Additional Coverage:
- Man accused of killing ex-wife and her dentist husband in Ohio has murder charges upgraded (nbcnews.com)
Murder Charges Upgraded for Man Accused in Columbus Double Homicide
Columbus, OH – Michael David McKee, 39, now faces intensified legal challenges as he is expected to be extradited from Illinois to Ohio, where he will be prosecuted on upgraded murder charges. McKee is accused of the premeditated aggravated murder of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer Tepe, 37, in Columbus.
Franklin County court records indicate that McKee, who was arrested in Illinois on Saturday, will face two charges of premeditated aggravated murder. The couple was discovered deceased in their Columbus home on December 30, both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Their two young children were found unharmed at the residence.
Rob Misleh, Spencer Tepe’s brother-in-law, expressed the family’s shock to NBC News, stating that they “quickly believed” McKee was involved. Misleh described McKee as an “emotionally abusive person” during his marriage to Monique Tepe. While acknowledging that no action can undo the loss, Misleh previously stated that McKee’s arrest signifies “an important step toward justice.”
McKee appeared in court Monday in Winnebago County, Illinois, wearing a yellow jail suit and glasses, with his hands and feet chained. Represented by Public Defender Carie Poirier, McKee intends to plead not guilty and has waived extradition, hoping for a swift transfer to Ohio. He remained silent during the brief hearing, only speaking to confirm his name to the judge.
Monique and Spencer Tepe were married in January 2021 in Columbus. In her wedding vows, Monique Tepe spoke of her journey to find Spencer, stating, “I had quite a journey to get to you, countless bad Bumble dates, wrong relationships and waterfalls of tears, but it was worth every cringing second because it led me to you.”
The couple’s deaths are believed to have occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30. They were found later that day after friends and colleagues grew concerned when Spencer Tepe, a dentist, failed to report to work.
A 911 call around 10 a.m. reported seeing a body and blood inside the home. The county coroner’s report has indicated homicide as the apparent cause of death, pending finalization.
McKee and Monique Tepe divorced in 2017 after two years of marriage. Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the attack. Columbus police had previously released video footage of a person of interest in a hooded jacket near the Tepes’ home on the night of the killings, but officials have declined to comment on whether they believe McKee is the individual in the video, citing concerns about compromising the ongoing investigation.
Online records show McKee as a medical doctor specializing in vascular surgery, licensed in California and Illinois. He graduated from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2014.
While he previously held a Nevada license that expired in June, his licensing records show no reports of medical malpractice or disciplinary history. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee is listed as a vascular surgeon, has stated it is cooperating with authorities.
McKee is currently being held in Winnebago County Jail in Illinois, with the exact date of his transfer to Ohio remaining unclear.