A Surgeon’s Shadow: The Teepe Double Homicide

I. The Promise of a New Life

Columbus, Ohio, is a city where dreams are built on hard work, education, and family. In the heart of this community, Spencer Teepe was living proof of these ideals. Born in 1988, Spencer was a product of the city’s finest institutions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and Spanish from Ohio State University in 2012, and went on to graduate from the same university’s College of Dentistry in 2017. He was more than a scholar—he was a son, a friend, and, eventually, a loving husband and father.

Spencer’s professional journey took him to Athens Dental Depot, a respected practice in Athens, Ohio, seventy-five miles southeast of Columbus. Patients and colleagues admired his gentle manner and dedication. But it was his personal life that truly defined him. In January 2021, Spencer married Monnique—a woman whose own story was marked by resilience and hope.

Monnique’s path to happiness had not been easy. Years before she met Spencer, she had married Michael David McKe, a promising vascular surgeon, in August 2015. The marriage, however, unraveled quickly. By March 2016, just seven months after their wedding, Monnique filed for divorce, citing incompatibility. The separation agreement was straightforward: she paid Michael $1,300 for miscellaneous debts, and both covered their own legal fees. She even paid extra for a private judge to expedite the process, determined to close a painful chapter.

The divorce was finalized in June 2017. Monnique moved to Westerville, just north of Columbus, while Michael relocated to Rowan Oak, Virginia, continuing his surgical career. Their agreement included a mutual restraining order—an indication of the tension that had marked their brief union.

But Monnique was not deterred by her past. She built a new life with Spencer, and together they welcomed two children—a girl and a boy—into their two-story home on North Fourth Street in Columbus. Their family, along with a beloved golden doodle, became the center of Monnique’s world.

II. The Calm Before the Storm

The Teepe household was, by all accounts, idyllic. Spencer and Monnique were devoted parents, active in their community, and respected by friends and neighbors. Their children, just four and one years old, filled the house with laughter and energy. The golden doodle, friendly and gentle, was a fixture in family photos.

Yet, beneath the surface, shadows lingered. Monnique’s first marriage had ended abruptly and painfully. Michael, her ex-husband, had moved from state to state, building a reputation as a skilled surgeon. He held medical licenses in Illinois, California, and previously, Nevada. He was known for his professionalism, and neighbors in his Chicago apartment building described him as pleasant and sociable. One neighbor recalled, “He didn’t seem like someone who would do something like this. I talked to him at the pool, barbecuing about what a beautiful day it was—and then he turned out to be a killer. It’s kind of shocking.”

It was a sentiment echoed by many who would later struggle to reconcile Michael’s professional success with the allegations that would soon engulf him.

III. The Day Everything Changed

December 30, 2025, began like any other winter morning in Columbus. But by mid-morning, a sense of unease crept through the Athens Dental Depot. Spencer Teepe had failed to show up for work—a rare and troubling occurrence. At 8:58 a.m., Mark Valos, the owner of the practice, called the police for a welfare check.

At 9:22 a.m., officers arrived at the wrong house. Finding no answer, they left. About thirty minutes later, Spencer’s friend, Alexander Diddy, arrived at the Teepe home. He could hear children inside, and thought he heard one yell. At 9:56 a.m., Alexander called 911, voicing his concern. The police were dispatched again.

At 10:03 a.m., Alexander called 911 a second time, his voice filled with dread: “There’s a body. Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here and he appears dead. He’s laying next to his bed, off of his bed in this blood. I can’t get closer to see more than that.”

The police arrived at 10:04 a.m., this time at the correct address. What they found was a scene of horror. Spencer and Monnique lay dead in an upstairs bedroom. Spencer had been shot multiple times; Monnique at least once in the chest. At 10:11 a.m., they were pronounced dead.

Their children, miraculously, were unharmed. The family dog, too, was unscathed. But the tranquility of their home had been shattered forever.

IV. The Investigation Begins

The Columbus Police Department quickly moved to secure the Teepe home, searching for clues in what had become a double homicide scene. Officers found three spent 9mm shell casings—silent witnesses to the violence that had erupted in the upstairs bedroom. No weapon was found, and there was no sign of forced entry. It was a detail that immediately raised suspicions: whoever had killed Spencer and Monnique had either been let in, or knew how to gain entry without a struggle.

The children’s safety was a small mercy amid the chaos. Four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son, confused but unharmed, were taken into protective custody. The golden doodle, loyal and gentle, had not barked or attacked—suggesting the intruder may have been someone familiar.

