BREAKING Tonight: Ex-Husband Arrested in Double Murder of Ohio Dentist and Wife

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "BREAKING Tonight: Ex-Husband Arrested in Double Murder of Ohio Dentist and Wife"

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Date: January 10, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this urgent episode, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes discuss the breaking news regarding the arrest of Michael David McKee—the ex-husband of Monique Tepe—in the shocking double homicide of Columbus, Ohio residents Spencer and Monique Tepe. The hosts walk listeners through the bizarre and disturbing case, piecing together the timeline, available evidence, and the community's reaction as more details come to light. This episode is driven by the hosts' quest to understand the motive behind this seemingly inexplicable crime and the chilling fact that the couple's two young children were left alive but alone at the crime scene.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Murders and the Initial Mystery

• Discovery of the Crime

  • On December 30th, 2025, police were alerted to a Columbus, Ohio home after coworkers and friends grew concerned over their inability to contact the residents ([03:32]).
  • Spencer and Monique Tepe, a well-liked dentist and a stay-at-home mom active in the community, were found shot to death in their bedroom; their one- and four-year-old children were found alive ([03:32], [04:25]).

• Unusual Crime Scene

  • No forced entry or murder weapon left at the scene; murder-suicide was quickly ruled out ([03:32]).
  • The neighborhood was described as quiet, safe, and tightly knit, making the crime even more shocking ([03:32]).
  • "It appeared to be in their bedroom with their two children still alive. And there was no forced entry, there was no firearm left at the scene." —Amy Robach ([03:32]).

• Community Impact and Fear

  • The lack of immediate suspects or clear motive led to widespread fear and uncertainty in the community ([04:25], [06:14]).
  • Residents worried about their own safety with no information on whether the killer was at large or if others were at risk ([06:14]).

Investigative Breakthrough

• Surveillance and Vehicle Evidence

  • Police released a single, grainy surveillance video of a man walking down the street, but it showed no clear identifying features ([07:28]).
  • By appealing for any available home security footage, detectives were able to identify a vehicle traced to Rockford, Illinois ([07:28]).
  • This vehicle led them to Monique’s ex-husband: "They identified that Monique's ex husband was the owner of that vehicle. And you know, at that point, boom, you've got a connection." —Amy Robach ([07:28]).

• Arrest of Michael David McKee

  • Dr. Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon based near Chicago, was arrested in Illinois ([05:04], [16:53]).
  • The ex-husband and Monique were married from 2015 to 2017, divorced with no children between them, and apparently had an amicable separation ([05:04], [09:06]).
  • "This is very puzzling, especially when you consider Michael David McKee's profession. He is a vascular surgeon outside of Chicago. It's just not something you typically consider." —Amy Robach ([05:04]).

• Premeditation and Timeline

  • The drive from Illinois to Ohio is six and a half hours, indicating a planned and premeditated act ([10:00]).
  • The couple were days away from celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary ([09:06]).
  • "That's a commitment to something to make that drive all the way there to take two people out." —TJ Holmes ([10:00]).

The Suspect’s Background

• Dr. McKee's Career and Reputation
  • Practicing vascular surgeon with licenses in Illinois, California, and previously Nevada; attended medical school at Ohio State ([10:24]).
  • No arrest records or prior criminal history as of the time of recording ([11:16]).

Open Questions and Next Steps

• Lingering Mysteries

  • No clear motive identified; the divorce occurred almost nine years prior and appeared amicable ([09:06], [18:18]).
  • "There are so many questions as to why, what the motive would be with a seemingly amicable divorce and that much time gone by. Why then would he do what police say he did and plan it out the way they claim he did?" —Amy Robach ([18:59]).
  • Unanswered questions about how McKee gained access to the home without forced entry ([18:18]).

• Immediate Legal Proceedings

  • McKee is being held in Illinois, pending extradition to Ohio ([16:53]).
  • Expectation of an initial court hearing as early as Monday, including a bond hearing and likely a grand jury indictment ([16:53]).
  • The investigation is ongoing, and police urge the public to continue providing information ([18:59]).

Community and Family Aftermath

• Reactions and Relief

  • The arrest brought a measure of relief to a community gripped by fear ([16:07], [18:18]).
  • The Tepe family released a statement emphasizing their grief and the importance of accountability ([18:18]).

