At a Glance
- Michael McKee, 39, an Illinois vascular surgeon, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his ex-wife Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband Spencer Tepe, 37.
- A weapon believed to be the murder gun was seized from McKee’s Rockford, Illinois property after his arrest 400 miles from the crime scene.
- The couple’s children, unharmed, were found crying in the home on Dec. 30 after worried friends discovered the bodies.
- Why it matters: The case highlights the lethal risks of domestic violence and the challenges of protecting victims even after divorce.
A late-December double homicide in Columbus, Ohio, has led to the arrest of a vascular surgeon 400 miles away, after police traced a suspected murder weapon to his Illinois property and placed his vehicle near the victims’ home on the day of the killings.
Michael McKee, 39, was taken into custody Saturday in Rockford, Illinois, and charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband, local dentist Spencer Tepe, both found dead in their Columbus residence on Dec. 30.
The Crime Scene
Friends and co-workers grew alarmed when the couple failed to appear for scheduled appointments. One friend stopped by the house, peered through a window, and saw Spencer Tepe lying in a pool of blood beside his bed. The 911 caller could hear the couple’s two young children crying in another room; neither child was physically harmed.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told News Of Fort Worth there were no signs of forced entry, indicating the killer likely had access or was let inside. Surveillance footage captured McKee’s vehicle near the home “just before the murders,” Bryant said, cementing investigators’ belief the attack was targeted.
The Weapon and Arrest
Following McKee’s arrest, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seized multiple firearms from his property. Bryant confirmed one weapon is “thought to be the murder weapon,” though ballistic results are pending. McKee, listed as a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, is being held at the Winnebago County Jail pending extradition to Ohio.
Domestic Violence History
Court records show McKee and Monique married in 2015 and divorced two years later, citing “incompatibility.” Family members say the couple lived together only seven months. Rob Misleh, Spencer Tepe’s brother-in-law, described McKee as emotionally abusive, stating Monique “had to leave the relationship so abruptly… because she was so worried.”
Columbus police had no prior calls or reports involving McKee at the Tepe residence, which the couple purchased in 2020. Bryant classified the shootings as “a domestic violence-related attack,” but declined to discuss a precise motive to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.
Legal Next Steps
McKee appeared Monday in an Illinois courtroom represented by a public defender who said his client plans to plead not guilty. Once extradited to Columbus, he will face formal charges and possible additional counts related to firearm specifications.
Community Impact
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther emphasized the tragedy’s toll: “We have two little children who have lost their parents, a family that will never be the same.” He urged residents to keep the family in their prayers as the judicial process unfolds.
Key Takeaways
- A single firearm recovered in Illinois may tie McKee directly to the double homicide.
- The absence of forced entry and the timing of his vehicle near the home form the backbone of the prosecution’s case.
- Despite a brief marriage and no documented threats post-divorce, the history of alleged emotional abuse underscores the enduring danger domestic violence victims can face.
