Columbus police investigators have revealed a disturbing new detail in the double homicide case of Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe: suspect Michael David McKee allegedly attached a specialized device to the couple’s robot vacuum cleaner as part of what authorities now describe as a meticulously planned execution. The revelation, disclosed during a closed-door briefing to prosecutors and leaked to several media outlets on January 19, 2026, has stunned both law enforcement insiders and the public, adding a layer of cold, technological precision to what was already being treated as a targeted domestic violence-related killing.

The device in question—a compact, custom-modified component roughly the size of a matchbox—was discovered during a forensic sweep of the Tepe residence on Featherbed Lane following the discovery of the bodies on December 30, 2025. Sources familiar with the investigation say the object was affixed to the underside of the couple’s Roomba-style robotic vacuum, secured with industrial adhesive and wired into the machine’s existing battery and motor system. While the exact function remains partially classified pending full forensic analysis, preliminary findings indicate it was designed to serve as a remote-activated mechanism capable of delivering a targeted payload or triggering a secondary action within the home.

What has shocked detectives most is not the sophistication of the device itself—similar technology exists in hobbyist and commercial spheres—but the method by which McKee allegedly placed it inside the residence without detection. According to colleagues and former associates interviewed by police, McKee exploited a routine service appointment. In mid-December 2025, Monique Tepe had scheduled a standard cleaning and maintenance visit for the robot vacuum through the manufacturer’s authorized repair network. The technician who arrived was, investigators now believe, someone McKee had quietly paid or coerced into cooperation. The repair person allegedly installed the device during the service call, completed the routine maintenance, and left without arousing suspicion. The entire process took less than 20 minutes.

This method allowed McKee to bypass traditional security measures—no forced entry, no suspicious visitors on doorbell cameras, no unusual deliveries. The vacuum, a device that moves freely throughout the house daily, became an invisible accomplice already positioned deep inside the family’s living space. Prosecutors believe the device was intended to either release a substance, disrupt electronics, or serve as a timing mechanism for the eventual attack. While the exact role it played in the December 30 killings remains under seal, sources say it was part of a multi-layered plan that relied on misdirection, patience, and intimate knowledge of the victims’ routines.

McKee, a 39-year-old former vascular surgeon, was arrested on January 10, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois, after a multi-state manhunt. He faces multiple counts of aggravated murder, burglary, and related charges stemming from the shooting deaths of Monique and Spencer Tepe in their own home. The couple’s two young children, ages 4 and 1, were unharmed but present during the incident, and Monique’s final act of pleading with McKee to spare them has become a central element of the emotional narrative surrounding the case.

The robot vacuum revelation has intensified scrutiny of McKee’s background and mindset. Colleagues from his medical career describe him as highly intelligent, detail-oriented, and capable of long-term planning—traits that, in hindsight, align with the alleged use of a household appliance as a covert tool. His divorce from Monique in 2017 had been contentious, with allegations of controlling behavior and threats that resurfaced during the murder investigation. Friends of the Tepe couple have told investigators that Monique remained fearful of McKee even after remarrying Spencer, though she never sought formal protective orders.

Forensic teams continue to analyze the device. Early tests indicate it contained no explosive material but may have been equipped with a small electronic trigger or chemical reservoir. Some experts consulted by the prosecution have compared the method to emerging “smart home weaponization” cases, where everyday IoT devices are repurposed for malicious ends. The fact that the vacuum continued to operate normally for weeks after installation—cleaning floors, returning to its dock, even sending routine status updates to the Tepe family app—makes the alleged sabotage especially insidious.

The case has sparked renewed discussion about domestic violence escalation, the vulnerability of connected home devices, and the challenges of detecting sophisticated threats within seemingly normal routines. Advocacy groups have pointed to the incident as a tragic example of how abusers can exploit technology and familiarity to maintain control long after relationships end.

As the legal process moves forward, McKee remains in custody awaiting extradition and arraignment. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty, citing the premeditated nature of the crime and the presence of the children. The robot vacuum detail, once fully declassified, is expected to play a central role in proving intent and planning.

For the surviving family members, the revelation brings no comfort—only more questions about how a routine service call could have become the prelude to unimaginable violence. Monique and Spencer Tepe’s children are now living with relatives, surrounded by support as they begin the long process of healing. In their quiet home on Featherbed Lane, the robot vacuum sits silent, its role in the nightmare finally exposed, a small machine that carried a very large secret until the end.