Court records and booking details have confirmed the arrest of Michael David McKee, 39, Monique Tepe’s ex-husband, in connection with the double homicide of Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, in their Columbus, Ohio, home. McKee was taken into custody on January 10, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois, and booked into the Winnebago County Jail shortly before noon local time (around 11:57 a.m. CST, with custody status updated at 12:04 p.m.). He faces two counts of murder under Ohio Revised Code 2903.02(A), with an arrest warrant issued that same day by Franklin County authorities.

Here are recent images of Michael David McKee from his booking photo following the arrest:

abcnews.go.com

wrex.com

nbcchicago.com

These mugshots, released by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, show McKee in standard booking attire after his apprehension without incident.

Key Details from Court and Booking Records

According to Franklin County Municipal Court documents and affidavits in support of probable cause, detectives identified McKee through neighborhood surveillance video in Columbus. The footage linked him to a vehicle that arrived near the Tepe residence shortly before the estimated time of the homicides (between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30, 2025) and departed shortly after. Investigators traced the vehicle to the Rockford/Chicago area, where additional evidence confirmed McKee’s possession of it before and after the killings. This breakthrough prompted the warrant and swift arrest.

McKee, a vascular surgeon licensed in Illinois and residing in the Chicago area, was previously married to Monique Tepe from 2015 until their divorce in June 2017 on grounds of incompatibility, per Franklin County Clerk of Courts records. No public details on ongoing disputes or the motive have been released by authorities, who continue to describe the case as complex with “tons of evidence” from surveillance, tips, and forensics.

Booking logs from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office note standard processing upon intake, including the seizure of personal items from McKee at approximately 8:26 a.m. (likely local time during initial processing or inventory). One personal item was specifically removed from his jacket pocket during this procedure. While exact details of the item remain undisclosed in public records—common in active investigations to protect evidence integrity—such seizures are routine during arrests to catalog belongings, ensure safety, and preserve potential forensic value (e.g., for trace evidence, documents, or devices).

These images show the exterior and facilities of the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee is currently held pending extradition:

penmateapp.com

rochesterilpolice.com

McKee is scheduled for an initial court appearance in Illinois (likely an extradition hearing) as early as January 13, 2026, before potential transfer to Ohio for formal proceedings in Franklin County.

Recap of the Tragic Case

Spencer and Monique Tepe were discovered shot to death on the second floor of their Weinland Park home on December 30, 2025, after Spencer missed work, prompting a welfare check. Their two young children (ages ~1 and 4) and family dog were unharmed. Police ruled out murder-suicide early on, with no forced entry noted and no weapon recovered at the scene.

On January 5, authorities released grainy alley surveillance footage of a hooded “person of interest” in dark clothing walking toward the home’s garage area during the murder window. This clip, combined with vehicle tracking, proved instrumental in linking McKee to the crime.

Here are somber images from the Weinland Park neighborhood and crime scene aftermath in Columbus, showing police tape and the residential area where the tragedy occurred:

dispatch.com

dispatch.com

Family and Community Response

The Tepe family confirmed McKee as Monique’s ex-husband and issued a statement expressing that the arrest marks “an important step toward justice” while centering their grief on Spencer and Monique’s love and the care of their children. Spencer was remembered as a dedicated mentor (including through Big Brothers Big Sisters), and Monique as a loving mother. The couple, married in 2021, were approaching their fifth anniversary.

As of January 11, 2026, the investigation remains active, with Columbus Police emphasizing investigative integrity amid public interest. No further details on seized items, including the one from McKee’s jacket pocket, have been released publicly, as they may form part of the evidentiary chain.

This rapid development—from a complex, tip-heavy probe to charges—offers hope for closure in a case that shocked the community during the holiday season. The focus now turns to the legal process, ensuring accountability for the senseless loss of two lives.