“A Dispute Between Siblings Can Hold Clues” – Unverified Rumors Swirl Amid Ongoing Investigation into Spencer and Monique Tepe’s Deaths

Columbus, Ohio – January 8, 2026 – As the investigation into the December 30, 2025, shooting deaths of dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, enters its second week, no arrests have been made, no motive established, and police continue to seek tips from the public.

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The couple was found with gunshot wounds in the upstairs of their Weinland Park home after welfare checks prompted by Spencer’s absence from work. Their two young children, ages 4 and 1, were unharmed inside the residence, along with the family dog. Authorities have ruled out murder-suicide, noting no signs of forced entry and no weapon recovered at the scene.

Police released surveillance footage on January 6 of a “person of interest” – a figure in a dark hooded jacket and light pants walking in an alley near the home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., the estimated time of the killings. Numerous tips have followed, but investigators remain tight-lipped.

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A separate development involved a 911 call from the Tepe home in April 2025 reporting a “domestic dispute.” Family clarified it was made by a party guest, not Monique, and unrelated to the couple.

Claims circulating online of a heated sibling or brother-in-law argument over finances days before the deaths – with someone angrily storming out and leaving a door ajar – remain unverified by any credible reports or official statements. Hypothetically, such a dispute, if it occurred, could suggest interpersonal tensions potentially relevant to investigators, perhaps explaining access without forced entry. However, no sources confirm this event, and police have not indicated family involvement or financial motives.

The family, through brother-in-law Rob Misleh, described Spencer and Monique as devoted parents living lives “filled with love, joy, and deep connection.” A GoFundMe for the children has raised substantial support, and memorials continue outside the home.

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As Columbus awaits answers in this high-profile case, authorities urge anyone with information to contact the homicide unit or Crime Stoppers anonymously.