The joy on Spencer and Monique Tepe’s faces was clear in a 2021 wedding video shared by their family. The clip showed the newly married couple laughing, hugging, and exchanging vows inside their Columbus, Ohio, home, surrounded by cheering friends and loved ones.
But just one month before their fifth wedding anniversary, that same home became the scene of a heartbreaking crime.
Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, a stay-at-home mother, were found shot dead inside their upscale home on Tuesday. Their two young children were inside the house at the time, police said.
Flowers, including roses and sunflowers, now line the outside of the home as news of the killings spread across the country, only days after Christmas. Many questions remain unanswered.
Police have not shared details about a suspect or motive and said the killer or killers are still at large. Adding to the mystery, officers said there were no signs of forced entry and no gun was found at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.
Investigators have confirmed the case is being treated as a double homicide, not a murder-suicide, and are asking the public for help.
How Worry From Colleagues Led Police to the Home
Spencer Tepe was known for being reliable and almost never missed work at Athens Dental Depot, about 75 miles southeast of his Columbus home. According to Dr. Mark Valrose, who owns the practice, Spencer and Monique were also always quick to respond to calls or messages.
When Spencer failed to show up for work on Tuesday morning and could not be reached, concern quickly grew. Dr. Valrose made the first 911 call at around 8:58 a.m., asking police to do a welfare check.
“He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were any issues,” Valrose told the dispatcher. “We are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him.”
At 9:22 a.m., a police officer arrived at the home but got no response. About half an hour later, colleagues and a friend also came to the house but could not get anyone to answer the door.
At 9:56 a.m., another 911 call was made after someone at the scene said they could hear children crying inside.
“I can hear kids inside, and I swear I think I heard one yell,” the caller said. “But we can’t get in.”
Minutes later, another call came in saying Spencer had been unreachable for nearly three hours.
At 10:03 a.m., a distressed friend called 911 again and said simply, “There’s a body.”
Police later confirmed they found Spencer and Monique Tepe dead inside their home in the Weinland Park neighborhood of Columbus.
Their two children, aged 1 and 4, were found safe and unharmed, authorities said.
What Police Are Saying About the Investigation
Columbus police have not warned the public of an ongoing threat and have not answered questions about when the couple was killed, whether they were targeted, or who might be responsible.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office said autopsy reports could take 8 to 10 weeks. A police report confirmed both deaths were ruled homicides.
Police revealed there is a crime camera located a few hundred feet from the home. On Monday, officers released surveillance video showing a person of interest walking in an alley near the house between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., the time investigators believe the killings happened.
The person is seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants, walking with hands in pockets along a snow-covered alley.
CNN senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem said investigators will look closely at forensic evidence, how the killer entered the home, whether anything was stolen, and the family’s background.
Because no gun was found and the children were unharmed, Kayyem said it makes sense that police are treating the case as a double homicide.
She said the crime is “exceptionally rare”, especially with no forced entry, and investigators will likely start by looking at people who knew the couple or knew where they lived.
What We Know About the ‘Deeply Happy’ Couple
Spencer and Monique Tepe shared a “beautiful, strong and deeply happy relationship,” their family said in a statement. They were bonded by a love for travel, laughter, and a shared goal of building a life filled with love.
“We are heartbroken beyond words,” the family said.
They added that they are committed to seeing justice served and to protecting the future of the couple’s children, who are now in the care of relatives.
Spencer’s workplace, Athens Dental Depot, announced it would remain closed for the rest of the week following the couple’s sudden deaths.
Spencer Tepe was a graduate of Ohio State University, a member of the American Dental Association, fluent in Spanish, and a big fan of the Bengals and Buckeyes. His family described him as a devoted father, loving partner, and someone with a generous spirit.
Monique Tepe had a background in childhood education and was described as a caring, patient, and joyful mother whose warmth touched everyone around her.
