In a heartbreaking twist to one of Ohio’s most shocking crimes, the young daughter of murdered dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique Tepe has begun to recall the horrific events of December 30, 2025. The 4-year-old girl, previously too traumatized to provide details, has now started sharing fragments of that fateful night in Columbus, trembling as she describes coming face-to-face with the intruder moments before he fatally shot her parents and fled the scene.

Spencer Tepe, 37, a respected dentist, and Monique Tepe, 39, were discovered shot to death in their Weinland Park home. Spencer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Monique was shot once in the chest. Their two children—a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son—along with the family dog, were found unharmed inside the residence. There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing appeared stolen, leading investigators to quickly classify the incident as a targeted double homicide rather than a random act or murder-suicide.

The prime suspect, Michael David McKee, 39—a vascular surgeon from Chicago and Monique’s ex-husband from a brief marriage that ended in divorce in 2017—was arrested on January 10, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois. Authorities linked him through surveillance footage capturing a person of interest near the home that night, vehicle tracking showing his travel over 500 kilometers to and from Columbus, and ballistics from a firearm recovered at his residence matching evidence at the crime scene. Charges were elevated to two counts of premeditated aggravated murder, with the motive still under official investigation but widely believed to stem from lingering domestic tensions.

Family members expressed little surprise at the arrest, noting they had quietly suspected McKee early on while cooperating fully with police to protect the integrity of the probe. The surviving children are now under the loving care of close relatives, receiving trauma support as the case progresses toward trial.

In this latest emotional development, the couple’s eldest daughter has overcome her initial silence. Shaking with fear, she recounted the terrifying encounter with the killer just before the shots rang out. What has stunned investigators, loved ones, and the community most is the six haunting words the intruder allegedly spoke directly to the child—words dripping with cold detachment amid the unimaginable violence. These chilling utterances have deepened the horror of an already devastating crime, underscoring how a targeted act of rage left innocent young lives scarred forever.

The Columbus community continues to reel from the senseless loss of a warm, family-oriented couple who lived for their children and friends. As legal proceedings advance, the focus remains on justice for Spencer and Monique while ensuring the children receive every possible healing resource. This case serves as a stark reminder of how unresolved personal conflicts can erupt into tragedy, forever altering the futures of those left behind.