Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon, has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shootings of his ex-wife and her current husband inside their Columbus, Ohio, home. Authorities took McKee into custody on Saturday in Illinois after investigators traced his movements through surveillance footage and vehicle data tied to the night of the killings.
McKee now faces two counts of murder and is awaiting extradition back to Ohio, where prosecutors are preparing to move forward with the case.
Police were called to a residence in the Weinland Park neighborhood of Columbus on the morning of December 30 after coworkers reported that dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, had failed to show up for work. When officers entered the home, they discovered Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The couple had been married for nearly five years and were reportedly preparing to celebrate their upcoming anniversary. Two young children, whom Monique shared with her husband, were found unharmed inside the home.
Investigators say the case took a significant turn after reviewing neighborhood surveillance footage. Video reportedly captured a vehicle matching McKee’s car arriving near the residence shortly before the estimated time of the murders and departing shortly afterward during the early morning hours.
Additional footage showed an unidentified man walking through a nearby alley within the same timeframe. Investigators later identified that individual as McKee. The vehicle was eventually located near his workplace in northern Illinois, providing further evidence that led to his arrest.
McKee is a trained vascular surgeon with active medical licenses in multiple states, including Illinois and California. He attended medical school at Ohio State University and has professional ties across the Midwest.
Court records indicate that McKee and Monique Tepe were married in 2015 and divorced in 2017. The divorce was reportedly amicable and finalized while McKee was living in Virginia. The former couple did not have children together.
McKee has family connections in eastern Ohio, a detail investigators considered as part of their efforts to track his movements following the killings.
McKee was booked into a county jail in Illinois late Saturday morning. Authorities confirmed that he is being held pending extradition to Franklin County, Ohio, where he is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing.
Law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed a motive for the killings, and the investigation remains active as detectives continue to piece together the events leading up to the shootings.
The case has sent shockwaves through both the Columbus community and the medical and dental professional circles connected to the victims and the suspect. Friends and colleagues have described the couple as devoted parents and respected professionals.
As McKee prepares to face charges in Ohio, prosecutors are expected to present additional evidence in court. For now, many questions remain unanswered, including what may have driven the alleged attack and whether further details will emerge as the case proceeds.
