Arrest Made in Columbus Double Homicide — Motive Still Unclear As Ex‑Husband Waives Extradition

Michael David McKee was arrested in Illinois on two counts of murder in the deaths of Monique Tepe and her husband, Spencer Tepe. McKee — Monique’s ex‑husband — waived an extradition hearing, and Ohio officials now have 30 days to return him to the state to face charges.

Legal Status: A criminal complaint has been filed in Ohio, but McKee has not yet been formally indicted because that cannot occur until he is physically in the state. His public defender told the court he intends to plead not guilty if charged in Ohio.

Charges And Potential Penalties

Records show the charges in Ohio were upgraded to premeditated, aggravated murder. Under Ohio law, aggravated murder may require proof of "prior calculation and design" and can carry harsher penalties — including life without parole or, in eligible cases, the death penalty — compared with a standard murder conviction.

Michael McKee - Winnebago County Sheriffs Office

Motive And Why Officials Are Quiet

Police have not publicly identified a motive. Criminal defense attorney and legal analyst Joey Jackson noted motive is not an element prosecutors must prove to secure a conviction: the state must show the defendant intended and caused the deaths. Still, Jackson said prosecutors typically advance a theory of motive because juries want to understand why a crime occurred.

“It is not a legal imperative for prosecutors or investigators to offer a motive,” Jackson said. He added investigators may delay revealing motive to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial and to preserve witness testimony.

Evidence Publicly Reported

Columbus police released surveillance footage showing a "person of interest" walking in an alley near the couple’s Weinland Park home during the early morning hours of Dec. 30, the timeframe investigators believe the killings occurred. Local affiliate WBNS reported that video links a vehicle to the scene; police later located that vehicle in Rockford, Illinois, and confirmed McKee was the registered owner.

Jackson said an allegation that McKee drove to the scene and left shortly afterward could be one factor investigators view as suggestive of premeditation, though premeditation can legally be found even if formed quickly.

Authorities in Columbus, Ohio, search the scene where dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, were murdered at their home. - WSYX

Background And Victims

Monique and McKee were married in August 2015 and their divorce was finalized in June 2017. Court records show no children from that marriage and no obvious disputes recorded during the divorce proceedings. The murders occurred more than eight years after the divorce.

Colleagues of Spencer — described by associates as a respected dentist — called 911 Dec. 30 after he did not show up for work. Police found the couple dead later that morning in their home, where their two children, ages 4 and 1, were discovered unharmed.

What Comes Next

Investigators will continue collecting evidence and preparing discovery, which may include social media and search histories, statements to others, and forensic information. Prosecutors are likely to move cautiously in public disclosures to protect witness integrity and avoid revealing information that could be used by defense counsel before trial.

At this stage the public record contains factual details about the arrest, the upgraded charges and limited investigative disclosures; additional information about motive or other evidence may be revealed once McKee is returned to Ohio and formal proceedings advance.