Detectives canvassed the neighborhood, searching for anyone who might have seen or heard something unusual. The city’s anxiety grew as rumors swirled: Was this a random attack? Was the killer still at large? Would anyone else be targeted?

V. A City on Edge

News of the murders spread quickly through Columbus. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues of the Teepes gathered in shock and sorrow, struggling to comprehend the tragedy. The Athens Dental Depot closed its doors as staff mourned their lost friend. Vigils were organized, candles flickered in the winter air, and prayers were offered for the children left behind.

Social media lit up with theories and speculation. Some believed the killer must have known the family—how else could he have entered without force? Others feared a stranger had targeted the Teepes at random, and worried that more violence could follow.

The police released surveillance footage from a nearby alley, showing a man in a dark sweatshirt and light pants, hands in his pockets, moving calmly and deliberately. At one point, he pulled down his hood or touched his face—a fleeting gesture that would become a focal point for investigators.

VI. Theories and Suspicions

Speculation intensified as the days passed. The lack of forced entry and the killer’s apparent calmness suggested a personal connection. Was this a crime of passion? Revenge? Or something more sinister?

Dr. Grande’s analysis, shared widely online, resonated with many. He noted that random attacks are rare—most homicides are committed by someone known to the victims. The absence of robbery, the targeted nature of the violence, and the killer’s composure all pointed to a carefully chosen target.

The community’s fear was matched by its determination to see justice done. The Teepe family released a statement, thanking the public for their support and urging patience as the investigation unfolded.

VII. A Break in the Case

On January 10, 2026, less than two weeks after the murders, police made a dramatic announcement: they had arrested Monnique’s ex-husband, Michael David McKe, and charged him with two counts of murder. The arrest was the result of painstaking detective work—surveillance footage had allowed investigators to track a suspect to a vehicle that arrived just before the homicides and left shortly after.

The vehicle was traced across state lines to Rockford, Illinois, where Michael worked as a surgeon. Evidence showed he had possession of the car both before and after the murders. Investigators believe the killings occurred at 3:52 a.m.—a time when the city slept, and horror crept quietly into the Teepe home.

The arrest sent shockwaves through the community. Michael McKe, the accomplished surgeon, had no criminal record. Neighbors in Chicago described him as friendly, even charming. The idea that he could be responsible for such a crime was almost unthinkable.

VIII. The Surgeon’s Double Life

Michael David McKe’s arrest stunned those who knew him. Born on June 29, 1986, Michael had built a life that, from the outside, seemed enviable. He lived in a modern apartment building in Chicago, over 300 miles from Columbus. His career as a vascular surgeon at a hospital in Rockford, Illinois, was marked by professionalism and success. He held licenses in Illinois and California, and had previously been licensed in Nevada and Virginia.

Neighbors described Michael as quiet, polite, and approachable. “He didn’t seem like someone who would do something like this,” one neighbor told reporters. “I sat down with this man. I talked to him at the pool, barbecuing about what a beautiful day it is, and then he turned out to be a killer. It’s kind of shocking.” The contrast between Michael’s outward demeanor and the accusations against him became a focal point of public fascination and horror.

IX. The Psychology of Obsession

Dr. Grande’s analysis highlighted a troubling pattern: the majority of women murdered by former partners are killed soon after separation. Statistics reveal that:

$$\text{50\% of women killed by ex-partners die within two months of separation, and 85\% within a year.}$$

But Michael and Monnique’s divorce had been finalized eight years before the murders. Why would Michael allegedly wait so long? This question haunted investigators and psychologists alike.

Dr. Grande theorized that Michael may have been unable to let go of his relationship with Monnique. The rapid disintegration of their marriage—just seven months after their wedding—may have left Michael confused, angry, and resentful. Over the years, he may have ruminated on what could have been, unable to accept Monnique’s decision to move on.

The arrival of Spencer, Monnique’s new husband, may have been a trigger. Both men were similar in age, education, and background. Both graduated from Ohio State University. Both spoke Spanish. To Michael, Spencer may have seemed like a replacement—a man who took everything from him.

X. The Unanswered Questions

Michael’s alleged involvement answered some questions but raised many more. How did he gain entry to the Teepe home? The lack of forced entry suggested either familiarity or cunning. Monnique had paid extra to expedite her divorce from Michael, agreed to a restraining order, and referenced her “wrong relationship” during her wedding vows to Spencer. It was hard to imagine she would willingly let Michael into her home.

