Ohio police are on the hunt for the shooter who killed a Columbus-area dentist and his wife earlier this week, leaving their two young children orphaned and their loved ones shocked.
The bodies of Spencer and Monique Tepe were found Tuesday morning after several concerned friends and co-workers called police worried that Spencer had not shown up to work and that Monique was not answering her phone.
“They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others,” the Tepe family said in a statement to NBC News.
“Together, Spencer and Monique shared a beautiful, strong, and deeply happy relationship. They loved to travel, to laugh, and to build a life rooted in love. They were proud parents of two beautiful children and their beloved Goldendoodle, and they created a home filled with warmth, happiness, and connection,” the statement read in part.
Police received at least four calls from colleagues and loved ones starting around 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the first one, the owner of Spencer’s dental practice is heard telling an operator that Spencer is never late for work and always checks in before missing a day.
An hour later, a second person called 911 from outside the couple’s home. The caller, an unidentified male, said he could hear children in the house but had no way of getting inside.
At 10 a.m., a friend of Spencer’s reported seeing a body inside before breaking down into sobs.
“There’s blood. He’s laying next to his bed, off of his bed, and there's blood. I can’t get closer to see more than that,” the friend said, according to 911 logs.
Three 9-millimeter casings were found inside the home, according to the police report. The couple’s two children were safe in a different room from their parent’s bodies.
Columbus police have ruled out a murder-suicide and are treating the case as a homicide, officials have said. Investigators have not publicly named any suspects and said no additional updates would be provided as of Friday.
Spencer and Monique had married inside the home where they were killed, family members said, and were a month shy of celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
Relatives described Spencer as a devoted and proud father. He was fluent in Spanish and practiced at Athens Dental Depot. The owner of the business, Dr. Mark Valrose, was the first person to contact police Tuesday.
In a post to social media, Valrose said Spencer would be “deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years.”
“Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this very difficult time,” Valrose wrote.
On Dec. 9, the dental office posted birthday wishes to Spencer and two photos showing the late dentist smiling in his medical uniform and holding nearly a dozen balloons.
Monique had a background in childhood education, according to relatives, and loved baking.
“Monique was a loving, patient, and joyful mother whose warmth defined her,” the Tepe family said in a statement. “Her kindness made people feel instantly at home.”
