A prominent vascular surgeon waived his right to fight extradition after being charged with the premeditated murder of his ex-wife and her new husband, highlighting how domestic violence can escalate to deadly revenge when traditional family structures are shattered.
Story Highlights
- Michael McKee, 39-year-old surgeon, charged with aggravated murder of ex-wife Monique and her husband Spencer Tepe
- Victims found shot to death in Columbus home; two young children unharmed inside
- Police linked McKee through surveillance video, vehicle tracking, and ballistic evidence from his Illinois residence
- McKee waived extradition hearing to expedite his return to Ohio where he plans to plead not guilty
Surgeon Charged in Calculated Double Murder
Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, faces premeditated aggravated murder charges for the December 30, 2025 shooting deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe in Columbus, Ohio. The victims were discovered during a wellness check prompted by Spencer’s absence from his dental practice. Columbus Police found Spencer shot multiple times and Monique with at least one chest wound, while their children, ages 4 and 1, remained unharmed inside the North Fourth Street home.
Franklin County prosecutors upgraded the charges from murder to aggravated murder on January 11, 2026, indicating prior calculation and design. McKee was arrested January 10 in Rockford, Illinois, where he had been living and working. The upgraded charges carry potential sentences of death or life imprisonment without parole, reflecting the severity and premeditated nature of the crimes.
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Evidence Links Ex-Husband to Crime Scene
Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant revealed compelling evidence connecting McKee to the murders through multiple investigative avenues. Surveillance footage captured McKee in an alley near the victims’ home, while additional evidence tracked his vehicle traveling to and from the crime scene. Most significantly, ballistic analysis through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network matched a firearm recovered from McKee’s Illinois residence to the murder weapon.
The absence of forced entry suggests the perpetrator had familiarity with the property or was granted access by the victims. McKee and Monique divorced in June 2017 after a brief marriage from August 2015, citing incompatibility. Following their divorce, Monique relocated to Ohio and remarried Spencer, while McKee retained their Virginia home before eventually moving to Illinois for his medical practice.
Swift Legal Proceedings and Extradition Waiver
During his January 12, 2026 appearance in Winnebago County’s 17th Judicial Circuit Court, McKee waived his right to an extradition hearing. His public defender, Carie Poirer, argued the waiver would expedite McKee’s ability to mount a defense in Ohio, where he intends to plead not guilty to all charges. McKee remained silent throughout the proceedings, declining to make any statements regarding the allegations.
The waiver eliminates potential delays in the legal process, though McKee remains in Illinois custody pending the governor’s warrant for his transport to Ohio. His next Illinois hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2026, with arraignment in Franklin County expected shortly after his return. This case demonstrates the importance of modern investigative techniques, including video surveillance and ballistic databases, in building strong criminal cases against perpetrators of domestic violence.
Sources:
Extradition hearing for ex-husband charged in Tepe murder case
Ohio authorities say Michael McKee, the ex-husband of Monique Tepe, is responsible for killings
