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

[Cassie P]

As I described or multiple other ways

Bullets trajectory exiting one person into another asleep on their back ?

Side sleeping , close range ?

Back sleeper shot from side angle ?

Person turning / running etc as trigger is pulled

List is endless

So the victim would not necessarily have to be prone. But could be standing and running?
Why would a killer do the one possibility, shooting a sleeper deliberately from a side angle?

 

[steeltowngirl]

I understand. I was thinking simmering anger and resentment at their lifestyle and decision not to help. Murder is usually not logical. But I get your point.

I see your point too, on the simmering anger and resentment.

The murder seems so calculated and cold, killing them in bed. At first glance, it's easily explained as a surprise attack where they’d have no chance to fight back. At the same time, killing them in their own bedroom also seems so very personal - emotional, more emotional than money. Jilted ex. Random lunatic stalker. Someone angry on a deeply personal level.

I'm feeling that the murders were less about what someone had to gain, and more about revenge for what someone perceived as a deep and personal loss.

JMO

 

[armchairagatha]

Prehaps the friend was an emergency contact for Spencer

A lot of jobs / schools like to have at least two emergency contacts in the event one can not be reached.

I have 3 different emergency contacts

That makes sense. But in that case, why not just have that friend look them up to do the welfare check since they were able to reach them? Doesn't it seem excessive to also send the coworker's husband to look them up? The female coworker panicked - in addition to her boss already calling 911, and the friend/emergency contact driving over to check, she also sent her husband to check on them. Now, is there a specific reason she panicked? Did she have any information that told her that the Tepes were probably in danger and or dead? Beyond just the fact that he was late to work.

 

[su5ie]

So the victim would not necessarily have to be prone. But could be standing and running?
Why would a killer do the one possibility, shooting a sleeper from a side angle?

Idk ,sideways into the heart from close range would blast the organ open so no chance of survival whereas frontal shot might only injure one ventricle/ chamber and person might survive

I'm not really up on the workings of shooting and bullet ballistics prehaps someone with more knowledge could answer it better

 

[su5ie]

That makes sense. But in that case, why not just have that friend look them up to do the welfare check since they were able to reach them? Doesn't it seem excessive to also send the coworker's husband to look them up? The female coworker panicked - in addition to her boss already calling 911, and the friend/emergency contact driving over to check, she also sent her husband to check on them. Now, is there a specific reason she panicked?

I have felt since the story broke that Spencer had confided something that was troubling him even if only mildly

Prehaps the friend was rang as he was someone the kids would recognise if something was wrong

And as a very astute poster pointed out it possibly turned out to be a saving grace for two small children

 

[Sadi]

That makes sense. But in that case, why not just have that friend look them up to do the welfare check since they were able to reach them? Doesn't it seem excessive to also send the coworker's husband to look them up? The female coworker panicked - in addition to her boss already calling 911, and the friend/emergency contact driving over to check, she also sent her husband to check on them. Now, is there a specific reason she panicked? Did she have any information that told her that the Tepes were probably in danger and or dead? Beyond just the fact that he was late to work.

I’ve read that the kids went to daycare, but then Monique was a stay at home mom. Maybe the daycare tried contacting them wondering if the kids were going to be there that day? Maybe they called the dental office to ask Spencer?

 

[armchairagatha]

I’ve read that the kids went to daycare, but then Monique was a stay at home mom. Maybe the daycare tried contacting them wondering if the kids were going to be there that day? Maybe they called the dental office to ask Spencer?

It was still fairly early in the day (9 am or earlier when the first 911 call went through from the dental office owner) - I doubt the daycare would have worried too much that early.

 

[armchairagatha]

I have felt since the story broke that Spencer had confided something that was troubling him even if only mildly

Prehaps the friend was rang as he was someone the kids would recognise if something was wrong

And as a very astute poster pointed out it possibly turned out to be a saving grace for two small children

was it just a lucky coincidence that the children were rescued that early or did the murderer plan it such that it would definitely happen and they would be rescued soon after the murders. The baby was just a year old and helpless in a crib. Would have become dehydrated and worse if the rescue didn't happen that day. MOO.

