In Ohio, police have apprehended and charged the former husband of a woman who, along with her spouse, was murdered, culminating a 10-day search.
Michael David McKee, aged 39, faces two murder charges related to the deaths of Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, following his arrest by the police on Saturday.
Documentation reveals that McKee and Monique Tepe were married for around two years before their divorce in 2017.
The bodies of Monique and Spencer Tepe were discovered in their Columbus residence on December 30, with initial reports indicating gunshot wounds as the cause of death, according to a police incident report.
Law enforcement officials were dispatched to the couple’s home after friends and coworkers expressed concern.
They noted that Spencer, a dentist, had failed to appear at his workplace, and Monique was not responding to phone calls.
A man dialed 911, reporting the sight of blood and a body at the couple’s home.
Dr. Mark Valrose, head of the dental office where Spencer was employed, was the initial caller to 911.
In an audio clip shared with CNN, he expressed: “He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were any issues. I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him.”
He continued: “We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”
In another alarming call, a caller informed the 911 operator that children were heard crying inside the home.
“I can hear kids inside, and I swear I think I heard one yell,” the caller reported. “But we can’t get in. At this point, I don’t know if I need to break the door in to get in the house or what.”
The children were found inside the residence, unharmed physically.
Spencer’s brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, remarked that McKee’s detainment after an extensive manhunt by authorities marks ‘an important step toward justice’.
Yet, in an emotional statement, he expressed: “Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon.”
He further stated: “Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind.
“We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world.”
The couple was approaching their fifth wedding anniversary.
McKee, who holds a medical license as a vascular surgeon in both California and Illinois, is currently detained in Winnebago County Jail, Illinois.
He is due for a court appearance on Monday, January 12, as per online records.