• Children’s Welfare

  • The Tepe children are safe and being cared for by family members ([19:50]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This was such a mystery…there was no forced entry, there was no firearm left at the scene. So they ruled out murder suicide right away. And it was just puzzling.” —Amy Robach ([03:32])

• “Why are you committing the crime knowing that there's a one and a four year old in the house?” —TJ Holmes ([04:25])

• “They must have been able to trace this guy walking to his vehicle…They tracked the vehicle down. They located it In Rockford, Illinois. Then they identified that Monique's ex husband was the owner of that vehicle...” —Amy Robach ([07:28])

• “If you're doing the math as I am, you're talking almost nine years ago, her divorce was finalized. And he comes back…to go and murder her and her not even new husband.” —Amy Robach ([09:06])

• “That's a commitment to something to make that drive all the way there to take two people out...that’s not our understanding that he just happened to be in the area.” —TJ Holmes ([10:00])

• “...Nothing can undo the devastating loss of the two lives taken far too soon. But they said it does represent an important step, at least right now towards justice.” —TJ Holmes, reading family statement ([18:18])

• “Good to know the kids are with the Tepe family...They did say that the children are being cared for by the family and they are really, they, they're so young, they don't even really know what's going on.” —Amy Robach ([19:50])

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Important Timestamps

• [02:57] – Breaking update: Arrest announced in the double murder in Columbus, OH
• [03:32] – Recap of initial crime scene discovery and puzzling circumstances
• [04:25] – Community confusion and lack of initial suspects
• [05:04] – Identification and background of arrested ex-husband
• [07:28] – Surveillance evidence leading to the McKee arrest
• [09:06] – Context on divorce and timeline; raising motive questions
• [10:00] – Discussion about the six-hour drive and what it suggests
• [10:24] – Dr. McKee’s medical background and lifestyle
• [11:16] – Statement on suspect’s clean record
• [16:53] – Preview of upcoming legal process and hearing
• [18:18] – Statement from the Tepe family and questions about access
• [19:50] – Update on custody and wellbeing of the couple’s children

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Summary & Ongoing Developments

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes close the episode by reminding listeners that many details remain unresolved: the motive, the exact method of entry, and the broader psychological puzzle posed by a successful doctor allegedly committing such a crime almost a decade after divorcing the victim. The hosts promise to stay on the story as court proceedings begin and urge anyone with more information to contact authorities. The episode stands out for its journalistic clarity, empathy for the victims’ children, and measured skepticism regarding the suspect’s guilt until proven in court.

End of Summary

Transcript

[Ashley Raiffeld]

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[TJ Holmes]

Hey there folks. It is Saturday, January 10th and an arrest has been made in the double murder of a young couple in Columbus, Ohio. Shot dead in their home with their one and four year old kids inside. Who have police now arrested her ex husband. And with that welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. A case we've been keeping our eye on for the past week or so. I won't speak for you but I will have to say I didn't see this one coming.

[Amy Robach]

I didn't either. This was such a mystery. This was I believe this happened 10 days ago, December 30th. That is when friends concerned co workers called police and found this couple shot to death in their. It appeared to be in their bedroom with their two children still alive. And there was no forced entry, there was no firearm left at the scene. So they ruled out murder suicide right away. And it was just puzzling. This well liked dentist and his wife, a stay at home mom, very active in the community. This was a very quiet neighborhood with houses all next to one another. This was not something that happened in this area. And it seemed targeted. But they had no explanation as to how someone got in and how someone managed to pull this off.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah. And they had no enemies. They never announced any suspects. I mean police were begging for any help they could. They only released some grainy video where you couldn't tell who was in that video really. And now here we are, but we're talking about Spencer and Monique Tepe, 39 year old Monique, 37 year old Spencer Tepe again like you said, a dentist in the area. But a part of this story, Robes that added to the horror was the fact that scratching our heads, why is it that a one and a four year old were left inside unharmed? And why would anybody. Great, they left the kids alone. But why are you committing the crime knowing that there's a one in a four year old in the house?

[Amy Robach]

Right. It wasn't as if this was a robbery gone bad, a home invasion where they were interrupted. They this seemed like the sole purpose was for someone to come in stealthily and murder this couple who yes, seemed to have no enemies. And so police have arrested Michael David McKee, 39 years old, he's out of Chicago and yes he is Monique's ex husband. They were married for just two short years, 2015 to 2017. According to all the court documents that journalists have already been going through. It seemed as though it was an amicable, amicable divorce. There were no threats or accusations of anything untoward. They didn't have kids together. So this is very puzzling, especially when you consider Michael David McKee's profession. He is a vascular surgeon outside of Chicago. It's just not something you typically consider. Someone who's invested that much time in their career is in a career to help others to save lives. Not something you would expect.

