Michael David McKee is accused of driving more than seven hours from his home in Chicago and fatally shooting Spencer and Monique Tepe in the middle of the night at their home in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Police Say Tepe’s Killing Was a ‘Targeted Attack’
The Columbus Police Chief announced that “multiple weapons” were recovered from the property of Michael McKee, the suspect in the deaths of Monique and Spencer Tepe.
A grand jury has indicted a Chicago surgeon accused of killing his ex-wife and her new husband in Ohio on five counts.
Michael David McKee, 39, was charged Friday, Jan. 16, with four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery, and the surgeon is accused of using a muffler during the shooting, according to the indictment.
If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in prison, but will be eligible for parole after 32 years.
McKee is accused of killing Spencer and Monique Tepe, who were found shot to death in their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30. Their children, ages 1 and 4, were crying inside the home but were physically unharmed, as was the couple’s dog.
McKee was arrested in the Chicago area 11 days after the late-night attack and remains jailed awaiting extradition to his home state of Ohio. His lawyer said he would plead not guilty and remain silent if extradited to Ohio.
Here’s what we know about this incident.
Family: Monique Tepe was ‘afraid’ of her ex-husband
Mackie and Monique Tepe married in August 2015, but divorced less than two years later. According to court records obtained by USA TODAY, he maintains a home in Roanoke, Virginia, where he is doing his medical training, and neither was ordered to pay alimony.
A member of Tepe’s family told NBC News on January 14 that Mackey was emotionally abusive to Monique during their relationship, and that Monique was “willing to do anything” to get away from him.
Her brother-in-law, Rob Misley, said: “At the time of their marriage, she was terrified because he had threatened her life many times.” “She was not shy about telling people about her traumatic experiences with her ex-boyfriend and how emotionally abusive he was to her, which still affects her to this day.”
Misley said she was not aware of any physical abuse between Mackey and Monique Tepe or if there had been any recent threats. “If any of us had known that these threats were actually based on probabilities, we all would have acted differently,” he said.
Misley told Good Morning America that more than 1,000 people attended Tepes’ funeral, showing how kind and well-liked they were.
“We just want justice,” Misley said. “We want this person to take so much from so many people, not just our family. And of course, especially children. We want this person to pay for what they’ve done.”
What evidence do the police have in this case?
Police are releasing few details to protect Mr. McKee’s case, but said they believe he was in possession of the murder weapon.
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a press conference Wednesday, Jan. 14, that one of the guns found in McKee’s Chicago apartment had a preliminary match to the crime scene.
“This was a targeted attack,” Bryant said.
Police also said surveillance camera footage shows McKee’s car arriving at Tepe’s home shortly before the murder and leaving shortly after. They tracked the vehicle to Rockford, where McKee worked.
Who are Spencer and Monique Tepe?
Spencer and Monique Tepe were murdered a month after their fifth wedding anniversary.
Monique Tepe said in her wedding vows that it was a “quite a journey” to get to Spencer.
“Countless bad Bumble dates, bad relationships, and a waterfall of tears,” she said, crying. “But it was worth all the cringing because it led me to you. Through all of this, I knew that God was leading me into my own person, and that when I met Him, it was going to be the most magical thing ever. And is that an understatement?”
During his vows, Spencer told Monique that she was his best friend.
“We are very lucky,” he said. “I promise to never stop loving you and always keep working on us…I promise to always do my best to keep you smiling because your smile is my favorite thing.”
The couple’s family released a statement to USA TODAY saying, “They were extraordinary people who lived lives filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others…We are heartbroken beyond words.”
They described Mr Spencer, 37, a former dentist, 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”.
They continued, “We continue to honor their lives and the light they brought to this world.”
Contributor: Bailey Gullion
