• The family of Spencer Tepe says they are not surprised with the arrest of Michael David McKee in connection with the killings of Spencer and his wife Monique
  • Monique had been “vocal” about McKee’s alleged emotional abuse during the brief time the pair were married, according to a relative
  • McKee is facing aggravated murder charges in connection with the killings of the couple

The man suspected of killing Monique and Spencer Tepe allegedly threatened Monique with her life years prior when he was married to her, a family member tells PEOPLE.

Monique, 39, and her husband Spencer, 37, were shot to death in their home in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 30. Their two children, ages 4 and 1, were a few feet away in the same house but were physically unharmed.

The arrest of Monique’s ex-husband Michael David McKee in connection with the killings came as no surprise to Spencer’s family, who say they were well aware of McKee’s alleged conduct during his marriage to Monique.

Spencer’s brother-in-law Rob Misleh tells PEOPLE that Monique had been “very vocal” about the alleged emotional abuse McKee, 39, inflicted on her during their marriage — which lasted two years and ended in 2017.

McKee allegedly threatened Monique’s life “many times,” according to Misleh, who says that Monique had told him about the abuse. The alleged threats were verbal in nature.

“Monique was very vocal about being terrified of this guy [until her death],” says Misleh, who is married to Spencer’s sister. “He was very emotionally abusive to her, to the point that it changed her as a person.”

Authorities have not explicitly accused McKee of emotional abuse. PEOPLE has reached out to the public defender who is currently representing McKee in Illinois for comment about the allegations but did not immediately hear back.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 14, that the killings were “targeted.”

“This was a domestic violence-related attack,” she said.

Courtesy of Rob Misleh Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe
Courtesy of Rob Misleh

Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe

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McKee has been charged with two counts of aggravated premeditated murder. He was arrested in Illinois, where he resides, and is awaiting extradition to Ohio to face the charges.

A public defender representing him in Illinois said earlier this week that McKee plans on pleading not guilty to the charges.