 

[Cassie P]

Idk ,sideways into the heart from close range would blast the organ open so no chance of survival whereas frontal shot might only injure one ventricle/ chamber and person might survive

I'm not really up on the workings of shooting and bullet ballistics prehaps someone with more knowledge could answer it better

I was trying to figure out how things unfolded and the killer's thought process.
The one scenario you describe requires a more sophisticated knowledge of human anatomy and more experience in commiting the crime of murder.

 

[Sadi]

I can understand the owner of the dental practice calling 911, but why did 2 friends of ST's also show up at the scene? I think out of the 3 males, one was a co-worker's husband and the other two were his friends (or maybe one was a neighbor?) Did the dental practice call the friend as well after they couldn't reach the Tepes? Or did the friend receive a tip (anonymous or otherwise) that told him the Tepes were in grave danger and/or dead?

Maybe Spencer shared something of concern to his friend/close office friends and it caused him/them great concern. He could have been followed recently, verbally threatened and felt unease. Maybe he didn’t want to cause fear for Monique and kept it from her.

 

[Sadi]

It was still fairly early in the day (9 am or earlier when the first 911 call went through from the dental office owner) - I doubt the daycare would have worried too much that early.

Depends on what the typical drop off time was, if more than an hour and no phone call made to say they’re going to be late, it might raise concerns.

 

[armchairagatha]

Maybe Spencer shared something of concern to his friend/close office friends and it caused him/them great concern. He could have been followed recently, verbally threatened and felt unease. Maybe he didn’t want to cause fear for Monique and kept it from her.

These are questions to which the Police now have answers since I am sure they have questioned all the involved parties in that emergency "rescue" operation that day very thoroughly. I think after the funeral and once the Police wrap up the evidence collection they need in this case, we will hear a lot more from them.

 

[su5ie]

was it just a lucky coincidence that the children were rescued that early or did the murderer plan it such that it would definitely happen and they would be rescued soon after the murders. The baby was just a year old and helpless in a crib. Would have become dehydrated and worse if the rescue didn't happen that day. MOO.

I suppose one could hypothesis a number of reasons

Didn't know kids were in the home if random stranger

If known killer didn't think that far ahead or didn't care or knew spencers job would be on alert quickly

I am not ruling out any theory but with what we have been told I do think it is someone known to the couple or just known by one of them . Motive I'm unsure because it could be anything that causes resentment, anger ,rage ,jealousy in someone willing to kill .

I don't think the couple gave off an image that they were living a rich lifestyle. Yes older doctors ,dentists etc might have reached a point in their career that affords a lavish lifestyle but this couple still had a large mortgage and Spencer probably had student debt still looming over his head .

For the first couple of years of starting a business or partnership money is not really free flowing if you want it to be a success . Loans are being repayed to raise your credit rating, you reinvest and pay for seminars and courses to improve your skills etc .

 

[Sadi]

These are questions to which the Police now have answers since I am sure they have questioned all the involved parties in that emergency "rescue" operation that day very thoroughly. I think after the funeral and once the Police wrap up the evidence collection they need in this case, we will hear a lot more from them.

I totally agree with you.

 

[Butterscotch29]

The press conference didn’t give the public any new information, really, so it’s tempting to be disappointed by it.

However, I didn’t get the impression that the police are struggling to gather evidence or to identify a suspect. I think “we don’t have a suspect” was an outright lie, to not spook the suspect. I think they do have a suspect, and they’re working ‘round the clock to assemble the evidence and plan the arrest.

The police clearly are not asking for the public’s help, nor do they seem concerned that there’s a random murderer the public might be in danger from. I got the impression that the police HAVE a lot of information and knowledge about the Tepe murders but simply can’t share it with the public because it’s premature and it would compromise the case.

Of course, I could be wrong. I can’t really explain why the press conference gave me hope… it’s just a feeling. The police’s job isn’t to keep the public informed about all the details of a case just to satisfy our curiosity, or to confirm or deny internet rumors. Their job is to identify and catch a murderer and document the evidence in a way that can lead to his conviction in court. Withholding information from the public can be a crucial part of that, and/or giving the public partial or even misleading information. It might make it easier for them to apprehend the suspect if he sleeps well at night because he heard the police say on TV that they don’t have a suspect!

