Tepe Murders Update: Michael David McKee, Vascular Surgeon and Ex-Husband of Monique Tepe, Arrested in Ohio Dentist Killing
COLUMBUS, OHIO — In a major breakthrough that has sent shockwaves through the medical and dental communities across the Midwest, authorities have announced the arrest of Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon, in connection with the brutal double homicide of Monique Tepe and her husband, Spencer Tepe.
For ten agonizing days, the Columbus community waited for answers after the beloved Ohio dentist and wife were killed in their Weinland Park home. Today, the puzzle pieces are finally coming together, revealing a suspect with deep ties to the victims and a professional background that makes the allegations all the more staggering.
The Timeline of a Tragedy: Spencer and Monique Tepe Found Dead
The nightmare began on the morning of December 30, 2025. Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, a respected dentist known for his punctuality and dedication to his patients at Athens Dental Depot, failed to show up for work. By 8:58 a.m., his concerned employer placed the first of several 911 calls, describing the absence as “completely out of character.”
When officers and a family friend eventually entered the home on the 1400 block of North 4th Street, they were met with a horrific scene. Spencer and Monique Tepe were found on the second floor of their residence, both having suffered fatal gunshot wounds. In a detail that has haunted investigators, the couple’s two young children—ages 4 and 1—were found physically unharmed inside the home, having spent hours alone near the bodies of their parents.
The Breakthrough: Tracking the Vascular Surgeon from Illinois
The investigation initially seemed to hit a roadblock, with no signs of forced entry and no weapon recovered at the scene. However, Columbus detectives utilized high-tech surveillance tracking to narrow their search.
Michael David McKee, a practicing vascular surgeon based in the Chicago and Rockford, Illinois areas, became the primary person of interest. Surveillance footage from the Weinland Park neighborhood captured a vehicle linked to McKee arriving just before the estimated time of the murders (between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.) and departing shortly after.
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois took Michael David McKee into custody. He is currently facing two counts of murder and is awaiting extradition back to Franklin County, Ohio.
Who is Michael David McKee?
The profile of the suspect has left many in disbelief. Michael David McKee is not a career criminal but a highly educated medical professional.
- Professional Background: A graduate of The Ohio State University medical school, McKee held active medical licenses in Illinois and California.
- Connection to the Victims: McKee is the ex-husband of Monique Tepe. The two were married in 2015 but divorced in 2017. While the divorce was described as amicable at the time, investigators are now digging deep into the years following their split.
- Ohio Roots: Despite living in Chicago, McKee has deep ties to the Zanesville, Ohio area, where he grew up and played high school football.
Community in Mourning: Honoring the Tepes
As the tepe murders update continues to dominate local headlines, the focus remains on the lives lost. Dr. Spencer Tepe was remembered by his patients in both Ashland and Columbus as an “intelligent, warm, and endlessly welcoming” professional. Monique Tepe, a former educator and devoted stay-at-home mother, was described by her family as a “bubbly and joyful light” in the lives of everyone she met.
A celebration of life and funeral visitation for the couple is scheduled for this Sunday in Upper Arlington, Ohio, as the community gathers to support the two children left behind.
What’s Next in the Case?
While the arrest of Michael David McKee provides a sense of relief, many questions remain—chief among them, the motive.
- Extradition: McKee is scheduled for a hearing on January 12, 2026, to begin the process of returning him to Ohio.
- Legal Proceedings: Prosecutors are expected to present evidence including the surveillance footage and vehicle tracking that led to his arrest in Illinois.
The Columbus dentist killed alongside his wife has left a void in the local medical community that will not soon be filled. As the legal system takes over, the family of Spencer and Monique Tepe has expressed gratitude to the Columbus Police Department for their “tireless efforts” in bringing a suspect to justice.
