A Chicago man was arrested Saturday in connection with the killing of his ex-wife and her husband, an Ohio dentist, in the couple’s home last month.
Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead in their Columbus home on Dec. 30 from apparent gunshot wounds, according to a police incident report.
Michael David McKee, 39, was arrested on Saturday and charged with two counts of murder. McKee and Monique Tepe were married for about two years before they divorced in 2017. The pair had no children together, records show.
Officers responded to the couple’s home after several concerned friends and co-workers called police to report that Spencer Tepe, a local dentist, had not shown up for work and Monique Tepe was not answering the phone. In one 911 call, a man reported seeing a body and blood in the couple’s home.
The couple were one month shy of celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. Their two young children were found in the home unharmed.
In a statement, Spencer's brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, said while McKee's arrest represents "an important step toward justice" for the slain couple, "Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon."
"Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind," Misleh said. "We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world."
A video showing a person of interest wearing a hooded jacket was released by Columbus police this week. Asked whether McKee is believed to be the person seen in the video, police said they would not be releasing further information so as to not compromise the case.
Investigators believe the couple was killed between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30. Three 9 mm shell casings were found inside the home, police said.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear.
McKee is being held in the Winnebago County Jail in Illinois, according to authorities. His next court date is scheduled for Monday afternoon, according to online records. It was not immediately clear whether he has retained a lawyer.
McKee is a medical doctor, licensed in California and Illinois, specializing in vascular surgery, according to online license records.
He graduated from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2014, the records show. He was also previously licensed in Nevada, but that license expired in June.
He was listed as a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, a city about 90 miles northwest of Chicago. OSF Healthcare said it is “cooperating with authorities.”
His medical license records show no disciplinary history or malpractice. His criminal record shows only traffic-related tickets.
