Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique Tepe were found fatally shot in their home on Dec. 30. Their two kids were also inside the residence and physically unharmed
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Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe.Credit :Courtesy of Rob Misleh
A beloved Ohio couple found dead inside their home were fatally shot with their two young children also in the house — and the children were reportedly heard crying by those who came to check on the couple.
Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found with gunshot wounds inside their Columbus, Ohio home on Tuesday, Dec. 30, the Columbus Division of Police said in an incident report.
Police responding to requests for a welfare check found their bodies and officials pronounced them both deceased at the scene, the report states. The couple’s two young children were also inside the residence and were physically unharmed.
Emergency calls made by the couple’s friend and Spencer’s co-worker reveal the distressing circumstances surrounding the discovery of their bodies.
Dr. Mark Valrose, who owns the dentistry practice where Spencer worked, told 911 that he was worried when Spencer — who is known for his punctuality — did not show up for work.
“I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him,” Valrose told dispatchers, WSYX reported.
“We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing,” Valrose added.
Several of Spencer’s co-workers then arrived at the Tepe residence to check on the family, per the outlet.
In a 911 call cited by CNN, Spencer’s friend can be heard telling dispatchers that they could hear the couple’s children crying inside the house.
“I can hear kids inside, and I think I heard one yell,” the caller said, per the dispatch audio cited by the outlet. “But, we can’t get in.”
Minutes later, in another 911 call, a distressed man told police: “There’s a body.”
In one emergency call cited by WSYX, a caller told police they could see Spencer’s body near a bed in the home.
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Spencer and Monique Tepe were a beloved couple in the community.
Athens Dental Spot, where Spencer worked, issued a statement on Thursday, Jan. 1 announcing the killings and said their practice will be closed for the rest of the week.
In a Facebook post, Spencer’s brother-in-law expressed his shock at the couple’s tragic deaths.
“My brother and sister were the best of the best,” Rob Misleh wrote. “Just can’t believe that somebody would do this. Love you Spence & Mo.”
In a statement Misleh shared with PEOPLE, the deceased couple’s family said they’re devastated by the deaths.
Monique was a “loving, patient, and joyful mother” and a thoughtful planner whose “warmth defined her,” the statement read, in part.
Spencer was “deeply committed to serving others,” it continued, adding that the couple was in a deeply happy marriage, enjoyed traveling and were building “a life rooted in love.”
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The killings are being investigated as homicides, according to Columbus police.
As of Friday, Jan. 2, authorities have not identified any suspect, shared a motive behind the killings or said if the couple were targeted.
The Columbus Division of Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information.
