide open as to who known to them would have motive to want one or both of the Tepes gone.

IMO some theories are more plausible/probable than others.
One of my theories is it could have been someone who worked for them doing household tasks- housekeeper, babysitter, handyman, dog walker/sitter that might have been holding a grudge over a pay dispute or something else, was resentful and decided to take revenge. Might not be as probable as other scenarios but not totally out of the question.

I do agree with some others that LE should have held a PC to alert the community a killer was at large and to be vigilant, lock your doors, windows etc. It’s disappointing they didn’t in this case and I understand the community being upset about it.

I’ve followed true crime for a long time and have learned some LE departments are more vocal than others. Some have frequent pressers etc., and some are more tight-lipped. Actually, I wouldn’t be too surprised if we don’t hear from LE again until after an arrest is made, ugh.
So, we wait.
Hopefully not too much longer.

IMHOO

ETA-clarification

I agree, assuming no one is at home in a family home in the middle of the night is absurd. Unless they have evaluated the situation beforehand and know the family is out of town.

High probability someone will wake up or be awake especially as the timeline moves towards 5am.

It is risky, given two young children and a dog in the home. A mother of young children is more alert to sounds in the home. One of the home owners is a professional with a long commute and early office appointments.

If you are going to do a night time robbery, less risky to target a home with no children, no dog. Or someone out of town, like one of the neighbors who was not at home the night of the murder.

Most robbers don't want to kill people. It is a business crime of acquiring material goods. Facing life in prison with no parole because you want a small amount of cash doesn't make sense unless there is some serious mental illness or impaired judgement.

And as the timeline gets closer to 5 am it is more risky outside the home as well. People are getting up to go to work and school, people are out and about on the streets and in traffic. The Tepe home is close to Ohio State University with 100,000 students and employees. And a busy medical complex, shops and restaurants. People up early and on the go. The home is close to High Street a major street carrying a lot of traffic. Cameras, witnesses, etc if you are entering and leaving Weinland Park.

 

[ElizaKate]

S&BBM <they were killed in cold blood and 'he' walked down the alley behind the garages like nothing ever happened. that's a 'hit'.>

The CCTV footage shows the POI walking in the direction of the Tepe house. If it is the killer, this would highly suggest the footage is captured before the killings, though this has not been confirmed by LE.

MOO

 

[Cassie P]

I still think this was a personal targeted crime. Either the person with motive did the killing themself, or hired someone to do it (less probable imo).

The Tepes seemed to have had a wide circle of loved ones, friends, colleagues, and if this was indeed personal, imo the field is wide open as to who known to them would have motive to want one or both of the Tepes gone.

IMO some theories are more plausible/probable than others.
One of my theories is it could have been someone who worked for them doing household tasks- housekeeper, babysitter, handyman, dog walker/sitter that might have been holding a grudge over a pay dispute or something else, was resentful and decided to take revenge. Might not be as probable as other scenarios but not totally out of the question.

I do agree with some others that LE should have held a PC to alert the community a killer was at large and to be vigilant, lock your doors, windows etc. It’s disappointing they didn’t in this case and I understand the community being upset about it.

I’ve followed true crime for a long time and have learned some LE departments are more vocal than others. Some have frequent pressers etc., and some are more tight-lipped. Actually, I wouldn’t be too surprised if we don’t hear from LE again until after an arrest is made, ugh.
So, we wait.
Hopefully not too much longer.

IMHOO

ETA-clarification

I agree that it appears to be a personal targeted crime against both S and M. Based on the limited information we have, so it is just a guess at this point.

I think a pay dispute over a relatively small amount of cash in the case of a sitter, or dog walker is lower probability. Committing a double homicide over a small amount of cash is a sign of mental illness and impaired judgement. Possible of course but lower probability.

This person would have most likely displayed this mental illness prior and their family and friends would be aware of it. Making it more likely they would be identified and apprehended.

If I may be forgiven for deviating from my usual professional demeanor and going on a bit of a rant: Yes I think the public and the Tepes deserve more from taxpayer funded public servants in this case. Public servants who have taken an oat to serve and protect.

The mayor and Chief of Police need to get off their duffs, stand up, look the public in the eye and make a few comments. At least act like they give a damn about the Tepes and the public. <End of Rant>

 

[wibbleflea]

If the killer has at least one other person in his household, this time of night may have been the only time available to him to carry out the murder undetected by people close to him. He knew that at this time, the other(s) would be asleep and not know he was out. He knew he would have time to clean up.

If that’s the case, it might explain why both the adults in the house were killed, rather than just one – MT & ST were both in the room and he couldn’t leave a witness.

It’s also possible that the killer’s partner, if he has one, knows what happened and what the grievance was. It could be that the partner supports the killing.

