The OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center says it is cooperating with investigators after vascular surgeon Michael David McKee was arrested in the Dec. 30 slayings of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer, 37, in Columbus, Ohio. The couple's two young children, ages 4 and 1, were inside the home but were unharmed. McKee has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder after prosecutors upgraded the charges on Jan. 11; he waived extradition and plans to plead not guilty.
Hospital Says It Is Cooperating After Surgeon Arrested in Columbus Double Homicide
Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service; Winnabago County Sheriff's OfficeSpencer and Monique Tepe; Michael David McKee
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center says it is cooperating with investigators after a vascular surgeon employed at the hospital was arrested in connection with the deaths of his former wife and her husband.
What Happened
Michael David McKee, 39, was taken into custody over the weekend after police linked him to the fatal shootings of Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband Spencer Tepe, 37. The couple were found with gunshot wounds inside their Columbus, Ohio, home on the morning of Dec. 30 following repeated wellness-check requests from Spencer's co-workers.
Investigation and Arrest
Court records reviewed by PEOPLE indicate McKee and Monique were briefly married in 2015; she filed for divorce in 2017. McKee, a vascular surgeon based in Illinois, was employed at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockland, Ill., at the time of the killings.
Doral Chenoweth/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesA Columbus police officer adjusts crime scene tape after officers responded to 1411 N. 4th St. where they found Monique and Spencer Tepe dead at the residence.
According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, McKee was initially arrested on murder charges and, on Jan. 11, prosecutors upgraded the case to two counts of aggravated murder. He appeared in an Illinois court, waived his right to an extradition hearing and, through his attorney, has indicated he plans to enter pleas of not guilty.
Children and Community Impact
The Tepe couple's two young children, ages 4 and 1, were inside the home when authorities arrived. Police estimate the children were alone in the residence for several hours but say they were physically unharmed. The case has drawn community concern and media attention as investigators continue to develop evidence and officials review the circumstances surrounding the killings.
Statement From The Hospital
In a statement provided to PEOPLE on Jan. 13, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center said: "OSF is cooperating with authorities who will provide any further information." The hospital referred additional inquiries to law enforcement.
Resources
If you are experiencing domestic violence or need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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