[TJ Holmes]

No. And we go back and again, folks, this has been. There is some relief certainly in that area of Columbus right now, given that they have been since December 30th. I've been wondering who is on the run, if someone in their community is anyone else a possible target. Police have been saying they didn't think anyone else was a target, but you could imagine the horror in that community in not knowing. So this was. You go back to December 30th. Police believe somewhere between 2 and 5 in the morning, somebody went into this house and shot these two in that house. Now, the next day, again, family members, friends, co workers, started piecing together. They weren't hearing from Spencer. He was very punctual. They couldn't get ahold of the wife, so they knew something was up. As police to go by didn't see anything initially, but then friends continued to stay on the case. They went over and that's when they spotted what they thought was a body inside. Heard the kids crying. So just a mess of a scene. So that's kind of to set up where we all are. And robes, the only thing. And again, this is another one of those cases where they were begging the public, please, if you got some video or ring cam, please reach out to us. But they only had one little piece of video that they released as part of evidence. And they help us if you recognize this guy. But you couldn't see anything really?

[Amy Robach]

No. It was a man walking down the street and he looked like just about any other man. There was nothing distinguishing and you certainly couldn't see any features in him. So I guess maybe you could recognize clothing or maybe the way he was walking, but it seemed like a long shot. However, in that plea for video, in that plea for anything, any surveillance camera, it looks as though that did work. And we are seeing this happen more and more and more because detectives are saying they were able to identify a vehicle. So they must have been able to trace this guy walking to his vehicle. They were able to somehow zoom in on the vehicle and find out where that vehicle was headed. So they tracked the vehicle down. They located it In Rockford, Illinois. Then they identified that Monique's ex husband was the owner of that vehicle. And you know, at that point, boom, you've got a connection. You've got somebody from her past who was somewhere where he wouldn't have normally been at the exact time that they believe Monique and her husband were gunned down. Monique and Spencer. So they connected those dots and that led them directly to her ex husband. But the motive and the why, that's still a big question mark as of this recording right now.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah, look, when you hear about ex husband, there's all kinds of reasons you could speculate, but right now they have nothing. Why that guy was there. I'm trying to find and trying to figure out now what is the distance between. Because he would have had to drive it, right?

[Amy Robach]

Yes, yes.

[TJ Holmes]

The distance between these two towns that's.

[Amy Robach]

Not close Illinois to Ohio. This was planned, this was premeditated for him to make this, this drive. And it's really fascinating when you think about the fact that she filed for divorce in 2017 and by all accounts it was wrapped up pretty quickly. So if you're doing the math as I am, you're talking almost nine years ago, her divorce was finalized. And he comes back, police say now, and makes this drive premeditated to go and murder her and her not even new husband. They were about to celebrate their five year wedding anniversary. They have two young kids, he has a successful practice. And this guy who police are now pointing to seems like he's had a pretty successful career in his life too. So there are a lot of questions circulating right now as to why. And why now this doesn't.

[TJ Holmes]

Yes, it's hard to make sense. And again, this guy is innocent until proven guilty. He's only been, I mean he has, he's been arrested and charged. We've seen his mug shot. At this point with that again, we just talking Rose. That's a six and a half hour drive. That's a commitment to something to make that drive all the way there to take two people out. I guess it's possible he was just in the happened to be in the area, but that's not our understanding. He is from Illinois, is he not?

[Amy Robach]

Yes. And they say he was practicing outside of Chicago. He has medical licenses in Illinois and in California as a vascular surgeon. We know he went to medical school at Ohio State University. He also had a medical license in Nevada. So it looks like he's moved around that lapsed midlife last year. But he was able to practice medicine in three different states. And they also said he was living in Virginia, where he was, I believe, doing some more work to further his career, to further his education. So he's moved around a lot. But he's been a part of the medical community and obviously to become a vascular surgeon, that takes a tremendous amount of discipline and effort and intellect and education. So he's been busy investing in himself, it would seem, given where he is in his career.

[TJ Holmes]

But this is early right now. Again, he was just arrested today as we're recording this. This is Saturday, so the news about his arrest is just coming today and everyone's digging into his background right now. But as of this moment, from all accounts, he has a pretty clean background. Not a background of any trouble in his medical career necessarily. Nothing you wouldn't expect. No arrest record, nothing to try to piece together, folks trying to figure out what exactly could have possibly happened. But what happens next? We already know when we might see this guy in court. Stay here. We'll explain what's next in this double homicide case.

