In a chilling development that has stunned medical and legal communities, vascular surgeon Michael David McKee, 39, faces accusations of premeditated aggravated murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer Tepe, 37, a dentist, in their Columbus, Ohio home on December 30, 2025. The couple was found shot in their Weinland Park residence, mere feet from where their two young children slept unharmed. McKee, who divorced Monique in 2017 after a marriage that produced those children, was arrested on January 11, 2026, at a Rockford, Illinois hospital where he worked. Authorities linked him to the crime through surveillance footage showing a figure matching his description in a nearby alley, vehicle tracking, and a firearm from his Illinois home that matched scene evidence. He waived extradition and is set to face trial in Ohio, where the case has drawn intense scrutiny over his troubled past.

Just three months before the murders, on September 29, 2025, McKee was added as a defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit in Clark County, Nevada. The suit, stemming from a 2023 incident at Las Vegas Surgical Associates, alleges he failed to properly train a physician’s assistant, resulting in a patient’s severe injury during a procedure that required emergency surgery. Attempts to serve McKee proved futile; process servers documented multiple failed efforts, including visits to a nonexistent address provided by his former medical group and a phone number that connected to a fax machine. This evasion painted a picture of a man on the run, disappearing from professional obligations long before the violent act he’s now charged with.

McKee’s legal woes didn’t start there. In June 2024, he was named in a federal civil rights and medical negligence lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, highlighting a pattern of alleged professional misconduct. Licensed in Nevada for just over two years until his credentials expired in June 2025, McKee had relocated to Chicago, working at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center until his arrest. The hospital cooperated with investigators, suspending him immediately. His career trajectory—from Las Vegas practitioner to Illinois surgeon—now appears marred by these unresolved claims, raising questions about oversight in the medical field.

The Tepes, remembered as devoted parents and professionals, had built a life in Columbus after Monique’s divorce from McKee. Spencer, known for his mentorship in dentistry, and Monique were active in their community, their sudden deaths leaving a void. Family members had expressed concerns about McKee’s behavior post-divorce, though details remain private. Police Chief Elaine Bryant emphasized the exhaustive investigation that pieced together digital trails, ballistics, and witness accounts to build the case.

This tragedy intersects personal vendetta with professional fallout, spotlighting issues like domestic violence warning signs and accountability for healthcare providers. As McKee awaits trial, the lawsuits proceed, with a jury set for the state malpractice case. The story serves as a stark reminder of how unresolved grievances can escalate into unimaginable horror, leaving two children orphaned and a community reeling. Authorities continue probing motives, but the timeline of McKee’s legal troubles and the murders suggests a man unraveling under pressure.