Mystery deepens as family of slain Ohio dentist, wife pour cold water on eerie surveillance video

The family of a slain Ohio dentist and his wife have downplayed the significance of a shadowy figure seen on surveillance video the night of their mysterious killings, with police still not announcing a suspect in the crime.

Dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique, were found dead in their home north of Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 30, with no signs of forced entry.

They had each been shot, but no firearm was found at the scene, and their two children and pet dog were unharmed.

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The mystery surrounding the killings of dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique, has only deepened.Facebook

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The couple were found dead in their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30 — but their children and dog were found unharmed.Police on Monday released footage of a “person of interest” wearing a hooded jacket in an alley close to their home during the 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. window when the shootings were believed to have taken place.

However, Spencer’s brother-in-law poured cold water on the importance of the figure.

“I do think, you know, (it’s a) suspicious-looking person there. It also very well could be … somebody walking home drunk from a bar,” Rob Misleh, who is looking after the couple’s young children, told NewsNation.

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Spencer Tepe’s brother-in-law speculated that the “person of interest” seen in footage coul be “somebody walking home drunk from a bar.”Columbus Division of Police
He added that the couple, who were “so well liked and admired by everyone,” had no known enemies. “They were always smiling, they were always laughing. So, it’s really just unbelievable and shocking to all of us when we found out. Still, a week later, it doesn’t, still doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe I’m, like, here talking about this,” he said.

No Evidence of Family Group Chat Revelation in Spencer and Monique Tepe Murder Case: Investigation Remains Ongoing with No Suspects Named

As of January 7, 2026, the shocking double homicide of Columbus dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, continues to baffle investigators and grieve a community, but claims of a explosive family group chat exposing “the horrifying truth” or detailing “the final eight seconds of panic” appear unfounded. Extensive searches across major news outlets—including CNN, People, ABC6, The Columbus Dispatch, and others—reveal no reports of such a group chat, leaked messages, or desperate final communications from the couple.

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The Tepes were discovered shot to death in the upstairs of their Weinland Park home on North 4th Street on December 30, 2025, following a welfare check prompted by Spencer’s uncharacteristic absence from work at Athens Dental Depot. Their two young children—a 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son—along with the family Goldendoodle, were found unharmed inside the house, a detail that has deepened the mystery. Police quickly ruled out murder-suicide, noting no firearm recovered at the scene and no signs of forced entry.

Columbus Police believe the killings occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30. On January 5, 2026, authorities released surveillance footage of a “person of interest”—a hooded figure in light-colored pants and a dark jacket, walking slowly through a snowy alley behind the Tepes’ garage during that timeframe. Brother-in-law Rob Misleh, who has become the family’s primary spokesperson and is caring for the children, reacted cautiously: “I do think it’s a suspicious-looking person there… It also very well could be somebody walking home drunk from a bar.”

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No arrests have been made, no motive identified, and police have urged the public to submit tips via Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. A GoFundMe for the orphaned children, organized by a cousin, has raised over $170,000, reflecting widespread community support.

The family issued a heartfelt public statement on January 3, shared through Misleh: “Our family is devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of Spencer and Monique. They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others… Together, they shared a beautiful, strong, and deeply happy relationship. They loved to travel, to laugh, and to build a life rooted in love. They were proud parents of two beautiful children… While no outcome can ever undo this loss, our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice.”

Misleh has spoken emotionally in interviews, describing the couple as the “glue” of their community and expressing shock and anger while focusing on the children’s wellbeing. He noted the kids are “in loving hands” and as “unaware as they ever could be,” with the family grappling over how to explain the loss to the 4-year-old.

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Frantic 911 calls from the morning of discovery—placed by coworkers, friends, and the practice owner—reveal growing alarm, with one caller reporting hearing children crying inside and later spotting a body. However, no evidence has emerged of any communication from Spencer or Monique during the attack itself.

A makeshift memorial of flowers, candles, and notes has grown outside the couple’s home, where they married in an intimate 2021 ceremony just months before what would have been their fifth anniversary in January 2026.

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Spencer, an Ohio State graduate fluent in Spanish and involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, was remembered as energetic and generous. Monique, with a background in childhood education, was described as warm, patient, and an excellent baker who lit up rooms.

The absence of any reported final messages or group chat details suggests sensational claims circulating online may be misinformation. As the investigation continues—with forensics, neighborhood footage, and background checks ongoing—the family and community await answers in a case that has left Columbus reeling.