Police believe that a Chicago-area doctor drove hundreds of miles to murder an Ohio dentist and his wife.
Ohio police found Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, dead from gunshot wounds on December 30 after Spencer failed to show up for work at the Dental Depot. Two children, ages 4 and 1, were found in the home crying but unharmed. There were no signs of forced entry at the home, and no weapon was found at the crime scene, ABC-6 reported.
Michael David McKee, 39, is being held in a Winnebago County Jail in Illinois pending extradition to Ohio. News Nation reported that McKee, a vascular surgeon, was married to Monique Tepe from 2015 to 2017.
The network reported that McKee came to the attention of authorities after police tracked a vehicle parked in the Tepe's neighborhood around the time of the killings to Rockford, Illinois.
"This divorce happened about nine years ago. They were married for such a brief time," Jennifer Coffindaffer, law and justice contributor, told "NewsNation Prime" on Sunday. "That is strange, but I think it was a deep-seated resentment and hate that just built up and finally came to this conclusion."
Although a criminal complaint lists a Chicago address for McKee, was taken into custody in Rockford, the Chicago Tribune reported. McKee also was a surgeon who worked at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.
Spencer and Monique were married in December 2020, according to their obituary. "Spencer and Monique met online and quickly grew their relationship into a solid foundation of love and respect with a side of goofiness," the obituary states. "They had two precious children together who were loved dearly. Spencer and Monique were the life of the party, holding many family and friend gatherings. They were generous with kind hearts."
Following McKee's arrest, the Tepe family released a statement to ABC News:
"Today's arrest represents an important step toward justice for Monique and Spencer. Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon, but we are grateful to the City of Columbus Police Department, its investigators, and assisting law enforcement community whose tireless efforts helped to capture the person involved.
"We thank the community for the continued support, prayers, and compassion shown throughout this tragedy. As the case proceeds, we trust the justice system to hold the person responsible fully accountable.
"Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind. We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world."
