A Chicago-based doctor is now confronting upgraded, premeditated murder charges following the fatal shootings of his ex-wife and her new husband in Ohio, in a case that has spanned multiple US states.
Upgraded Charges and Cross-State Arrest
Michael David McKee, aged 39, has been charged with two counts of premeditated aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37. The couple were discovered deceased in their Columbus, Ohio, home on 30 December. McKee, a vascular surgeon, was arrested in Illinois on Saturday and appeared in a Winnebago County court on Monday.
During the brief hearing, where he wore a yellow jail uniform and restraints, McKee remained silent except to confirm his name. His public defender, Carie Poirier, stated that her client plans to plead not guilty and will waive extradition to Ohio, seeking a swift transfer to face the charges there.
A Family's Grief and Suspicion
In a heartfelt statement, the Tepe family described the arrest as "an important step toward justice" and expressed faith in the legal process. "Monique and Spencer remain forever in our hearts," the statement read, "and we will carry their love forward as we protect and care for the two children they leave behind." The couple's two young children and their dog were found unharmed at the scene.
Spencer Tepe's brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, revealed that the family quickly suspected McKee's involvement. "He was an emotionally abusive person when they were together - that is all I know," Misleh told NBC News. The alarm was initially raised when Spencer, a prominent dentist, failed to arrive at his Athens dental practice, an absence his manager flagged as highly unusual.
Investigation Points to Alleged Attacker
Columbus police, who performed a welfare check, found both victims on the second floor of their home with gunshot wounds. Investigators noted there were no signs of forced entry, no murder weapon was recovered, and nothing appeared stolen, ruling out a murder-suicide.
The breakthrough came when authorities released surveillance footage of a person of interest in a dark hooded sweatshirt and light trousers, seen in an alley near the home between 2am and 5am on 30 December—the believed window of the shootings. Tips from the public led investigators to McKee's apartment in another state.
Final autopsy results from the Franklin County Coroner's Office are pending, though officials have preliminarily classified the deaths as homicides by gunshot. McKee, licensed to practise medicine in California and Illinois, has no recorded history of disciplinary action or malpractice. His employer, OSF Healthcare, has stated it is cooperating with authorities.
Court records show McKee and Monique (then Sabaturski) were married in 2015 and divorced in 2017. Monique later married Spencer Tepe in 2020. In her wedding video, she spoke of her journey to finding him, calling Spencer someone special. She was remembered as a devoted mother and avid baker, while Spencer was known for his dental work and mentorship.
