In a chilling escalation to one of Ohio’s most shocking recent crimes, vascular surgeon Michael McKee has been indicted on multiple counts of aggravated murder for the December 30, 2025, fatal shootings of his ex-wife Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, in their Columbus home. Court documents reveal a key detail that explains the eerie silence reported by neighbors: McKee is accused of using a firearm equipped with a silencer (also known as a suppressor or muffler) during the targeted attack, muffling the gunshots and allowing the killings to go undetected in the early morning hours.

The couple was discovered dead around 10 a.m. that day after a concerned friend and coworker of Spencer performed a welfare check when he failed to arrive at work. Police arrived to find Spencer lying in a puddle of blood next to his bed and Monique with at least one gunshot wound to the chest, both in the upstairs area of their Weinland Park home on the 1400 block of North 4th Street. Remarkably, the Tepe’s two young children—a 4-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy—along with the family dog, were unharmed and physically safe elsewhere in the house. There were no signs of forced entry, nothing appeared stolen, and murder-suicide was quickly ruled out.

The absence of reported gunfire from neighbors or passersby puzzled investigators initially, given the residential nature of the area. However, the January 16, 2026, five-count indictment from a Franklin County grand jury clarified the method: McKee allegedly carried out the premeditated killings with a firearm fitted with a suppressor, which significantly reduces the sound of discharge—often to a level comparable to a loud hand clap or door slam rather than the sharp crack of an unsuppressed gunshot. The charges include four counts of aggravated murder (with specifications for using a firearm in the commission of the offense) and one count of aggravated burglary, plus additional firearm enhancements: a three-year specification for using a gun during aggravated murder and a six-year specification for the suppressor.

Prosecutors allege the attack was a domestic violence-related targeted assault, stemming from McKee’s brief marriage to Monique. The couple wed in August 2015 after meeting at Ohio State University but divorced in 2017 due to “incompatibility,” with records showing they had already been living separately. Family members of Spencer Tepe later described McKee as emotionally abusive during the marriage, claiming Monique had confided that he threatened her life “many times” and that she lived in fear of him even after the split. No prior police reports or restraining orders were filed at the Tepe home involving McKee, but the allegations paint a picture of lingering resentment nearly a decade after the divorce.

The breakthrough in the case came swiftly through modern surveillance. Neighborhood video footage captured a hooded figure walking calmly through a snowy alley near the home around the time of the murders (believed to have occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., with one affidavit pinpointing approximately 3:52 a.m.). A vehicle linked to McKee was seen arriving shortly before the killings and departing soon after. Investigators traced the vehicle to Illinois, leading to McKee’s arrest on January 10, 2026, in Rockford—about 450 miles from Columbus—without incident. Multiple firearms were recovered from his Chicago-area property, including one with a preliminary ballistic match to evidence at the crime scene via the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).

McKee, 39, a licensed vascular surgeon employed at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, waived extradition during a brief Illinois court appearance and is expected to be transferred to Ohio soon to face the charges. If convicted, he faces a minimum of life in prison with parole eligibility after 32 years, or life without parole. The death penalty has not been sought, consistent with Franklin County’s recent practice.

The use of a silencer adds a layer of premeditation and calculation to the case. Suppressors are legal in many states, including Ohio and Illinois, with proper federal registration under the National Firearms Act, but their application in a crime raises serious questions about planning and intent. The muffled shots ensured the children—sleeping nearby—remained undisturbed, and no immediate alarm was raised in the quiet neighborhood.

The Tepe family released a statement calling McKee’s arrest “an important step toward justice,” expressing gratitude to law enforcement while emphasizing their focus on protecting and honoring the couple’s children. Friends and community members remembered Monique and Spencer as generous, kind-hearted individuals who were “the life of the party” and deeply devoted to their family. A celebration of life service was held shortly after the bodies were discovered, drawing an outpouring of support.

As the case moves forward, questions linger about motive—why strike after so many years?—and how McKee allegedly entered the home undetected. Police have stressed the investigation remains active, with no further details released to protect its integrity. The indictment’s emphasis on the suppressor underscores the deliberate nature of the attack, transforming a seemingly random tragedy into a calculated act of violence that left two young children orphaned and a community reeling.

This heartbreaking double homicide continues to grip Columbus and the nation, a stark reminder of how domestic tensions can erupt into irreversible tragedy, even in the quiet of the night.