Podcast Summary: The Tepe Murders: Evidence and Signs of Abuse / Part 3

Going West: True Crime (Episode 574)

Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Date: January 16, 2026

Main Theme

This episode is the concluding chapter (for now) on the ongoing case of Monique and Spencer Tepe’s murders in Columbus, Ohio, believed to be a premeditated domestic violence attack by Monique’s ex-husband, Dr. Michael McKee. The hosts delve deep into new developments—police updates, family and friend interviews, chilling evidence, and the dark history of Monique’s relationship with the alleged killer. Part 3 synthesizes what’s publicly known, highlights the emotional toll, and reveals disturbing signs of long-term abuse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Extradition Hearing & Charges

• Michael McKee’s arrest and hearing:
  • Arrested Jan 10, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois; charged initially with two counts of murder, quickly upgraded to premeditated aggravated murder due to new evidence indicating a planned attack.
  • Extradition hearing was brief:
    • “The hearing lasted only about a minute and a half…” (Daphne, 06:27)
    • McKee waived extradition; the defense’s strategy is to move quickly to Ohio to plead not guilty and begin the trial process.
    • “So now we know his intentions are to plead not guilty.” (Daphne, 07:28)
    • Not guilty pleas are standard at this stage, giving space for future legal maneuvering.

2. Police Briefing & Investigation Details

• Press conference takeaways:
  • Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant outlined the timeline and confirmed evidence tying McKee to the scene through surveillance and vehicle tracking.
  • An initial critical error was revealed: police responded to the wrong house after the first 911 call, explaining why Monique and Spencer’s children weren’t discovered immediately.
    • “When they responded to the first 911 call... they actually went to the wrong house that day...” (Heath, 08:24)
• Evidence against McKee:
  • Surveillance cameras captured McKee’s car and physical presence outside the Tepes’ home.
  • Murder weapon believed to have been recovered from McKee’s Chicago apartment.
    • “Wild to think that he then may have just had the murder weapon in his home, not throwing it away…” (Daphne, 10:25)
• Motive:
  • Classified by police as “a targeted domestic violence attack and a premeditated aggravated double homicide.” (Daphne, 03:25, repeated emphasis by hosts and police)
• Community involvement:
  • Tips from family, friends, and the Columbus community helped direct suspicion toward Michael McKee.

3. History of Abuse: Family and Friends Speak Up

• Monique’s experience
  • In both private and public contexts, Monique referred to her ex-husband as “a monster,” never by name, describing him as emotionally and verbally abusive, often threatening.
    • “She never said good things about him either, only that Michael was a monster.” (Daphne, 16:46)
  • Her brother-in-law, Rob Misla, confirms that Monique was proud of escaping her abusive marriage and finding real happiness with Spencer.
• Impact of the marriage
  • The trauma from her relationship with Michael remained with Monique for years after the divorce.
    • “She was always worried about him... There was a piece of her that was worried that he was out there alive.” (Heath, 20:15)
• Insight into Monique’s mindset
  • Even though Michael wasn’t a pressing threat day-to-day, he was a background concern. There were no reports filed in Columbus for stalking or abuse, suggesting much of the abuse was unreported at the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.

4. Notable Emotional and Supernatural Moments

• Intuitive connection at time of murder:
  • On the night of the murders, Spencer’s sister Madeline awoke suddenly with severe nausea, an event deemed possibly linked to the time her brother was killed.
    • “She explained that she had a horrible pain in her stomach... at about that very time... her brother was murdered.” (Daphne, 29:57)
• Parallels to other cases:
  • Daphne shares her own family’s similar experience, reinforcing the eerie phenomenon of loved ones sensing tragedy.

