The affidavit alleges vascular surgeon Michael McKee drove about 900 miles in roughly 17 hours on the night Monique and Spencer Tepe were killed, with cellphone data showing his phone inactive at his Rockford workplace. Surveillance reportedly captured a vehicle tied to McKee near the Columbus home shortly before 3:52 a.m. on Dec. 30. McKee was arrested Jan. 10 in Rockford; investigators recovered multiple firearms at his property and say one is similar to the suspected murder weapon. He faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary and has pleaded not guilty through counsel.
Affidavit: Surgeon Allegedly Drove 900 Miles in 17 Hours Before Ex-Wife and Her Husband Were Shot
Michael McKeeFranklin County Jail
An affidavit alleges that vascular surgeon Michael McKee drove roughly 900 miles in about 17 hours on the night Monique and Spencer Tepe were shot to death, according to PEOPLE and law enforcement documents.
Allegations and Timeline
Investigators say McKee left St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, sometime after 5 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2025 — a departure time inferred from the last recorded activity on his cellphone. That phone remained at his workplace and showed no activity during the next 17 hours while, investigators contend, McKee traveled about 450 miles to the Tepes' Columbus, Ohio, home and then returned to Illinois.
Columbus police have said a vehicle linked to McKee was captured on neighborhood surveillance arriving near the Tepes' home just before 3:52 a.m. on Dec. 30 and leaving shortly afterward. By about noon on Dec. 30, McKee was reportedly back in Rockford.
Prior Contact And Evidence
The affidavit notes McKee had visited the Tepes' Ohio property previously: surveillance on Dec. 6 showed him entering the residence and remaining for several hours that evening. On that same night, Monique and Spencer attended the Big Ten Championship in Indiana; friends later told investigators Monique excused herself and returned to the hotel at one point, and Spencer said she was upset about something involving her ex-husband.
Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe.Courtesy of Rob Misleh
Three weeks after the Dec. 6 encounter, prosecutors say Monique and Spencer were shot and killed while their two young children slept a few feet away.
Arrest, Charges And Search
McKee was arrested on Jan. 10, 2026, after investigators linked a vehicle seen on surveillance near the crime scene to him. Federal agents took him into custody at a Chick-fil-A in Rockford. A search of his property produced multiple firearms; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said one weapon found was similar to the firearm investigators believe was used in the double homicide.
McKee faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary. He made his first court appearance at the Winnebago County Courthouse on Jan. 12, waived an extradition hearing, and — through a public defender — indicated his intent to plead not guilty. He was extradited to Ohio on Jan. 20 and is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail. Police told PEOPLE McKee declined to speak with detectives and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Background
McKee and Monique met while students at Ohio State University and married in 2015. They moved to Virginia for McKee's medical residency but separated about seven months into the marriage; Monique returned to Ohio and filed for divorce in May 2017, describing the relationship as incompatible. A judge finalized the divorce the following month.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, 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 many languages.
Note: Investigators have released limited details about exact routes and stops while the probe is active. The information above reflects allegations contained in the affidavit and statements from law enforcement; McKee is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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