The family’s golden doodle did not bark or attack during the intrusion. Was the dog familiar with Michael, or simply too gentle to react? Could Michael have maintained contact with Monnique, or found another way to enter unnoticed?

The nature of the crime—no robbery, no evidence of theft—pointed to a motive rooted in destructive emotions: jealousy, anger, resentment. If Michael was guilty, he had targeted the couple with cold precision.

XI. Calm Under Pressure

Surgeons are known for their composure in high-stress situations. Dr. Grande noted that many in the profession exhibit low levels of anxiety—a trait shared with police officers, soldiers, and skydivers. This calmness, sometimes bordering on subclinical psychopathy, allows them to function under pressure. Nobody wants a hysterical surgeon in the operating room.

Michael’s behavior on surveillance footage—walking calmly, not running—suggested a killer who was unflappable, even in the midst of committing a horrific crime. If Dr. Grande’s theory was correct, Michael’s personality may have been marked by low neuroticism in most facets, except for angry hostility. This combination can be dangerous, granting a person the ability to act with precision and coldness, but with decisions driven by emotion.

XII. The Aftermath: Grief and Uncertainty

The murders of Spencer and Monnique Teepe sent shockwaves through Columbus and beyond. The community rallied around the two surviving children, offering support and comfort in the face of unspeakable loss. Vigils were held in their honor; neighbors left flowers and messages at the family’s home. The Athens Dental Depot, where Spencer had worked, became a place of mourning—a reminder of the life and promise that had been stolen.

The Teepe family released a statement thanking law enforcement and the public for their support, and asking for privacy as they navigated their grief. The children, now orphaned, were placed in the care of relatives, their futures uncertain but protected by the love of extended family.

XIII. The Legal Battle: Search for Justice

Michael David McKe was extradited to Ohio to face two counts of murder. The prosecution built its case on surveillance footage, the timeline of Michael’s movements, and forensic evidence linking him to the vehicle seen near the crime scene. Ballistics tests matched the shell casings to a weapon found in Michael’s possession. DNA analysis and digital forensics provided further connections.

Defense attorneys focused on reasonable doubt, highlighting Michael’s lack of criminal history and the circumstantial nature of some evidence. The absence of a murder weapon and the eight-year gap since the divorce became central points of contention. Would the jury believe that Michael had harbored resentment for so long, or would they see the case as built on speculation?

The trial became a spectacle, with experts weighing in on psychological motives, the dynamics of domestic violence, and the peculiarities of Michael’s personality. Dr. Grande’s analysis was cited by media outlets, offering insight into the mind of a man who could wait years to exact revenge.

XIV. A Community Changed

For Columbus, the Teepe murders were more than a headline—they were a call to awareness. Advocacy groups used the tragedy to highlight the dangers of unresolved emotions and the importance of restraining orders. The medical community reflected on the pressures faced by surgeons, the need for mental health support, and the risks of unchecked hostility.

Neighbors who had once felt safe now locked their doors a little tighter. Parents hugged their children closer, and friends checked in on one another more often. The Teepe family’s strength inspired many, reminding the community that healing is possible, even in the darkest of times.

XV. Final Thoughts: Lessons from Tragedy

As the trial concluded and the verdict was delivered, the story of Spencer and Monnique Teepe remained at the heart of the city. Their lives—marked by love, resilience, and hope—became symbols of what had been lost, and what must be protected.

The case offered painful lessons:

The dangers of unresolved anger and obsession.
The importance of recognizing warning signs in relationships.
The need for community support and mental health resources.

Dr. Grande’s final thoughts resonated: “Sometimes, the facets of personality align in ways that make tragedy possible. Calmness and precision can mask deep emotional wounds. Justice is not only about punishment—it’s about understanding, prevention, and healing.”

XVI. Conclusion: The Light That Remains

In the end, the Teepe double homicide was not just a story of loss—it was a story of love, community, and the enduring power of hope. The children, surrounded by care, represented the possibility of new beginnings. The memory of Spencer and Monnique inspired acts of kindness, reflection, and change.

The mystery of Michael McKe’s motives may never be fully understood. But the pursuit of justice, the strength of the Teepe family, and the lessons learned from tragedy offered hope for the future.

As Columbus moves forward, the legacy of Spencer and Monnique Teepe—and the light they brought into the world—will remain.