5. Testimonies Highlighting Abuse

• Physical abuse surfaced
  • Monique’s friend reported that Monique had been “terrified of Michael,” and that he once tried to strangle her—an incident unreported due to Michael’s public standing as a “charming surgeon.”
    • “She left him after he had tried to strangle her. But she didn’t report the incident because... she didn’t think that she would be believed... as Michael was this charming surgeon...” (Heath, 33:08)
• Gina (Monique’s friend) corroborates deep fear:
  • “She never said Michael. She said my ex. She said it was... He was bad. She said abusive. I don't think I ever got the impression that she was afraid of him. I got the impression that she hated him...I don't think it ever fully left her mind.” (Gina, 34:36)
  • On motive: “He could not live with it. I think he could not fathom her happiness. And she was so happy.” (Gina, 35:14)

6. Michael McKee’s Personal and Professional Downfall

• Divorce and personal turmoil
  • Monique left their marriage and home, surrendering marital assets, signaling an urgent need to escape the relationship.
    • “I think that's big insight that she was just like, take it, take it. I’m out of here.” (Daphne, 29:19)
• Professional struggles and malpractice
  • Details of a Nevada malpractice suit:
    • Supervised a surgery that resulted in an 8-inch piece of tube left inside a patient.
    • Fled Nevada, gave false contact info, and was unreachable for service of the lawsuit—suggesting he was already “on the run” from consequences before the murders.
      • “It kind of feels like at that point when the murders took place, he was already on the run from something else.” (Heath, 41:53)
• Emotional and familial detachment
  • McKee was adopted but only told in college, after which his personality changed drastically; eventually estranged from his parents the same year as the divorce with Monique.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the procedural not guilty plea:
  • “This not guilty plea is very procedural at this point and not a statement about what evidence exists or doesn’t exist against him.” (Daphne, 07:58)
• On emotional abuse:
  • “He was emotionally and verbally abusive, and he would often threaten her... She wasn’t hiding that it happened to her... it was almost therapeutic for her to kind of talk about it since he was in her past.” (Daphne, 16:46–19:12)
• On Monique’s confidence and pride in her new relationship:
  • “She was so happy about that.” (Daphne, 18:42)
• On the overwhelming sense of loss:
  • “It really did feel like she had moved completely on with her life... In her mind, she’s probably thinking, ‘I made it, I did it.’” (Heath, 18:53)
• On the impact of Michael’s psychological issues and estrangement:
  • “His personality really shifted a lot after he found this out... estranged himself from his adoptive parents and cut contact with them in 2017...” (Heath, 38:04–38:24)
• On McKee possibly being driven by envy and obsession:
  • “He could not live with it. I think he could not fathom her happiness.” (Gina, 35:14)
• On the family’s shock and strength:
  • “They're just so shocked. But he said that they're all being very strong and just coming together for Spencer and Monique’s two children.” (Daphne, 32:59)
• On the GoFundMe and the impact on children left behind:
  • “...our hearts really go out to them... we will put that GoFundMe in the description of this episode... for Spencer and Monique’s children.” (Heath, 44:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Extradition hearing & legal strategy: 03:25–08:24
• Columbus Police press conference and evidence: 08:24–14:44
• Family and friend interviews on abuse (Rob Misla, Gina): 15:05–21:26, 34:36–35:35
• Intuitive moment at the time of the murders: 29:44–32:28
• Details of physical abuse and lack of reporting: 33:08–34:36
• Michael's professional problems/malpractice: 39:23–41:53
• Michael’s personal/emotional decline: 38:04–39:15

Overall Tone and Style

The hosts maintain a blend of empathy for the victims’ families and critical scrutiny of the case details, mixing thoughtful reflection with straightforward, sometimes blunt commentary. Personal stories and connections to similar cases add a somber, thoughtful depth to the episode.

Conclusion

Part 3 of the Monique and Spencer Tepe story brings together chilling new evidence and personal testimonies to paint a picture of a domestic violence tragedy with years-in-the-making warning signs. The episode underscores the insidious long-term effects of abuse—even after separation—and the lifelines of support forged among friends and family. The case now awaits trial, with the community rallying behind Monique and Spencer’s children and a collective hope that justice will be served.

For those affected by domestic violence, resources are available. The hosts remind listeners to check episode notes for the GoFundMe supporting the Tepe children.

This summary captures the essential narrative, emotional, and investigative developments of the episode, complete with speaker attribution, memorable quotes, clear structure, and key timestamps.