Michael McKee appeared remotely from the Franklin County Jail in his first court appearance since being extradited from Illinois to Ohio.
At a Glance
- The 39-year-old surgeon pleaded not guilty to four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary.
- He was extradited to Ohio on January 20 after a grand jury indictment.
- The case involves the deaths of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe.
- Why it matters: The case highlights a high-profile extradition and the legal process for alleged domestic homicide.
Michael McKee’s first appearance in an Ohio courtroom came a week after a grand jury indicted him in connection with the deaths of his ex-wife and her dentist husband. The surgeon appeared remotely from the Franklin County Jail as his attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Court Appearance Details
The proceedings lasted only about 30 seconds. McKee did not speak and showed no emotion while standing motionless in his jail jumpsuit. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf to four counts of aggravated murder and a single count of aggravated burglary.
- Charges: Four counts of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated burglary.
- Location: Winnebago County Courthouse, Jan. 12.
- Method: Remote appearance from Franklin County Jail.
The judge accepted the plea and waived the extradition hearing. McKee’s public defender informed the judge of his plan to plead not guilty to murder.
Background of the Case
The deaths occurred in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 30 inside the Tepe home in Columbus. Police received a series of panicked calls from Spencer’s co-workers, prompting a search that found Monique, 39, with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest and Spencer, 37, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators linked McKee to a vehicle that appeared on neighborhood surveillance cameras arriving near the crime scene just before the murders and leaving shortly after. He was taken into custody by federal agents at a Chick-fil-A in Rockford, Ill., on Jan. 10.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 30 | Tepe deaths |
| Jan. 10 | McKee arrested in Illinois |
| Jan. 12 | First court appearance in Ohio |
| Jan. 20 | Extradition to Ohio |
Personal History
McKee and Monique met at Ohio State University and married in 2015. The couple moved to Virginia for McKee’s residency, but separated after seven months. Monique moved back to Ohio and filed for divorce in May 2017, citing incompatibility. The divorce was granted the following month.
Monique later met Spencer in 2016 and married him in 2020. The couple had just celebrated their fifth anniversary two weeks before the murders.
McKee had previously worked in Las Vegas, where he is being sued for medical malpractice. A process server struggled to serve him for that lawsuit; when he asked a co-worker about the surgeon, the coworker said, “he just disappeared.”
Legal Proceedings
McKee was extradited to Ohio on Jan. 20 and is now housed at the Franklin County Jail. He has invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to speak with detectives after his arrest in Illinois.
The judge’s decision to waive the extradition hearing was based on the fact that McKee had already been indicted and was in custody. The not guilty plea means the case will proceed to trial unless a plea agreement is reached.
Additional Context
The case underscores the complexities of extradition, especially when a suspect is already in federal custody. It also highlights the role of remote court appearances in ensuring timely judicial proceedings.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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Key Takeaways
- McKee pleaded not guilty to four murder charges after extradition.
- The murders involved his ex-wife and her husband, found shot in their home.
- The case is still pending trial; no plea deal has been announced.
- McKee’s history includes a medical malpractice lawsuit and a prior residency in Las Vegas.
