Michael McKee, the surgeon accused of killing his ex-wife and her new husband, arrived at the Franklin County Jail in Ohio on Tuesday afternoon after being extradited from Illinois.
At a Glance
- McKee faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery
- The victims, Monique and Spencer Tepe, were found shot to death in their Columbus home on Dec. 30
- Their two young children were nearby when the killings occurred
- Why it matters: The arrest ends a two-week manhunt that began when detectives linked McKee to a vehicle near the crime scene
McKee is expected to make his first appearance in the Franklin Court of Common Pleas as early as this week. A grand jury returned the indictment after reviewing evidence that placed him at the scene of the Dec. 30 shootings.
The couple was discovered dead from apparent gunshot wounds just feet away from their sleeping toddlers. Their daughter is 4 years old; their son is 18 months old.
From Illinois Jail to Ohio Courtroom
Federal agents arrested McKee on Jan. 10 near his medical office in Rockford, Illinois, approximately 80 miles west of Chicago. He had been held at the Winnebago County Jail until Tuesday’s transfer.
During his initial court appearance in Illinois on Jan. 12, the public defender assigned to represent him told a judge that McKee planned to plead not guilty to the two murder charges he faced at that time. Since then, the case has expanded to four aggravated murder counts plus an aggravated robbery charge.
Detectives have been unable to question McKee. He has invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to speak with investigators.
A Brief Marriage and a New Family
McKee and Monique met as students at Ohio State University. They married in 2015 but separated after only seven months, according to divorce filings obtained by News Of Los Angeles. Their divorce was finalized in June 2017.
Monique met Spencer the following year. The two married in December 2020 and quickly built a life together as parents to their young children.
While Monique started a new chapter, McKee relocated to Las Vegas before moving to Illinois within the past two years. He purchased a penthouse apartment in Chicago, establishing a medical practice in nearby Rockford.
The Investigation That Led to an Arrest
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said detectives zeroed in on McKee after linking him to a vehicle seen near the Tepe residence at the time of the murders. A subsequent search of his property uncovered a weapon that investigators believe matches the one used to kill the couple.
The break in the case came after detectives reviewed surveillance footage from neighboring homes and traced the suspicious vehicle back to McKee. Forensic testing on the recovered weapon is ongoing, but police say initial comparisons show consistency with ballistics evidence collected at the crime scene.
McKee had no prior criminal record. His medical license remains active, though the Ohio State Medical Board has opened a separate inquiry into his fitness to practice.
Legal Troubles Before the Murders
Three months before the killings, McKee was named as a defendant in an amended medical malpractice complaint filed in Nevada. The lawsuit alleges negligence during his time working at a Las Vegas clinic, though details of the case remain sealed.
Court records show the malpractice case is still pending. It is unclear whether the timing of the lawsuit played any role in the events that followed.
What’s Next
McKee will remain in custody at the Franklin County Jail until his arraignment. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will seek the death penalty, though Ohio law allows capital punishment for multiple aggravated murder counts.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to announce charging decisions within the next week. McKee’s defense team has not yet filed any motions, but legal observers expect a vigorous fight over evidence obtained during the vehicle and property searches.
For now, the focus shifts to providing stability for the Tepe children, who are being cared for by relatives. A family spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles the children’s well-being remains the top priority as the legal process unfolds.
