A Franklin County grand jury has indicted 39-year-old vascular surgeon Michael McKee on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary following the Dec. 30 slayings of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, dentist Spencer Tepe, 37.
Case Overview
The indictment, filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, includes firearm specifications on each murder count. Three counts allege the use or display of an automatic firearm or a silencer; the fourth count alleges a firearm was brandished. Authorities say the shootings occurred at the couple's Weinland Park home in Columbus sometime between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30. McKee was arrested in Illinois on Jan. 10 and is being held at the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford while awaiting extradition to Ohio.
Divorce and Personal Background
Court records show McKee and Monique married on Aug. 22, 2015, separated by March 2016, and finalized their divorce on June 15, 2017. In the initial divorce filing, Monique described the pair as "incompatible" and said they were living separate and apart by March 2016. The filings indicate they divided most personal assets and had no children together. Monique later married Spencer Tepe in December 2020.
Booking photo of Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old from Chicago, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe.
Medical Career Timeline
Licensing and court records outline McKee's medical training and work history across multiple states:
- 2005–2009: Undergraduate studies at Ohio State University
- 2009–2014: Medical degree from Ohio State University
- 2014–2015: General surgery internship at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- 2015–2020: General surgery residency at Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic
- 2020–2022: Vascular surgery fellowship at University of Maryland Medical Center
- 2022–2025: Licensed in several states, including California, Nevada and Illinois
- 2023–2024: Employed at Las Vegas Surgical Associates
- 2025–2026: Employed at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois
Legal Troubles Before Homicide Charges
Federal court records show McKee was named in a civil-rights and medical-negligence lawsuit filed June 7, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Clark County state court records also list him as the primary defendant in an active medical-malpractice case that was scheduled for a jury trial. Those suits prompted scrutiny of his prior conduct in clinical settings.
Family Reaction and Ongoing Investigation
"He was an emotionally abusive person when they were together, that is all I know," said Rob Misleh, brother-in-law of Spencer Tepe, to NBC News.
Las Vegas attorney Dan Laird, who has followed some of the litigation, told a local station that McKee "appeared to have avoided accountability in previous legal matters," calling the overall situation surprising. Authorities continue to investigate the killings; McKee remains in custody in Illinois pending extradition to Ohio and further proceedings.
Note: All allegations are from the indictment and public records; McKee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
