A Chicago man has been charged with the murders of his ex-wife and her husband after Columbus, Ohio, police found the couple shot dead in their home on Dec. 30 following a wellness check, authorities said Saturday.

Michael McKee, 39, was booked over the weekend and is being held in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. McKee is alleged to have shot and killed Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, a dentist, and Monique Tepe, 39, in their Columbus home. Their two young children were found unharmed at the scene.

Dispatchers received calls of concern, including from Spencer Tepe’s employer, after he failed to appear for work — a lapse his boss described as “out of character.” Columbus police officers conducted a wellness check and discovered both victims on the second floor of their home with gunshot wounds.

Security footage and timeline

Earlier in the week, police released security footage of a person of interest wearing a dark hoodie and light-colored pants who was recorded walking in an alley near the couple’s home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. — the window of time investigators believe the couple was attacked.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office said official reports would not be completed for several weeks, but a spokesperson confirmed in an email Tuesday that the couple died in an “apparent homicide by gunshot wounds.”

Background

Court records from the Franklin County Clerk of Courts show McKee and Monique Tepe married in 2015 and filed for divorce two years later. McKee’s address is listed in Chicago. Monique and Spencer Tepe married in 2020, according to the couple’s obituary.

Family members described the Tepes as extraordinary people and proud parents who led joy-filled lives. Monique Tepe was described as a caring stay-at-home mother; Spencer Tepe was said to be passionate about dentistry and his family. The couple regularly hosted gatherings of family and friends.

McKee’s next court date is scheduled for Monday. County court records in Ohio do not yet reflect whether he has retained an attorney.