> At a Glance
> – Spencer and Monique Tepe found fatally shot in their Columbus home on Dec. 30
> – Their two children were inside the house but escaped unharmed
> – Columbus police released surveillance footage of a person of interest
> – Why it matters: Six weeks after the killings, no suspect is in custody and detectives are appealing for tips
Columbus detectives are still hunting the person who gunned down 37-year-old Spencer Tepe and his 39-year-old wife Monique while their two children were inside the family home.
The Discovery
A co-worker and a neighbor each asked for a welfare check after no one answered calls or knocks at the couple’s residence. Officers arrived to find the husband and wife upstairs with fatal gunshot wounds; Spencer had been shot multiple times and Monique at least once in the chest. Their children, whose ages have not been released, were physically unharmed but found crying in another part of the house.
The Franklin County coroner confirmed the apparent causes were gunshot wounds, though final toxicology results are still pending.
Investigation So Far
Police quickly ruled out murder-suicide:
- No firearm was recovered inside the home
- No obvious forced entry was detected
- A double-homicide probe was opened
On Jan. 5, investigators released low-resolution footage of someone walking in a nearby alley between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the day of the killings. The figure wears a dark hooded sweatshirt, light pants, and keeps hands in pockets; the face is not visible. Rob Misleh, brother-in-law to Spencer, told NewsNation the clip is “suspicious,” but added it could simply show “somebody walking home drunk from a bar.”
Supporting the Children
The Tepe children are now being cared for by Misleh. A GoFundMe started for their care has raised more than $160,000. Friends describe Spencer as an avid golfer and Monique as a dedicated runner whose lives “became about their children” after starting a family.
Key Takeaways
- Columbus police continue to treat the case as a double homicide
- Surveillance footage is the only public lead released so far
- Anyone with information is urged to contact Columbus Division of Police
With no arrests made and the shooter still at large, detectives say even the smallest tip could break the case.
