🚨 BREAKING: Eerie Surveillance Video Released – Mystery Figure in Dark Hoodie Caught Lurking in Alley Hours Before Ohio Dentist & Wife Were Gunned Down in Their Home

A happy young family – successful dentist Spencer Tepe, devoted wife Monique, and their two little kids – until someone executed them in cold blood upstairs while the children cried downstairs unharmed.

Now, Columbus police just dropped chilling footage of a shadowy male in a dark hoodie, head down, prowling the alley behind their Weinland Park home between 2-5 AM – the exact window detectives say the brutal double murder happened.

No forced entry. No robbery. No weapons found. So how did the killer get in… and why target this picture-perfect couple?

The unanswered questions are terrifying neighbors. Is this hooded figure the cold-blooded shooter? Police need YOUR tips NOW.

Watch the video and see the haunting details… 👇

One week after a prominent local dentist and his wife were found shot to death in their Weinland Park home, Columbus police on Monday released surveillance footage of a “person of interest” — a figure in a dark hoodie walking with head down through an alley near the couple’s residence during the critical early morning hours when the killings are believed to have occurred.

Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds on the second floor of their home on December 30, 2025, after concerned friends and colleagues raised alarms when Spencer failed to show up for work and Monique stopped responding to messages. Their two young children — ages 2 and 4 — were found unharmed but crying downstairs, adding a layer of heartbreak to the already baffling case.

Authorities say there were no signs of forced entry, nothing appeared stolen, and no weapons were recovered at the scene — fueling speculation about a targeted attack or someone known to the victims. “This does not have the hallmarks of a random robbery,” a police source told local media, though officials have stressed the investigation remains in its early stages.

The newly released video, captured from neighborhood cameras, shows an individual — described by police as appearing male — walking in the alley behind the Tepes’ home between approximately 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the night of the murders. The figure is clad in dark clothing, including a hooded sweatshirt pulled up, and keeps their head lowered, avoiding any clear view of the face.

“Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.,” Columbus Police stated in a release accompanying the footage. “We are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying this person of interest.”

Tips can be submitted anonymously to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, and police have urged anyone with doorbell or security camera footage from the Weinland Park or nearby Italian Village areas to come forward.

The case has gripped the community, with neighbors expressing shock over the violence in a neighborhood that’s seen revitalization in recent years but still grapples with occasional crime. Weinland Park, located near downtown Columbus and The Ohio State University, has been touted for its progress, but the high-profile killings have reignited safety concerns.

Spencer Tepe was a well-regarded dentist practicing in the area, known for his friendly demeanor and community involvement. Originally from Mason, Ohio, he met Monique while attending college. The couple, married for nearly a decade, were described by family as devoted parents who prioritized their children.

In a statement released shortly after the deaths, the Tepe family called the loss “tragic and senseless,” saying: “Our family is devastated… Spencer and Monique were loving parents, dedicated professionals, and cherished members of their community.”

Friends and colleagues echoed that sentiment. Co-workers at Spencer’s dental practice noted his reliability, while Monique, a stay-at-home mom, was remembered for her warmth and involvement in family activities.

Police responded to the home around midday on December 30 after welfare check requests. Officers found the couple deceased upstairs from apparent gunshot wounds. Preliminary reports indicate Spencer was shot multiple times, though full autopsy details await release from the Franklin County Coroner’s office.

The children, unharmed physically, were taken into the care of relatives. Sources say they were in a lower level of the home at the time of the shootings, spared from the violence but undoubtedly traumatized.

Investigators have remained tight-lipped on motives or suspects, with no arrests announced as of January 6, 2026. The absence of forced entry has led some experts to suggest the killer may have been let in voluntarily or had another means of access.

Retired FBI profiler Harry Trombitas, commenting on local news without direct involvement, noted: “No robbery, no forced entry — this points toward someone who knew the victims or had a personal reason. It’s targeted.”

The release of the person of interest video marks a push for public help, a common tactic in stalled homicide probes. Similar footage has cracked cases in the past, identifying suspects through tips about clothing, gait, or associations.

Community response has been swift. Vigils have been held, and social media is flooded with pleas for information. Local leaders, including Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office, have expressed condolences but deferred comment on the ongoing probe.

Weinland Park residents report heightened vigilance, with many installing or reviewing security systems. “It’s scary — a family just like ours, in their own home,” one neighbor told ABC6.

As the investigation continues, questions linger: Who is the hooded figure? Was this a domestic issue, a professional dispute, or something else entirely? Police have not ruled out murder-suicide but have classified it as a double homicide, per reports.

The Tepes’ home remains sealed as a crime scene, with forensic teams combing for evidence. Ballistics and digital forensics are underway, though no details have emerged.

Family members have requested privacy while thanking the community for support. A GoFundMe for the children’s future has raised substantial funds.

Columbus saw a dip in homicides in 2025, but this case underscores persistent challenges. Detectives are chasing hundreds of tips received since the video drop.

For now, the grainy image of a lone walker in the predawn darkness is the closest lead in a mystery that’s left a family shattered and a neighborhood on edge.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Columbus Police Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers. As one detective put it: “Someone knows something — we just need them to come forward.”

The search for justice in the Tepe killings presses on, with the hooded shadow in the alley now at the center of it all.