All this assumes that the killer is someone close to the Tepes.

 

[Cassie P]

i don't care if the parents' room was locked or not, if ST was on or off the bed, what time the 911 calls and the responders' stories jive/don't jive. they were killed in cold blood and 'he' walked down the alley behind the garages like nothing ever happened. that's a 'hit'. and nothing i've found in their finances (not to be posted, against sleuthing relatives) suggests any super-wealth or super-debt to say this was money-related...

and as i said in my first post on this thread in reaction to the perp caring about the children, well...'he' didn't care at all or 'he' wouldn't have shot their parents. hence a hired hit.

For someone to kill others in a premeditated, planned way and to be cool and calm about it does not mean it is a hired hit.
It would fit the profile of narcissists and sociopaths.

 

[fcavanaugh]

Police Say They've Gotten Multiple Tips About Person of Interest in Ohio Couple's Killing

Monique and Spencer Tepe were killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and no arrests have been made.

people.com

Police are reminding the public to contact them with any tips or information they have.


"Even if you don't think it's something that's relevant in that moment, it may have been something you saw last week," Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at Thursday's briefing. "It may have been something that you saw the day before. It could be relevant to this case."


Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

IMO it’s a little concerning the POI on video hasn’t come forward yet, and seems the tips r/t said POI haven’t led anywhere either as of yet.

This case has been all over the local and national news, across the Internet, showing the POI video clip. The person either doesn’t watch the news/is oblivious to current events, or lives under a rock.

Or they know LE are looking for them but afraid to come forward due to possible warrants out for their arrest and don’t want to go to jail, knows who the killer is and doesn’t want to turn them in, doesn’t like cops or dealing with them. Afraid LE might try to pin the crime on them if he talks to them. There may be other reasons but those are just a few off top of my head.

Obviously they wouldn’t come forward to LE if they are the killer.
I’ll eat my hat if that happens.

I’m sure LE are poring over surveillance to see if they can track more of the POI’s movements from before and after the alleyway near Tepes residence.

What worries me if it goes much longer, if the POI is the killer, they potentially could go into hiding or already has, are on the run/left the state etc., or god forbid, committed suicide somewhere. I hope not but we have seen it happen before in other cases.

Hope LE apprehends the perp whomever they are, sooner than later.

IMHOO

 

[Cassie P]

Then you have another extreme where pros find murder-suicide possible, when the victims would have been tested by now for gunshot residue.
I think must pros think in terms of probability.

I am trained as scientist and clinician. The training is to think in terms of probability based on data and evidence. Data tells you the truth and you stick close to your data. You make a list with high probability theories on top of the list, lower probabilty theories on the bottom. You move the theories up and down the list as more data comes in.

Yes of course the M/S theory is most likely on the bottom of the list now or thrown of the list entirely due do quite a bit of available crime scene evidence. Blood splatter, bullet trajectory, gunshot residue, position of bodies, location of casings, etc etc.

 

[stmarysmead]

It has been said (Shakespeare) that after death, ‘the good is oft interred with our bones.’ I see the opposite. NO one wants to speak ill of the dead, especially the tragically dead.

But all these victims in all these cases were human. Good days, bad days, impatient moments, irritated moments. These two were certainly well-loved individuals, but there could be a person who saw a different side to them, to one or the other of them, even if it were just for one moment or one time. ‘I babysat for them one time, and that Rich B argued with me about my pay.” Sometime seemingly random and silly like that.

But it festered…every time they walked past that expensive house while they struggled in their own life. Especially when high or drunk.

These are things no one will remember hearing from the victim, no victim repeats to friends, just the normal irritations of life…unimportant to the victim…greatly important to the unhealthy mind of the killer.

It was posted upthread that the local school has 100% of its children living below poverty level. Yet, we have this beautiful SAHM in the neighborhood, perhaps walking her babies in an expensive stroller back to her $700,000 home. Observed by an unhealthy mind, on a regular basis, the stark disparity to their circumstances can be a motive in itself.

All they needed to act on their festering anger was opportunity. A tidbit of information overheard, or just the luck of an unlocked door.

Not a quick and easy case for the police if these are anything like the circumstances.

 

[steeltowngirl]

My gut is telling me it's someone in their circle who asked for money/a loan and was told no. Something along those lines. But I've been wrong before....

I considered that also, but it seems that type of murder would happen during an actual argument where a person asking for money is refused, gets angry, and pulls a trigger. Done in an emotional state.

Killing the Tepes in bed in the middle of the night would serve no purpose if the end game was to get their money, unless the perp somehow was to benefit from their death (insurance, estate, etc.) Otherwise, killing them in revenge after already being denied money only adds to the person's issues - now they are also wanted for murder.

I get that murderers may not be acting logically, but this particular murder feels more planned and thought out.

JMO