The Ohio coroner's Feb. 3 autopsy reports that 37-year-old Spencer Tepe suffered seven gunshot wounds when he and his wife, Monique, were found shot to death in their Columbus home on Dec. 30. Their two young children were asleep nearby. Authorities arrested Monique's ex-husband, Michael McKee, 11 days later; he has been charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder, and has pleaded not guilty.
Autopsy: Spencer Tepe Suffered Seven Gunshot Wounds in Fatal Home Invasion; Suspect Arrested
Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe (left); and Spencer Tepe at work.Courtesy of Rob Misleh; Facebook
An Ohio coroner's autopsy report released Feb. 3 provides a detailed account of the injuries sustained by 37-year-old Spencer Tepe when he and his wife, 39-year-old Monique Tepe, were fatally shot in their Columbus home on Dec. 30.
Autopsy Findings
The autopsy obtained by PEOPLE shows Spencer suffered seven gunshot wounds concentrated in his upper body. The report documents one gunshot to the head (one wound traversed his ear), three to the torso, two to the chest, and additional wounds to his left hand, right upper arm and back. The coroner listed the cause of death as "gunshot wounds of head, neck, trunk, and extremities with visceral, skeletal, and soft tissue injuries."
Michael David McKeeWinnabago County Sheriff's Office
Crime Scene and Children
Police discovered the couple dead in their Columbus home after multiple calls for a welfare check on the morning of Dec. 30, prompted when Spencer did not report to work. Their two young children, ages 4 and 1, were found sleeping a few feet from where the bodies were located.
Investigation and Charges
Authorities arrested 39-year-old Michael McKee — Monique's ex-husband from nearly a decade earlier — 11 days after the killings in Illinois. McKee has been extradited to Ohio and faces criminal charges, including four counts of aggravated murder and one count of burglary; he has pleaded not guilty. Investigators allege McKee had previously broken into the Tepes' home weeks before the murders, and a probable cause affidavit states Monique left a gathering that night because she feared his presence.
Context and Safety Resources
The autopsy and subsequent charges have intensified attention on prior domestic concerns and how authorities respond to threats. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or online at thehotline.org. Calls are confidential, toll-free and offered in more than 170 languages.
Note: The suspect is charged but presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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