At a Glance
- Vascular surgeon Michael McKee, 39, was indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary.
- Victims Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, were found shot to death in their Columbus home on Dec. 30.
- Police call the killings a “targeted attack” tied to domestic violence; no motive has been disclosed.
- Why it matters: A conviction could send the Chicago-based physician to prison for life without parole.
A Franklin County grand jury formally charged Michael McKee in the double homicide that rattled a quiet Columbus neighborhood just after New Year’s. The five-count indictment, returned Friday, alleges the vascular surgeon broke into the couple’s residence and shot both victims.
McKee was arrested Saturday by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Rockford, Illinois, roughly 90 miles west of Chicago. He remains held in the Winnebago County Jail while awaiting extradition to Ohio.
During a Monday court appearance in Illinois, a public defender entered a not-guilty plea on McKee’s behalf. The physician, listed on staff at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, has no prior criminal record in Illinois, according to News Of Losangeles‘s review of court documents.
The Crime Scene
Columbus police discovered the bodies of Monique and Spencer Tepe after a welfare check requested by a relative. Both had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators quickly classified the case as a double homicide and began tracing the couple’s recent contacts.
A breakthrough came when ballistic tests matched a firearm recovered from McKee’s Chicago-area home to shell casings found at the crime scene, police revealed Wednesday. That evidence prompted the grand-jury action two days later.
Domestic Violence Link
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told reporters the attack was deliberate.
> “What we can say, this was a targeted attack,” Bryant said. “This was a domestic violence-related attack.”
Monique Tepe and McKee divorced several years ago, neighbors told News Of Losangeles. Court records show the split was amicable on paper, with joint custody of two children who are now in the care of relatives.
Authorities have not detailed what may have triggered the violence. Detectives continue to analyze phone records, emails, and financial transactions between the former spouses.
Legal Next Steps
The indictment charges McKee with:
- Four counts of aggravated murder (two for each victim, reflecting different legal theories)
- One count of aggravated burglary for allegedly entering the home with intent to harm
Each aggravated-murder count carries a specification that, if proven, would require a life sentence without parole. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty.
Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack praised the multi-agency effort that led to the arrest.
> “We are committed to securing justice for the Tepe family,” Tyack said in a brief statement.
McKee’s public defender, appointed Monday, declined to comment on the evidence. A bond hearing is expected once he is transferred to Ohio, though state law often denies bail in capital cases.
Community Reaction
Neighbors placed flowers and handwritten notes outside the Tepe home in the days after the slayings. Spencer Tepe, a popular local dentist, had recently announced plans to expand his practice. Monique Tepe worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative and volunteered with several youth charities.
A memorial service held last week drew hundreds of mourners. Friends described the couple as devoted to their blended family and active in local fundraising events.
> “They were the kind of people who made you feel like you’d known them forever,” said longtime friend Jenna Alvarez.
Key Takeaways
- Michael McKee faces life without parole if convicted on any of the four aggravated-murder counts.
- Police recovered the suspected murder weapon at his residence, a key piece of evidence revealed this week.
- Investigators label the killings a targeted domestic-violence incident but have not disclosed a motive.
- The case now moves to pretrial proceedings in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
