Alleged Double Murder After Cross-State Drive
A vascular surgeon, Michael McKee, 39, has been formally charged with the December 30 killings of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband, dentist Spencer Tepe, in their Columbus, Ohio home. Investigators allege McKee drove roughly 900 miles from his home in Illinois to Ohio and back within about 17 hours on the night of the deaths, based on cellphone and surveillance data.
Law enforcement says McKee’s phone was left at his workplace in Rockford, Illinois for much of the trip, and security footage reportedly places a vehicle linked to him near the Tepe residence in the early morning hours before the couple was found shot dead. Their two young children were asleep inside the house at the time and were unharmed.
Arrest, Charges and Court Proceedings
Authorities arrested McKee on January 10, 2026, in Rockford and he was later extradited to Ohio to face prosecution. He is charged with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary tied to the double homicide. In his first court appearance, McKee pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Police say a search of McKee’s property uncovered several firearms, including one similar to the weapon believed to have been used in the killings. If convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Background and Earlier Contact
Court records and surveillance footage also show McKee was seen at the Tepes’ Columbus property on December 6, weeks before the fatal shooting, while Monique and her husband were away at a football game in Indiana. Friends reported Monique was worried about issues involving her ex-husband just prior to that visit.
Monique and McKee were married in 2015 but divorced in 2017 after a brief marriage. McKee later moved to Illinois, where he practiced vascular surgery. Spencer and Monique had married in 2020 and were raising two young children at the time of their deaths.
