Monique Tepe and Spencer Tepe’s family members shared insight into how their kids are doing after the couple was brutally murdered in their Columbus, Ohio, home allegedly by her ex-husband.
After Spencer, 37, didn’t show up to work on the morning of December 30, 2025, one of his coworkers went to the couple’s house to check on them. The friend then called 911 and told the dispatcher that he could hear children crying inside of the home.
Their then 3-year-old daughter and 17-month-old son, as well as their family dog, were left inside of the residence for hours before Monique, 39, and Spencer’s bodies were discovered. The children and the family dog were all unharmed following the incident.
Three weeks after their tragic deaths, the couple’s brother-in-law Rob Misleh told People that he believes it was the 17-month-old child crying when the friend stopped by the home to check on the couple.
“[He] was in the crib … and was unable to get out of the crib on his own and also it was at a time he would’ve been well awake by this time,” Milesh said of the couple’s youngest child, adding that the baby had likely not eaten for an abnormal amount of time.
Milesh — who is married to Spencer’s sister — added that the couple’s kids slept in separate bedrooms.
“From the time frame that we know, 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., [when the murders took place], the kids would’ve been in their beds, so we assume that they did not see anything,” he said.
Milesh went on to share that the children, who are now living with family members, don’t fully understand what happened to their parents.
“I really don’t think that a 4-year-old can grasp [what] is hard for us to even grasp,” he said of the couple’s eldest child, who recently turned 4 years old. “It’s going to be years and years of processing.”
Meanwhile, Spencer’s cousin, Audrey Mackie, also told the outlet that the adult family members are still trying to navigate how to speak to the children about what happened.
“If [the 4-year-old] wants to talk about it — we are to encourage that,” she said, sharing that they have been working with professionals and using resources to help with the situation.
After an investigation was launched into the killings, police arrested Monique’s ex-husband, Michael McKee, in Rockford, Illinois, on Saturday, January 10. He was linked to the crime after his car was spotted near the couple’s home via surveillance footage. Once they confirmed the vehicle belonged to McKee, 39, they moved forward with the arrest.
McKee was originally charged with murder. However, his charges were upgraded to aggravated murder on Sunday, January 11.
He made his first court appearance on Monday, January 12, where his lawyer shared his intention to enter a not guilty plea. Additionally, the attorney said that her client was waiving his right to an extradition hearing.
McKee was extradited back to Ohio on Tuesday, January 20, according to People. He is expected to appear in Franklin Court of Common Pleas in the upcoming days.
