The seemingly idyllic life of Monique Tepe, a devoted mother and former educator, shattered in the most unimaginable way on December 30, 2025, when she and her husband, dentist Spencer Tepe, were found shot dead in their Columbus, Ohio home. Their two young children, ages four and one, were present but unharmed, left crying beside their parents’ bodies. What began as a baffling home invasion quickly unraveled into a chilling tale of obsession and unresolved resentment from the past.

Monique, 39, had built a happy family with Spencer, 37, after marrying him in late 2020. Friends described the couple as warm, loving, and deeply connected, eagerly anticipating their fifth wedding anniversary. Monique, known for her nurturing spirit and joyful energy, had moved on from a brief earlier chapter in her life: a marriage to Michael David McKee that lasted less than two years.

Court records reveal the union began in August 2015 but soured rapidly. The couple separated after just eight months in March 2016, with Monique filing for divorce in June 2017, citing “incompatibility.” The split appeared amicable on paper—no children, no major property disputes, and a quiet resolution. Yet, emerging details paint a far darker picture. Family members close to Monique have shared that the marriage was marked by emotional abuse and threats. One relative revealed Monique confided that McKee had threatened her life during their time together, leading her to end the relationship abruptly for her safety.

Nearly a decade later, McKee, now a 39-year-old vascular surgeon based in Chicago, was arrested on January 10, 2026, in Illinois and charged with two counts of murder in the Tepe killings. Authorities point to surveillance footage showing a person of interest near the home hours before the shootings. Investigators believe McKee’s frequent presence in the area in recent months was no coincidence, suggesting a long-simmering grudge that never truly faded.

Experts and former law enforcement officials speculate on possible motives, including deep-seated resentment over Monique moving on, remarrying, and starting a family. The case has shocked the community, as the Tepe household was seen as peaceful and free of enemies. Monique’s family, while devastated, expressed they were not entirely surprised by McKee’s arrest. They had harbored quiet suspicions but remained silent to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.

The tragedy leaves two innocent children grappling with unimaginable loss. Extended family members are now focused on shielding them and figuring out how to explain the horror. Statements from loved ones emphasize the couple’s extraordinary love and the senselessness of the crime.

As McKee awaits extradition to Ohio, the case continues to unfold, exposing how past shadows can linger and erupt violently years later. What appeared as a clean break was, for one man, an open wound that never healed—turning a fresh start into a deadly end.