In the quiet suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, what appeared to be a picture-perfect family life shattered in the early hours of December 30, 2025. Dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death in their home while their two young children—one and four years old—cried nearby, unharmed but traumatized. The couple, who were days away from celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, had built a loving household filled with warmth, community involvement, and the joys of raising a toddler and preschooler.

But beneath the surface of this idyllic scene lay a storm that had been brewing for years. Monique’s ex-husband, Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon from Chicago, has now been charged with two counts of murder in connection with the killings. Authorities arrested him on January 10, 2026, after tracing a vehicle linked to him that appeared near the crime scene and then fled toward Illinois.

What makes this case particularly chilling is the revelation from neighbors that the relationship between Monique and McKee was far from the amicable divorce portrayed in court records. Though their 2015 marriage ended in 2017 without children or major public disputes, whispers from those who lived nearby paint a different picture. Locals claim McKee frequently showed up unannounced at Monique’s residence even after the split, often causing disturbances late at night. These visits reportedly escalated in intensity, leaving residents uneasy about the persistent presence of an ex who refused to fully let go.

Most shockingly, surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera allegedly captured McKee’s suspicious behavior on the night before the murders. The recording reportedly shows him lingering in the area, acting erratically in the darkness—pacing, observing the home, and displaying actions that now seem far from innocent. This footage, combined with other neighborhood security videos showing a hooded figure in an alley near the Tepe residence around the time of the shootings (between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.), provided critical leads for investigators. A key breakthrough came from tracking a vehicle that matched McKee’s, which was seen arriving in the neighborhood and departing shortly after the estimated time of death.

Spencer was struck by multiple bullets, while Monique suffered at least one gunshot wound to the chest—both died at the scene with no signs of forced entry, suggesting the killer was someone familiar or let in willingly. The children and family dog were left untouched, adding to the eerie precision of the crime.

Family members of the victims expressed little surprise at McKee’s arrest, revealing they had long harbored suspicions but stayed silent to avoid jeopardizing the investigation. Friends describe the couple as kind, devoted parents with no known enemies—making the motive appear deeply personal, possibly rooted in lingering resentment from the failed marriage.

As the case heads to court, the community grapples with the horror of domestic shadows turning deadly. Two innocent children now face life without their parents, and a once-peaceful neighborhood questions how such darkness hid in plain sight. The footage and neighbor accounts serve as haunting reminders that appearances can deceive—and obsession can turn fatal.