The double homicide of Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, in their Columbus, Ohio home on December 30, 2025, remains one of the most disturbing cases to grip central Ohio in recent years. What began as a seemingly ordinary day ended in unimaginable tragedy, with the couple’s two young children — ages 1 and 4 — left unharmed in the house amid the horror. The discovery of their bodies followed a wellness check triggered by Spencer’s unexplained absence from work, but new layers of intrigue have emerged around a seemingly innocuous detail: a 4:36 p.m. dental appointment that now haunts investigators and the public alike.

Spencer Tepe was a respected professional known for his dedication to comprehensive dentistry, implant therapy, and building strong patient relationships. He practiced in Athens, Ohio, and was described by colleagues as reliable, passionate, and always punctual. On December 29, the day before the murders, he reportedly had a late-afternoon patient scheduled at 4:36 p.m. — a routine slot that, in hindsight, carries eerie significance. While authorities have not publicly confirmed the patient’s identity or any direct connection to the crime, speculation has swirled that this appointment may have played a role in the events that unfolded hours later. The timing raises questions: Did something unusual occur during or after that visit? Could it have provided an opportunity for reconnaissance, or even served as a pretext for someone to gain insight into the family’s routine? Though no concrete evidence ties the appointment directly to the killer, its mention in early investigative circles has fueled theories of premeditation and insider knowledge.

The murders are believed to have occurred in the early morning hours of December 30, between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., upstairs in the couple’s Weinland Park home on the 1400 block of North 4th Street. Police arrived around 10 a.m. for the wellness check after multiple concerned calls from Spencer’s coworkers and friends, who noted his failure to appear at the office and Monique’s unresponsiveness to phone calls. Officers initially went to the wrong address due to a mix-up, delaying the grim discovery by about 40 minutes. When they finally entered the home, they found Spencer shot multiple times and Monique with at least one gunshot wound to the chest. Three 9mm shell casings were recovered, but no firearm was present at the scene.

One of the most chilling aspects of the case is the complete absence of forced entry. The front and back doors showed no signs of tampering, windows were secure, and nothing appeared ransacked or stolen. The family dog did not bark in alarm, and the young children remained physically unharmed throughout — spared in what appears to have been a targeted attack. These details strongly suggest betrayal: someone the couple knew and trusted likely gained access without resistance, possibly let in willingly or using a familiar method. Experts have pointed to this lack of forced entry as a classic indicator of an “inside job,” where the perpetrator exploited a relationship to enter the home undetected.

Adding to the sense of calculated intrusion, Columbus police released grainy surveillance footage days after the killings, showing a person of interest walking through an alley near the Tepe residence during the suspected time window of 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. The figure, dressed in light-colored pants and a dark hooded jacket with the hood pulled up, kept their head down while moving deliberately through the snow-lined path. This CCTV clip became a pivotal piece of evidence, helping detectives trace a vehicle seen arriving shortly before the murders and departing soon after. The car was linked to Michael David McKee, 39, Monique’s ex-husband, leading to his arrest in Rockford, Illinois, on January 10, 2026.

McKee, a licensed vascular surgeon practicing in Chicago’s Lincoln Park area, had been married to Monique from 2015 until their divorce in 2017 — a union that lasted roughly two years with no children involved. The couple’s brief marriage reportedly ended amid tensions, with family members later describing McKee as emotionally abusive during that period. Despite the passage of nearly nine years and Monique’s happy new life with Spencer (whom she married in early 2021), lingering resentment allegedly persisted. Charges were quickly upgraded to two counts of aggravated murder with premeditation, implying prior calculation and design rather than a spontaneous act.

The spared children, the untouched home, and the precise timing all point to a vendetta focused solely on the couple. McKee’s travel from Illinois to Ohio, the apparent planning to strike when the family was most vulnerable, and the decision to leave the young ones unharmed suggest a deeply personal motive rooted in unresolved bitterness over the failed marriage and Monique’s subsequent happiness. Family statements emphasized the couple’s love, describing them as soulmates who cherished their children and community. A memorial of flowers and tributes grew outside their home in the days following the discovery, as friends mourned the loss of two vibrant lives.

The 4:36 p.m. appointment, while not officially confirmed as central, symbolizes the deceptive normalcy that preceded the nightmare. In a case already marked by betrayal — no forced entry, silent entry, targeted victims — it underscores how everyday routines can conceal darker intentions. Police have stressed the investigation’s complexity, with ongoing efforts to piece together every detail.

As McKee faces extradition and trial in Franklin County, the community grapples with the horror of a home turned crime scene. The Tepe family, in statements, expressed gratitude for the swift arrest while acknowledging the irreversible pain. Their focus remains on protecting and honoring the couple’s children, who now carry forward their parents’ legacy of love amid unimaginable tragedy.

This case serves as a somber reminder of how past relationships can harbor unresolved dangers, and how trust within a home can be weaponized with devastating consequences.