Chicago Doctor Charged in Brutal Murder of Columbus Dentist and Wife

COLUMBUS DENTIST MURDER UPDATE: Michael David McKee, a Chicago doctor and ex-husband of Monique Tepe, has been arrested for the murders of Dr Spencer and Monique Tepe.

A multi-state manhunt concluded this weekend as authorities arrested Michael David McKee, 39, for the double homicide of a prominent Columbus dentist and his wife. The arrest brings a sombre sense of closure to a case that has gripped the Weinland Park community since the couple was found slain in their home just before the New Year.

McKee, an ex-husband of the female victim and a practising physician, was taken into custody in Rockford, Illinois, on Saturday, January 10, 2026. He is currently awaiting extradition to Ohio to face two counts of murder.

The Tragedy: A Quiet Morning Shattered

The investigation began on the morning of December 30, 2025, when colleagues of Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, grew concerned after he failed to arrive for his shift at Athens Dental Depot.

• The Discovery: Following a series of frantic 911 calls from friends and co-workers, Columbus police conducted a welfare check at the couple’s home on the 1400 block of North 4th Street.
• The Scene: Officers discovered Spencer and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, deceased on the second floor of the residence. Both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
• The Survivors: In a heartbreaking detail that has resonated nationally, the couple’s two young children—a 4-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy—were found physically unharmed inside the home, having remained there for hours following the incident.

The Breakthrough: Tracking the “Hooded Figure”

For over a week, detectives worked tirelessly to identify a “person of interest” captured on grainy neighborhood surveillance footage walking through a snowy alleyway near the home between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM.

The critical breakthrough came when investigators linked a specific vehicle seen near the scene to McKee. By tracking the vehicle’s movements from Ohio to Illinois, detectives were able to place McKee in the immediate vicinity of the Tepe home at the time of the murders.

Case Snapshot: Key Details

A Community in Mourning

The Tepes were pillars of their local community, known for their warmth and recent celebration of their fifth wedding anniversary on December 13. A GoFundMe established for the children has already raised significant funds for their future care.

“We are heartbroken beyond words,” said Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law and family spokesperson.¹² “They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love. While no outcome can undo this loss, we are committed to seeing this tragedy fully brought to justice.”

McKee’s neighbours in Chicago expressed total shock at the allegations, describing him as a seemingly normal professional who “didn’t seem like someone who would do something like this.”