At a Glance
- Michael David McKee, 39, was arrested for the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of ex-wife Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband Spencer, 37.
- The couple’s two young children, 4 and 1, were found unharmed but alone with the bodies for hours.
- McKee, a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, waived extradition and plans to plead not guilty.
Why it matters: The case highlights the deadly intersection of domestic violence and custody battles, leaving two children orphaned.
Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old Illinois vascular surgeon, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the Dec. 30 killings of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer inside their Columbus, Ohio, home.
The arrest came after Columbus police discovered the couple’s bodies during a welfare check prompted by Spencer’s co-workers. Officers found the pair had died from gunshot wounds. Their two children – ages 4 and 1 – were inside the house, physically unharmed but estimated to have been alone with the bodies for hours.
McKee and Monique were married in 2015, but she filed for divorce in 2017 after less than two years of marriage, according to court records reviewed by News Of Losangeles.
Monique and Spencer, who met online, wed in 2020 and built a life together with their young family.
Hospital Responds After Employee’s Arrest
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee worked, issued a brief statement Monday, Jan. 13: “OSF is cooperating with authorities who will provide any further information.” The center referred additional questions to law enforcement.
McKee was initially arrested on murder charges, but prosecutors upgraded the counts to two counts of aggravated murder on Sunday, Jan. 11. He appeared in an Illinois court Monday and waived extradition, meaning he will be transferred to Ohio to face trial.
His attorney told News Of Losangeles he plans to enter pleas of not guilty.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | McKee and Monique marry |
| 2017 | Monique files for divorce |
| 2020 | Monique marries Spencer |
| Dec. 30, 2025 | Welfare check requested; bodies found |
| Jan. 11, 2026 | Charges upgraded to aggravated murder |
| Jan. 12, 2026 | McKee arrested |
| Jan. 13, 2026 | Hospital statement released |
Investigators have not disclosed a possible motive or how McKee allegedly traveled from Illinois to Ohio to carry out the killings.
The case remains active as Columbus police and prosecutors prepare to extradite McKee to face trial in Ohio.