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[TJ Holmes]

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14 years in prison for killing a young woman. A 15 year sentence for a crash that caused three deaths. 12 and a half years for killing a child and critically injuring her mother. All true stories, all caused by marijuana. Impaired drivers. No matter what you tell yourself, if you feel different, you drive different. So if you're high, just don't drive. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council.

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[Ashley Raiffeld]

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[TJ Holmes]

All right. We continue here on this Saturday, January 10th, on this Amy and TJ robes. This was not the episode we planned necessarily. I've been saying for days now, man, we should get more upbeat stuff. It's just the news has been horrible here lately. And sure enough, we got, I guess, by some accounts, I guess, a positive update to a very horrible story about an arrest made in a double homicide in Columbus, Ohio. Young couple, straight Spencer and Monique tepe. Were killed December 30th. Their young children left in the home after they were shot and killed. But now the ex husband of Monique has been arrested here on this Saturday charge with two counts of murder and robes. We expect to see him as early as Monday.

[Amy Robach]

That's right. So right now he is being held in Illinois. He is going to be extradited back to the Columbus, Ohio area. And then once he's bought back, brought back to Ohio, he's going to have a hearing on Monday, they believe where bond will be set. Then they say that this case is likely going to be reviewed by a grand jury so they can have the correct indictments, potentially additional charges. But right now he is charged in the murders of Spencer and Monique Tepe. But this is a story that really brought this community to a halt because this is. It was an unusual occurrence in this little street along Columbus, Ohio. And so a lot of folks were worried. We were seeing the updates coming in from concerned neighbors saying, hey, I had somebody, you know, rattling my door and trying to break in. Maybe this person, the person who killed the Tepes is on the loose. So there was a lot of fear in this neighborhood. There were some reports made about a 911 call that had come out of the Tepe home earlier in the year. But it was like a party guest who had an issue with someone else. Anyway, people were just searching for answers who could be responsible for this young couple's death. And there was a lot of fear. So today with word that this was a, a targeted killing and B, they've got the guy they say who was responsible in custody, I'm sure a lot of people in that area are breathing a huge sigh of relief.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah, I still have. I mean the, the question too, that was a big part of the story. Robes. There was no forced entry. So how did he get in there? How did he get out of there? Why was he there? Why was he in their lives, quite frankly, in any way at this point? It's so much time had passed, so all those questions had come. The family of the Tepes did put out a statement saying nothing can undo the devastating loss of the two lives taken far too soon. But they said it does represent an important step, at least right now towards justice. But this is just one step. And again, I guess we'll keep our eyes robes once again on another courtroom. There's a lot of courtrooms in a lot of high profile cases it seems we're keeping an eye on these days.

[Amy Robach]

That's right. And police did say in terms of more information because there is so much interest in this case. There are so many questions as to why, what the motive would be with a seemingly amicable divorce and that much time gone by. Why then would he do what police say he did and plan it out the way they claim he did? But they said they will release further information as appropriate and they've already said they don't want to compromise the investigation. So they are urging people to please continue to contact them with information. It looks like they're still trying to piece things together, but they're warning, they're letting us know they're not going to be giving out too much more information, at least in these early stages as they try to get their, their case together. But on Monday, hopefully we will hear some more details and we will see him at least in that initial hearing, that bond hearing on Monday. And we will certainly be keeping our eye on that story for all of you because this has been, it's become a, a national story of interest and certainly a tragic one. Good to know the kids are with the Tepe family. They did say that the children are being cared for by the family and they are really, they, they're so young, they don't even really know what's going on. But it's sad. But good to know they're in a good place.

[TJ Holmes]

But Michael David McKee, 39 years old, the ex husband of Monique Tepe, now in jail, charged with double murder for the murder of his ex wife Monique and her husband Spencer Tepe, the Columbus couple that was shot and killed. And they're one in four year old in the house when it happened. Those kids unharmed, at least physically. We just wanted to hop on and give you all this update. As always, top right corner of your Apple podcast app on our show page, there's a little button that says follow. Click that and you can make sure you get all of our updates coming to you. And there's a lot to update, it seems these days. But for now, on behalf of my dear Amy Robach, I am TJ Holmes. We will talk to you all soon.

[Ashley Raiffeld]

This is an I Heart podcast, guaranteed human.