Nearly 10 years after divorcing his ex-wife, Michael David McKee was charged with murdering his ex-wife and her husband of nearly five years. Spencer and Monique Tepe were shot and killed on December 30th.
Tepe Murder Case Latest: Ex-husband Sent to Illinois Prison
Michael David McKee, who was charged in connection with the Tepe murder, was being held at the Winnebago County Jail in Illinois on January 10th.
Less than two years after he said “I do” on his wedding day, Michael David McKee’s marriage was over.
The accomplished vascular surgeon, who most recently lived in Chicago, married Monique Sabatulski in his native Ohio on August 22, 2015, according to court records reviewed by USA TODAY. They divorced in May 2017.
McKee is currently facing murder charges in the shooting death of Michelle’s second husband of nearly five years.
In a case that made national headlines for its heartbreaking details, Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe (formerly of Sabaturski) were found shot to death in their home in Columbus, Ohio, on December 30th. The killing occurred just five days after Christmas and occurred as young children were sleeping nearby.
When Columbus police announced that Tepesi and others had been killed, they initially did not provide details about the perpetrator or motive, sparking fear throughout the community.
They now say they believe McKee is responsible. McKee’s public defender, Carey Poirier, said in an Illinois courtroom on Monday, Jan. 12, that he would maintain his innocence and remain silent, the USA TODAY Network’s Rockford Register-Star reported.
Here’s what USA TODAY did to find out who McKee is and what evidence police say they have against him.
What do we know about Michael David McKee?
McKee, a vascular surgeon, most recently lived in Chicago and worked at nearby Rockford Medical Center, but he excelled in both sports and academics in his hometown of Zanesville, a charming small city just east of Columbus.
McKee started making headlines in local papers when he was a freshman in 1994, according to an article archived in the Zanesville Times-Recorder, part of the USA TODAY Network since 2019.
The boy received an honorable mention award from then-Secretary of State Bob Taft in a children’s poster contest. According to the paper, McKee’s entry was a painting of a smiling bell with the slogan, “Let freedom ring… Vote.” His photo was published alongside the blurb of the honor.
When McKee was 13 years old, he was featured in the newspaper again after his photo was recognized for excellence at State Science Day at Ohio Wesleyan University. And the following year, when he won the City Spelling Bee, he appeared on the cover with the word “siege.” “I was a little nervous until the end,” McKee told the paper.
McKee’s accomplishments continued at Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans High School, where he ranked fifth in his class as a senior, was a National Distinguished Scholar, Biology Student of the Year, and a member of the National Honor Society, according to a 2005 Times Recorder article with McKee’s photo. McKee also placed in the top 25 in the American History contest at Ohio University and spent three years on the varsity football team.
McKee attended The Ohio State University, where he attended medical school and excelled. Records show he graduated from Ohio State in 2014 at age 28 and received his medical license.
McKee married Monique Sabatulski the following year. After the couple’s divorce was finalized in 2017, McKee began traveling to other states, according to medical board records obtained by USA TODAY.
Records show McKee received his medical license in Virginia in 2017 and completed his residency at Virginia Tech’s Carilion Clinic. Records show he received his license to practice in both California and Maryland in 2022, and in Nevada in 2023. In 2024, he received his license to practice in his latest home of Illinois.
Mackie and Monique had no children.
What happened to Spencer and Monique Tepe?
At 9:03 a.m. on Dec. 30, Columbus police received a call from a co-worker of Spencer Tepe, who was concerned that Tepe was not at work and the office could not reach him or his wife, according to a recording obtained through a public records request by the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“He’s always punctual and will let us know if there’s a problem,” a coworker said in a phone call to police. “I don’t know what else to say. We’re very concerned. This is very outrageous behavior.”
At 9:22 a.m., an officer reported there was no answer to the door and apparently left, records show. Columbus police later said officers went to the wrong home.
At 9:57 a.m., a man called police and said he was at Tepesi’s home and could hear children’s voices inside. At 10:05 a.m., a friend called police from her home and reported seeing Spencer’s body lying next to her bed inside.
When police returned to the home, they found both Tepes dead inside. The children, ages 1 and 4, were not physically injured.
The couple’s families were devastated.
“These were extraordinary people who lived lives filled with love, joy and deep connection to others,” the family said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We are heartbroken beyond words.”
They described Spencer, 37, as a “devoted and proud father, loving partner and friend to everyone he met,” and Monique, 39, as a “loving, patient and joyful mother whose warmth defined her.”
What led to Michael David McKee’s arrest?
Police arrested Michael David McKee on suspicion of murder on Saturday, January 10, 11 days after the killing.
Police identified McKee as the suspect through neighborhood video surveillance, according to a probable cause statement.
They said McKee was hooked up to a vehicle that arrived shortly before the murder and left shortly after. They tracked the vehicle to Rockford, where McKee works, the documents said.
On Monday, January 12, McKee appeared in Winnebago County Court, Illinois, for a scheduled extradition hearing to Ohio. Court officials said he should be transferred this week, the Register Star reported.
He is charged in Franklin County Municipal Court with two counts of premeditated aggravated murder. In Ohio, an aggravated murder conviction carries a sentence of life in prison without parole or even the death penalty, while a simple murder charge carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
McKee’s family and colleagues were either unavailable for comment or declined to comment to USA TODAY on Monday.
What do Spencer and Monique’s families say about the arrests?
In a statement to USA TODAY, Tepesi’s family said Mackey’s arrest “represents an important step toward justice for Monique and Spencer.”
“While nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon, we would like to thank the Columbus Police Department and its investigators who were instrumental in apprehending those involved, and the law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly to assist those involved,” they said. “As the case progresses, we believe the justice system will hold those responsible fully accountable.”
They added, “Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts and we will carry on their love and surround and protect the two children they leave behind.”
“We continue to honor their lives and the light they brought to this world,” they said.
Contributors: Michael Loria of USA TODAY, Jeff Kolkey of the Rockford Register Star, and Bailey Gallion and Bethany of the Columbus Dispatch.
