From a domestic dispute to a double homicide: After neighbors reported ‘bangs’ and a crying child, police have shifted their focus to an acquaintance of Spencer and Monique Tepe as the investigation evolves

Developments in the Tepe Homicide: Following neighbor reports of a loud altercation and gunfire, authorities state the perpetrator was likely an acquaintance of the victims. The probe into the deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe continues to deepen

The quiet Weinland Park neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, was shattered by tragedy on December 30, 2025, when beloved local dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death in their family home. The discovery, made during a welfare check prompted by concerned colleagues, revealed a scene of unimaginable horror: the couple had been gunned down upstairs, while their two young children—a 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son—were found unharmed but crying in another room. As the investigation enters its second week with no arrests or named suspects, the community remains on edge, grappling with the mystery of who would target this seemingly happy family.

A Devoted Couple and Loving Parents

Spencer and Monique Tepe were described by family and friends as extraordinary people whose lives revolved around love, laughter, and their children. Spencer, a graduate of Ohio State University with degrees in Spanish and biology, earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2017. He worked at Athens Dental Depot, commuting from Columbus, and was known for his generosity, fluency in Spanish, and involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters. A passionate fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and Ohio State Buckeyes, he lived with energy and kindness.

Monique, with a background in childhood education, was a stay-at-home mother celebrated for her warmth, patience, and baking skills. The couple, who married in 2021 in their home during a small COVID-era ceremony, were just weeks away from their fifth anniversary. They shared a Goldendoodle named Larry and created a household filled with joy and connection. Their children were the center of their world, making the tragedy even more heartbreaking.

The Day of Discovery: Frantic Calls and Crying Children

The alarm was raised when Spencer failed to appear for work—an uncharacteristic absence for the reliable dentist. His boss and colleagues called 911 around 9 a.m., expressing worry as neither Spencer nor Monique answered phones. Friends soon arrived at the home on North 4th Street, peering through windows and hearing the distressing sound of children crying inside.

One caller reported seeing a body and urged immediate response. Police arrived shortly after, entering to find Spencer shot multiple times and Monique once in the chest. Shell casings littered the scene, but no weapon was recovered. No signs of forced entry complicated the picture, suggesting the killer may have been let in or known to the victims.

The children, physically unharmed, were taken into relatives’ care, a small mercy in the devastation.

Investigation: Person of Interest and Public Appeals

Columbus police quickly ruled out murder-suicide, treating the case as a targeted double homicide. On January 5, 2026, they released surveillance video of a person of interest—a figure in a dark hooded jacket and light pants walking in an alley near the home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., the estimated time of the shootings.

Detectives believe the individual could hold key information and have urged tips. Neighborhood cameras and doorbell footage from surrounding blocks are being sought. No motive has been disclosed, and the lack of arrests has left neighbors unsettled in a once-improving area.

The family has vowed to seek justice while protecting the children’s future, establishing funds and memorials.

A Community in Mourning

Weinland Park residents expressed shock, describing the Tepes as friendly but private. Flowers and tributes grew outside the home, symbolizing collective grief. The case’s rarity—a targeted killing in a family setting—has heightened fears, even as police assure no broader threat.

As autopsies and forensics continue, the search for answers intensifies. This tragedy underscores vulnerability, leaving a void in lives touched by the Tepes’ kindness.

The community holds hope for resolution, honoring a couple whose love story ended too soon