I agree. I know many were disappointed but I came away with a different impression more in line with what you say above.

 

[MntnHiker]

Although it is strange and unnerving that ten days prior to this homicide, someone down the street had banging on their door at 2:30 AM, I tend to lean towards coincidence. If it is NOT a coincidence, then IMO, that means that S & M's murders were not targeted. If the killer wanted to kill them specifically, why bang on another neighbor's door in the middle of the night ten days prior?

Let's say it wasn't targeted for them specifically. I still don't see how a door banging down the road would then turn into the person coming back to this same street and ostensibly deciding to forego the knocking and just break in to a different house. IF the person who killed S & M did in fact also bang on their door first, it's odd to me that they would have been found in the upstairs bedroom, and it also would mean they would have been willing to open the door to someone banging on it in the middle of the night. Probably unlikely IMO. Having said all that, of course it's good to check into the other incident and maybe now in light of this double murder, they were able to go back to the other incident and find some Ring footage from the area of who the door-banger was and if they look at all like this POI they have on footage for the murders.

Speaking of area footage, I know the police have specifically asked for people to turn in footage from 2-5 AM the morning of the murders. I think it also would be useful to look at days prior. If this was targeted, it's possible the murderer has been on the street casing the place beforehand. Figuring out comings and goings, the family's typical timeline of when Spencer got home from work, what time the lights went out to go to bed, how often they have guests staying over, etc. You might be able to get better footage of a suspicious person during daytime hours or from a different camera. MOO

 

[ivegotcha]

Watching Fugitive TV and his reporting on this is quite interesting ... this is from this mornings report...

 

[Deleted member 372710]

It was still fairly early in the day (9 am or earlier when the first 911 call went through from the dental office owner) - I doubt the daycare would have worried too much that early.

This is all just me speculating, but at age 4 the daughter was likely in preschool rather than daycare. A lot of preschools have a winter break that loosely follows the public school system, so maybe her school wasn’t in session. Again, just a thought!

 

[turaj]

Obviously, the police know way more than released. That is to be expected.

For whatever reason, IMO it seems there may be MUCH more that the public does not know. It seems their circle of family, friends, coworkers are mostly educated, community centered, middle to upper middle class people. The sadness from them is obvious, devastatingly sad, expected and normal. It seems this act truly left an emptiness in all of their worlds. The one thing that has stood out to me, that feels different than other high profile cases- I have not seen that sense of urgency and anger. It’s almost like there is not an “unknown” double murder suspect on the loose who murdered them while their children were just across the hall. There is not public outrage that this suspect is “unknown” and out there somewhere.

They have a LOT of friends. The tributes are so sad, so touching. So many times we see the rage, the plea for the public to help and give information, the anger at their loved ones being taken away. The public expression of wanting it solved and an arrest made. The questions of WHY, being publically asked.

It almost feels like there is a calm, quiet, sadness like they know way more than we do. Like there isn’t a manhunt but just a wait for information to be released. Like they have already know and have processed what we don’t.

I cannot explain it more. Just something that seems different than other “unsolved” crimes.

I don't think this was random...it was someone that knew how to get in the house with the code. This young couple despite having 2 children seem to have lots of adult parties that go into the night....codes might be given out for access. There was that 911 call from a distressed woman (not Mo) at 2something in the morning. Odd for a couple like the Tepes. I think it is someone that was not happy with one or. both of them that knew the home and code. I myself would not live in that area with children but don't think you will find that has anything to do with this crime. Also cannot rule out the previous dental clinic that he left. Seems lots of fraud with that clinic and who knows what all of that was about. Life is not as perfect

 

[turaj]

This is all just me speculating, but at age 4 the daughter was likely in preschool rather than daycare. A lot of preschools have a winter break that loosely follows the public school system, so maybe her school wasn’t in session. Again, just a thought!

Mo was stay at home mom and it was holidays with schools...day c are etc. probably closed.