At a Glance
- Michael McKee, 36, was indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery for the Dec. 30, 2025 shooting deaths of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe.
- The couple was killed in their Columbus, Ohio home while their children, ages 4 and 1, slept nearby; McKee was arrested in Illinois on Jan. 10, 2026.
- A close friend told News Of Losangeles that McKee had trouble letting go after the 2017 divorce and tracked Monique’s life through mutual acquaintances, allegedly angered by her happiness with Spencer.
- Why it matters: The case highlights how unresolved post-divorce resentment can escalate into violence, even years later, and left two young children orphaned.
A Franklin County grand jury has formally charged Michael McKee with the murders of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe, court records obtained by News Of Losangeles show. The indictment, returned Friday, Jan. 16, accuses McKee of four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery tied to the Dec. 30, 2025 slayings inside the couple’s Columbus home.
McKee, 36, is being held without bond at the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford, Illinois, while he awaits extradition to Ohio. Detectives said McKee invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent after his Jan. 10 arrest and refused to speak with investigators.
A Marriage Ends, a New Life Begins
Monique and McKee married in August 2015 after a whirlwind romance. Friends recalled the pair as “so in love” during the early months, but the relationship began to fracture after they relocated to Virginia so McKee could begin a post-medical-school residency.
“At first when it was just starting out, they seemed so happy,” a mutual friend told News Of Losangeles. “But he was always manipulative.”
The friend, who requested anonymity, said it took years to recognize what she now describes as McKee’s pattern of “bending things to his will.”
“He needed to be in control of most situations, but wouldn’t make it seem like he was controlling the situation,” she added.
Monique grew unhappy living almost five hours from her tight-knit family and friends in Ohio. The isolation magnified McKee’s alleged need for dominance, according to the friend.
“She is a family girl and a girl’s girl. She needs that in her life and she didn’t have that. It was just the two of them in a new place and she had no support system,” the friend said.
The couple divorced in 2017, less than two years after walking down the aisle.
Rebuilding and a Fairytale Second Chance
After the split, Monique struggled initially but quickly rebounded. She joined a dating app and in 2018 met Spencer Tepe, a dentist and fellow Ohio State University graduate. The pair married in 2020 and settled in Columbus, just blocks from their alma mater.
Friends said the Tepes radiated joy.
“Everything you see is completely true because that’s who they were. That’s how much love and pride and joy they had for one another,” the friend said. “They really were perfect. Their kids really were perfect. Their life really was perfect.”
The couple welcomed two children-a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old-both asleep in their bedrooms the night their parents were shot.
Signs of Obsession
While Monique moved forward, McKee remained stuck, the friend claimed. Whenever he ran into mutual acquaintances he peppered them with questions about his ex-wife’s life.
“He thought she could not live without him. That she needed him. So for her to thrive [in her new marriage], that just destroyed his fragile little ego,” the friend said.
Rumors circulated in the months before the murders that McKee had been stalking Monique, but no one in their circle ever produced proof.
“I’ll say that we’ve been talking about it, but none of us ever actually saw any evidence of this,” the friend explained. “She had moved on. He had not.”
Timeline of Violence
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 2015 | Monique and McKee wed |
| 2017 | Couple divorces |
| 2020 | Monique marries Spencer Tepe |
| Dec. 30, 2025 | Tepes found shot to death; children unharmed |
| Jan. 10, 2026 | McKee arrested in Illinois |
| Jan. 16, 2026 | Grand jury returns five-count indictment |
Police have not disclosed a motive or how McKee allegedly traveled from Illinois to Ohio and back. Investigators also have not said whether any items were taken from the home, though the aggravated-robbery count suggests prosecutors believe theft occurred during the killings.
If convicted of aggravated murder, McKee faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty under Ohio law. No court dates have been set.
Key Takeaways
- Michael McKee was indicted for murdering his ex-wife and her new husband eight years after their divorce.
- Friends say McKee resented Monique’s happy second marriage and kept tabs on her through mutual contacts.
- The couple’s two young children survived the attack; relatives have since taken custody.
