Michael McKee, the surgeon accused of killing Spencer and Monique Tepe in their Columbus home on Dec. 30, has retained defense attorney Diane Menashe, who filed a notice on Jan. 22. McKee faces four counts of aggravated murder with firearm specifications and one count of aggravated burglary; three counts allege use or display of an automatic firearm or silencer. Authorities arrested McKee in Rockford, Illinois, on Jan. 10 after a weeks‑long manhunt and say firearms believed related to the case were recovered from his home. He is scheduled for arraignment in Franklin County on Jan. 23.
Surgeon Accused in Ohio Double Slaying Retains Attorney Who Won High‑Profile Murder Case
A spokesman for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said McKee has been extradited and is in jail in Columbus, Ohio.(Fox News)
The surgeon accused of fatally shooting a married couple inside their Columbus, Ohio, home has retained a well‑known local defense attorney. Court records obtained by Fox News Digital show Michael McKee is now represented by Diane Menashe, who filed a notice of appearance on Jan. 22 as McKee faces multiple aggravated murder charges.
Attorney Background
Diane Menashe has practiced law for 27 years and manages her own firm, the Menashe Law Group. She is best known for representing Dr. William Husel, an Ohio physician who was acquitted in April 2022 on all 14 murder counts related to allegations he prescribed excessive pain medication to patients. During Husel’s trial, the defense called a Georgia anesthesiologist who testified the patients died from underlying conditions rather than from Husel’s actions.
Charges, Arrest and Extradition
McKee is charged with four counts of aggravated murder, each carrying firearm specifications, and one count of aggravated burglary. Authorities say three of the aggravated murder counts include specifications alleging the use or display of an automatic firearm or silencer; the fourth count alleges a firearm was displayed or brandished.
Following a weeks‑long manhunt, McKee was arrested in Rockford, Illinois, on Jan. 10. He was extradited to Ohio after a hearing two days later and remains in custody at the Franklin County Jail. McKee is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on Friday, Jan. 23.
Investigation Details
Authorities allege McKee shot and killed Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, inside their Weinland Park home in Columbus sometime between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30. Charging documents indicate police linked McKee to a vehicle seen arriving in the Tepes’ neighborhood shortly before the killings and departing after; that car was later tracked to Rockford, where investigators learned it belonged to McKee.
Investigators say they recovered firearms from McKee’s residence, including one weapon believed to have been used in the killings. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told Fox News Digital investigators were still probing whether that firearm had been legally obtained and declined to provide further details.
“At this time, again, unfortunately, I’m unable to answer that question,” Chief Bryant said when asked whether the gun was legally obtained. “We’re still doing some investigation as it relates to this case.”
Personal Background and Response
Court records show McKee and Monique Tepe were married on Aug. 22, 2015, but separated after seven months, with divorce papers citing the couple as "incompatible." At the time of their split, McKee was completing his residency at the Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic.
Relatives of the victims described the couple as planning to celebrate a wedding anniversary shortly before their deaths; Spencer Tepe’s brother‑in‑law, Rob Misleh, told WSYX the couple had been preparing to mark their five‑year anniversary one month earlier.
Menashe did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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