A vascular surgeon from Chicago is now confronting upgraded, premeditated murder charges in connection with the fatal shootings of his ex-wife and her new husband in Ohio, in a case that has sent shockwaves through two communities.
Upgraded Charges and Court Appearance
Michael David McKee, 39, appeared in an Illinois court on Monday 12 January 2026, clad in a yellow jail uniform and restraints. The hearing followed his arrest on Saturday, nearly two weeks after the bodies of Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, were discovered in their Columbus, Ohio home on 30 December.
Franklin County court records show McKee now faces two counts of premeditated aggravated murder, upgraded charges as authorities prepare to transfer him from Illinois to Ohio to stand trial. His public defender, Carie Poirier, stated McKee plans to plead not guilty and will waive extradition to facilitate a swift transfer.
A Chilling Discovery and Family's Suspicions
The investigation began when Spencer Tepe, a dentist, failed to arrive at his Athens dental practice, an absence his manager described as highly unusual. Columbus police subsequently performed a welfare check at the couple's home.
Officers found both victims on the second floor with gunshot wounds. Critically, there were no signs of forced entry, no murder weapon was recovered, and nothing appeared stolen. The couple's two young children and their dog were located inside the house unharmed, and police have ruled out a murder-suicide.
Rob Misleh, Spencer Tepe's brother-in-law, told Sky News' US partner NBC that the family quickly suspected McKee's involvement. "He was an emotionally abusive person when they were together - that is all I know," Misleh said.
Investigation and a Path to Justice
Earlier last week, investigators released surveillance footage of a person of interest in a dark hoodie and light-coloured trousers walking through an alley near the Tepe home between 2am and 5am, the believed window of the shootings. The footage generated multiple tips that led authorities to McKee's apartment in another state.
In a heartfelt statement, the Tepe family called the arrest "an important step toward justice" and expressed faith in the legal process. "Monique and Spencer remain forever in our hearts, and we will carry their love forward as we protect and care for the two children they leave behind," the family said.
McKee and Monique, then Monique Sabaturski, were married in 2015 and divorced in 2017. She married Spencer Tepe in 2020. In her wedding video, Monique spoke of her journey to find love, stating, "it was worth every cringing second because it led me to you." Spencer was a prominent dentist involved in mentoring, while Monique was remembered as a joyful mother and avid baker.
McKee, a 2014 medical graduate, was listed as a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. His medical licences in California and Illinois show no disciplinary history. Final autopsy results from the Franklin County Coroner's Office are pending.
