New Details Emerge in the Deaths of Columbus Couple Spencer and Monique Tepe
One week after a tragic discovery in Columbus, new details have surfaced in the deaths of Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique, 39. Authorities released video evidence, while public tips continue to pour in as the investigation remains open.
Discovery of the Couple
Police found Spencer and Monique on December 30, 2025, during a welfare check. Family and friends had grown concerned when they couldn’t reach the couple. A patrol officer discovered two young children inside the home unharmed.
Neighbors left flowers outside the Weinland Park residence, mourning the sudden loss.
Cause of Death Under Investigation
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office stated the couple died from gunshot wounds, though toxicology and further forensic tests are still ongoing. Authorities are treating both deaths as homicides.
According to reports, Spencer sustained multiple gunshots, while Monique was hit once in the chest. Police have not confirmed these details.
Family Launches Fundraiser
Spencer’s cousin, Audrey Mackie, launched a GoFundMe to support the couple’s children. She described Spencer and Monique as “extraordinary people” full of love and joy. Monique’s smile was “infectious,” Mackie said, while Spencer was “the soul of every gathering.”
The campaign aims to help the family during this devastating time.
Police Release Surveillance Footage
Columbus police released video showing a person of interest walking through a snow-covered alley near the Tepe home between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the deaths.
The individual wears a dark hooded jacket and pants, walking with hands in pockets or close to their sides. Investigators believe the murders occurred during this window and are urging anyone with information to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Person of interest walking in a snow-covered alley near the Tepe home | Source: Facebook/ColumbusPolice
The Missed Routine
Spencer worked at Athens Dental Depot and always arrived on time. His absence on the morning of December 30 triggered the first welfare check at 9:03 a.m.
A colleague reported his missed shift was unusual. By 10:05 a.m., friends who checked the home discovered the couple’s bodies.
Who Were Spencer and Monique?
Spencer earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Ohio State University in 2017. He enjoyed golf, travel, and family time. Monique was beloved in her community, remembered for her warmth and charm.
Neighbors described the block as quiet and were shocked by the sudden violence. Friends and colleagues mourned the loss, praising the couple as loving parents and community pillars.
Key Points from Investigators
Police ruled out a murder-suicide. No suspects have been publicly named. Investigators are exploring how the suspect entered the home and whether surveillance footage captured the perpetrator.
Authorities continue to treat the deaths as a homicide and urge anyone with information to come forward.
Community Reacts
Neighbors and family members are grappling with grief. A family member said, “They were so warm…a huge community now will step in to help raise these children.”
The dental office closed in mourning, and friends described the couple as kind, generous, and deeply connected to their community.
Ongoing Investigation
An online claim suggested someone searched Monique’s name hours before the killings. Police have not confirmed if this is relevant.
As questions remain—who entered the home, why, and what the children witnessed—the community waits for answers. What began as a missed routine shift has left a neighborhood, and a family, shaken.
