A man accused of killing his ex-wife and her husband in Ohio is now facing upgraded murder charges as authorities prepare to transfer him from Illinois to face prosecution.
Michael David McKee, 39, has been charged with two counts of premeditated aggravated murder, according to Franklin County court records.
McKee, a doctor from Chicago, was arrested on Saturday in Illinois in connection with the killings of his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer Tepe, 37, who were found dead in their home in Columbus, Ohio, on 30 December.
His arrest comes after nearly two weeks of widespread speculation about the killings. Investigators have said there were no signs of forced entry at the Tepe home, no weapon was found, and nothing appeared to be missing.
The couple’s two young children and their dog were discovered unharmed inside the house, and police ruled out a murder-suicide.
McKee appeared in court on Monday wearing a yellow Winnebago County jail uniform, glasses, and restraints on his hands and feet.
Winnebago County Public Defender Carie Poirier, who is representing McKee, said McKee plans to plead not guilty and intends to waive extradition in hopes of a speedy transfer to Ohio.
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McKee faced the prospect of extradition because murder is usually a state crime in the US, and national laws require fugitives to be legally transferred to the state where the crime was committed.
McKee remained silent during the hearing, speaking only to confirm his name for the judge.
‘Important step toward justice’
In a statement, the Tepe family called the arrest “an important step toward justice” and said they had faith in the legal process to hold the responsible party accountable.
“Monique and Spencer remain forever in our hearts, and we will carry their love forward as we protect and care for the two children they leave behind,” the statement said. “We remain committed to honoring their lives and the light they shared with the world.”
Spencer Tepe’s brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, told Sky’s US partner NBC News on Monday that while the deaths shocked the family, they quickly suspected McKee’s involvement.
“He was an emotionally abusive person when they were together – that is all I know,” Misleh said.
Authorities were first alerted after Spencer Tepe did not show up to the Athens dental office where he worked, an absence his manager described as highly unusual.
Columbus police later performed a welfare check at the couple’s home and found both victims on the second floor with gunshot wounds.
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Final autopsy results from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office are expected in the coming weeks, though officials have previously said the deaths appeared to be homicides caused by gunshots.
Earlier this week, investigators released surveillance video of a person of interest wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants walking through an alley near the home between 2am and 5am, the window in which police believe the shootings occurred.
The footage prompted multiple tips and the investigation led authorities to McKee’s apartment in another state.
Court records show McKee and Monique Tepe – then known as Monique Sabaturski – were married in 2015 and divorced in 2017. Monique later married Spencer Tepe in 2020.
During the vows at her marriage ceremony to Spencer, Monique said she knew from the beginning that she had found someone special.
“I had quite a journey to get to you – countless bad Bumble dates, wrong relationships, and waterfalls of tears – but it was worth every cringing second because it led me to you,” she said, in words recorded on her wedding video posted on YouTube
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Spencer Tepe was a prominent dentist and involved in mentoring. Monique Tepe was remembered as a “loving, patient, and joyful mother”, an avid baker, and a “thoughtful planner”.
NBC reports that McKee is licensed as a medical doctor in California and Illinois, and specialises in vascular surgery, according to online licence records.
He graduated in 2014, the records show. He was also previously licensed in Nevada, but that licence expired in June.
He was listed as a vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, a city about 90 miles northwest of Chicago. OSF Healthcare said it is “cooperating with authorities”, NBC reported.
His medical licence records show no disciplinary history or malpractice. His criminal record shows only traffic-related tickets.
