Police say surveillance video and a tracked vehicle tied the suspect to the Columbus killings discovered Dec. 30.
ROCKFORD, Ill. — A Chicago man accused of killing his ex-wife and her husband, a Columbus, Ohio dentist, is expected in a Winnebago County courtroom Monday after a multi-state search led to his arrest over the weekend, authorities said.
Michael David McKee, 39, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37. The couple was found shot to death inside their Weinland Park home on Dec. 30, Columbus police said. Detectives say neighborhood surveillance captured a vehicle arriving shortly before the killings and leaving soon after. Investigators later found that vehicle in Rockford and took McKee into custody. Monday’s hearing is expected to address extradition to Ohio as the case shifts from an intensive manhunt to preliminary court proceedings.
Columbus police said officers discovered the bodies after a welfare check when Tepe failed to appear at work. Two children, ages 1 and 4, were found unharmed in the home and placed with family. Police Chief Elaine Bryant called the case “disturbing” in earlier remarks. Court records show McKee and Monique Tepe divorced in 2017. A statement from the Tepe family said the arrest was an important step toward justice and thanked investigators for “tireless efforts.” Authorities have not announced a motive and have not reported signs of forced entry. Detectives believe the victims were killed on the home’s second floor between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., according to investigative summaries shared with reporters.
Investigators say the break came from neighborhood cameras that recorded a car circling near North Fourth Street. Detectives traced the plate and confirmed ownership through additional footage and workplace checks in Illinois, according to case filings. The vehicle was later located in Rockford, where officers coordinated with local and federal partners to make the arrest without incident. Records list McKee as a physician who had been living in Chicago. In interviews, neighbors in both cities described the allegations as shocking. Authorities stressed that the inquiry remains active, with lab testing underway on items collected from the Columbus home and the recovered vehicle. Officials have not released the 911 recordings or the full incident report.
The killings rattled Weinland Park, a densely populated neighborhood just north of downtown Columbus. Dr. Tepe’s dental colleagues organized a remembrance over the weekend, noting he had practiced in central Ohio for years. Friends said the couple recently marked their fifth wedding anniversary. City leaders pointed to the case as another example of detectives using private and public cameras to rebuild a timeline, while acknowledging unanswered questions about how the shooter entered the home and whether the victims knew the assailant. Police previously released a short clip of a hooded figure seen on nearby sidewalks, seeking additional footage from residents.
Monday’s court appearance in Rockford is expected to focus on extradition. If McKee waives extradition, Ohio authorities could transport him to Franklin County to face an initial appearance and potential indictment steps. If he contests, an Illinois judge would set deadlines for a governor’s warrant and schedule another hearing. In Ohio, prosecutors typically present evidence to a grand jury within weeks in homicide cases, though complex forensic testing can lengthen timelines. Police said they will continue canvassing for video, phone records and digital data as they prepare case filings. No additional arrests are expected at this stage.
Outside the Columbus home, neighbors left flowers along the front steps and porch rail. A family spokesperson said relatives are focused on the children’s well-being and asked for privacy. “Nothing can undo this loss,” the statement said, “but we trust the justice system to hold the person responsible fully accountable.” A Rockford court clerk said the afternoon docket includes an out-of-state warrant case matching McKee’s age and charges. By Sunday night, Winnebago County jail records still listed him in custody pending the hearing.
The case stands today at an early court step: an extradition decision in Rockford expected Monday. Columbus detectives continue gathering evidence while Franklin County prosecutors prepare for potential grand jury review in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.