At a Glance
- Michael David McKee, 39, was arrested Jan. 10 for the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of Monique and Spencer Tepe
- Columbus Police say he is the hooded figure seen on surveillance near the couple’s Ohio home
- McKee, a vascular surgeon, was once married to Monique; their 2017 divorce cited “incompatibility”
- Why it matters: The couple’s children, 4 and 1, were in the house during the killings but survived
Columbus police have charged a Rockford, Illinois vascular surgeon with aggravated murder in the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique, authorities announced Wednesday. Investigators say surveillance video, vehicle tracking and ballistics evidence tie Michael David McKee, 39, to what they call a “targeted” and “domestic-violence-related” attack.
Arrest and Evidence
McKee was taken into custody Saturday, Jan. 10, in Rockford, nearly two weeks after the Tepes were found fatally shot inside their Columbus residence. He is awaiting extradition to Ohio, where he faces two counts of aggravated murder.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a press conference that McKee matches the hooded, shadowy “person of interest” seen walking through a snowy alley near the home. Bryant added that:
- A vehicle linked to McKee arrived shortly before the estimated time of the killings
- The same vehicle left the area shortly after the shootings
- Officers recovered weapons from McKee’s home, including one whose ballistics were preliminarily linked to the homicides
Bryant declined to release additional investigative details, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Domestic Connection
Court records reviewed by News Of Losangeles show Monique married McKee in 2015 and filed for divorce in 2017, citing “incompatibility.” According to Bryant, the evidence indicates “this was a targeted attack” and “a domestic-violence-related attack.”
Through his public defender, McKee has stated he plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
Scene at the Home
The Tepes’ bodies were discovered with their two young children-ages 4 and 1-only a few feet away in the same house. The children were unharmed. Friends told News Of Losangeles the couple had been married five years and were “madly in love.”
What Happens Next
Authorities will transport McKee from Illinois to Ohio, where formal court proceedings on the aggravated-murder charges are expected to begin. Investigators continue to process forensic evidence and interview witnesses, though police have not disclosed any suspected motive beyond the domestic-violence classification.
Key Takeaways
- Surveillance, vehicle and ballistics evidence led to McKee’s arrest
- The couple’s children survived the attack
- McKee and Monique had divorced in 2017
- Police label the killings targeted and domestic-violence-related
