Update: Columbus police released video of a “person of interest” around 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5. Read more here.
Columbus police remained tight-lipped as the investigation into the deaths of a dentist and his wife, found shot to death in their Weinland Park home, approaches its second week with no arrests, no publicly named suspects and no possible motive.
What has emerged in the days since the shooting is a portrait of a couple that lived an ordinary, quiet life focused on raising their children and their dog, leaving their community to wonder who would want to harm them.
Spencer and Monique Tepe were found dead on the morning of Dec. 30 in their home on the 1400 block of North 4th Street.
Spencer, 37, and Monique, 39, had been married for about five years and had two children: a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. The couple also had a Goldendoodle. The Tepe children and their dog were unharmed inside the home and are now with family, according to investigators.
The couple’s case has captured significant local and national attention.
What do we know about Spencer Tepe?
Spencer Tepe worked as a dentist for Athens Dental Depot in Athens. He previously worked in Ashland at Stonecreek Dental Care, staff at the office confirmed.
Spencer earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish and his doctorate in dental surgery from Ohio State University. Family said in a statement that he was an avid Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals fan. He was raised in the Cincinnati area and attended Mason Public Schools.
What do we know about Monique Tepe?
Monique Tepe has been described by her family as being an excellent baker, a loving mother and a kind and patient partner. She had a background in education and attended Ohio State University.
The marriage to Spencer was Monique’s second. She married a fellow Ohio State student in 2015. The couple had no children and divorced in 2017. Court records indicate the divorce was amicable and settled quickly.
What do we know about the investigation into the Tepe homicides?
Columbus police have given limited updates about the investigation to the public as of Jan. 5. Police have asked people with security camera footage from between 2 and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30, particularly in the area near the couple’s North 4th Street home, to see if there are any people or vehicles visible in the footage.
Information can be submitted through an online portal anonymously.
Police have said both Tepes died after being shot, but information about where the Tepes were found inside their home and how many times they were shot has not been released. Columbus police records said Spencer was shot multiple times, and shell casings were recovered at the scene.
The Tepes were found after Spencer did not report to work that morning. A fellow dentist and the owner of Athens Dental Depot called police around 9 a.m., saying Spencer had not come to work, and he and Monique were not answering their phones. Police conducted a well-being check at the couple’s home but left when there was no answer at either the front or back doors.
Police returned about an hour later, as concerned coworkers and at least one friend arrived at the residence. A coworker called the police, saying she could hear children inside, and a friend called to say he saw Spencer’s body by a bed in the home. The friend said in the 911 call that Spencer had last been heard from the day before, was in good health, and did not use drugs.
Shortly after the shooting, Columbus police said no gun was found and determined their deaths was not the result of a murder-suicide.
The Franklin County Coroner’s office is conducting autopsies on the couple. Autopsy reports take an average of four to six weeks to be completed.
What Columbus police won’t answer about Tepe killings
Columbus police have provided minimal information publicly about the investigation into the Tepes’ deaths. Among the information that has not yet been released:
- What the potential motive for the killings is, and whether one of the Tepes was the primary intended target
- Whether the Columbus city crime cameras near the Tepe home captured any useful footage
- Why the window of time police were seeking video from narrowed to between 2 and 5 a.m.
- If any suspects have been identified, and if any potential suspects have been ruled out through the investigation
In the void of information left by the police, online sleuths have stepped in, positing theories about who may have been responsible.
Have funeral arrangements been made for the Tepes?
As of Jan. 5, no public funeral arrangements have been announced for the Tepes. An online fundraiser for the couple’s children has raised more than $135,000.
