A Columbus physician is facing two counts of aggravated murder after police say they recovered the suspected murder weapon on his property and tracked him to Illinois, where he was taken into custody 450 miles from the crime scene.
At a Glance
- Police recovered multiple weapons on Michael McKee’s property, including the firearm they believe was used to kill Monique and Spencer Tepe
- McKee was arrested January 10 near his Rockford, Illinois, medical office by federal agents
- Surveillance video allegedly places McKee at the couple’s home the night of the December 30 killings
- The couple’s children, ages 4 and 1, were asleep inside the home during the attack
Why it matters: The arrest brings a two-week manhunt to a close in a case that has gripped Columbus and raised questions about safety for domestic-violence survivors.
Arrest Follows Two-Week Investigation
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told reporters Wednesday that detectives linked McKee to the double homicide through neighborhood surveillance footage that captured a vehicle arriving shortly before the shootings and leaving moments after. Investigators then traced that car to McKee, she said.
The 39-year-old doctor was stopped by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives while driving to his practice in Rockford, a city roughly 80 miles west of Chicago. McKee had accepted a position at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center after relocating from Las Vegas to Chicago in 2024, according to state licensing records.
He was booked into the Winnebago County Jail and agreed to waive extradition. Franklin County prosecutors will handle the case once he is returned to Ohio.
Evidence Detailed in Court Filings
An arrest warrant filed in Franklin County Court states that detectives identified McKee as the suspect seen on video near the Tepe residence the night of the murders. Police also allege they have proof he was in possession of the same vehicle both before and after the homicides.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Bryant declined to describe the recovered weapons or specify where on McKee’s property they were found, citing the ongoing investigation. She said prosecutors asked police to limit public disclosures to preserve the integrity of the case.
Monique, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, were found dead inside their Columbus home on December 30, just days after celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. Their two young children were not physically harmed.
Relationship and Divorce
McKee and Monique met as students at Ohio State University and married in 2015. The marriage lasted less than two years, ending in divorce in 2017. Monique later married Spencer, a local dentist.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive, and McKee has not yet entered a plea. During a brief court appearance January 12 in Winnebago County, Assistant Public Defender Carrie Poirier told the judge her client would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and intended to plead not guilty once formally charged in Ohio.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2024 | Monique and Spencer Tepe killed in Columbus home |
| Jan 10, 2025 | Michael McKee arrested near Rockford, Illinois |
| Jan 12, 2025 | McKee waives extradition in Illinois court |
| Jan 14, 2025 | Columbus police announce murder charges and weapons discovery |
McKee purchased a $400,000 Chicago penthouse in July 2024, state records show, and began practicing in Illinois that October. Friends of the couple told News Of Losangeles they were unaware of any recent contact between Monique and her former husband.
Franklin County prosecutors are expected to seek an indictment for two counts of aggravated murder with premeditation once McKee is returned to Ohio. No date for his initial appearance in Columbus has been set.
