Michael McKee, a 39‑year‑old vascular surgeon, was arrested by federal agents in Rockford, Illinois, and has been indicted in the Dec. 30 fatal shootings of his ex‑wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband, Spencer Tepe.
Details of the Arrest
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took McKee into custody just after 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 10 at a Chick‑fil‑A near his medical office in Rockford. He was processed and booked into the Winnebago County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Ohio. If he remains in Winnebago County custody, court records show he is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 23.
Charges and Investigation
On Jan. 16, a Franklin County grand jury returned an indictment charging McKee with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary in connection with the Dec. 30 shootings. Prosecutors allege Monique and Spencer were shot inside their Columbus home just before 4 a.m. while their two young children — ages 3 years and 17 months — slept nearby.
WIFR News/Pool Photo via APMichael McKee in court on Jan. 12
Columbus police say neighborhood surveillance captured a vehicle arriving at and later leaving the area around the time of the killings, and investigators linked that vehicle to McKee. During a search of McKee’s property, officers recovered a firearm described by police as similar to the weapon they believe was used in the shootings.
McKee's Response and Legal Status
After his arrest, McKee invoked his Fifth Amendment right and declined to speak with detectives. At his first Winnebago County court appearance on Jan. 12, a public defender told the court McKee intends to plead not guilty and agreed to waive his extradition hearing.
If convicted on the aggravated murder charges, McKee faces the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Courtesy of Rob MislehMonique Tepe and Spencer Tepe.
Background
McKee and Monique met as students at Ohio State University and married in 2015. They separated after about seven months and divorced in 2017. Monique later met Spencer in 2018; the couple bought a home in Columbus and married in December 2020. McKee has worked in multiple states since medical school, recently purchased a penthouse condominium in Chicago, and had been practicing in Las Vegas prior to these events. Prosecutors note he was named as a defendant in an amended medical‑malpractice complaint roughly three months before the killings.
Support Resources
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are toll‑free and confidential, and the hotline operates 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Reporting sources: PEOPLE, WIFR, AP.
