CHILLING new details have emerged in the murders of a dentist and his wife who were found shot dead at home while their two little kids were discovered safe inside.
Cops say the killings happened behind closed doors, with no sign anyone broke in.
Dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, were found shot dead at their home, while their two little kids were discovered safe insideCredit: Family Handout
Investigators said no weapons were found inside the houseCredit: Facebook
A coworker first called 911 after Spencer didn’t show up for work at his dental clinic and couldn’t be reachedCredit: LiveNOW from Fox
The bodies of Spencer, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found in their Columbus, Ohio, home on the city’s near east side after police were sent to the house for a welfare check.
Officers were dispatched just after 10 am on Tuesday and found the parents suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, the Columbus Division of Police said.
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said no weapons were found inside the home. They also said there were no signs of forced entry.
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The couple’s one-year-old boy and four-year-old girl were found inside the house, and neither child was injured.
A coworker first called 911 after Spencer didn’t show up for work at his dental clinic in Athens, about 75 miles away, and couldn’t be reached, CBS affiliate WBNS reported.
“He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Valrose told dispatchers.
“I don’t know how else to say this but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife which is probably the more concerning thing”
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Columbus police went to the home and repeatedly knocked at the front and back doors, but nobody answered.
Later that morning, another worried coworker called 911 from outside the home and told dispatch they could hear kids inside.
A friend then got into the home and saw Spencer’s body, police said.
Spencer was shot multiple times, while Monique was hit at least once in the chest, the police said.
Columbus cops stressed they do not believe the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Detectives are now asking the public for video, photos, or other digital evidence showing any suspicious people or vehicles near the home around the time of the shooting.
Timeline in the deaths of Spencer Tepe
DENTIST Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique were found dead inside their Ohio home on December 30.
8 am: Dentist where Tepe works opens
9:03 am: The first 911 call received
9:22 am: Cops go to the Tepe family home, where there is no answer
9:57 am: Worried friend calls cops, telling them they can hear children inside the home
10:05 am: The same person calls 911 again, telling dispatchers there’s a body near a bed.
They are especially looking for footage from the neighborhood between midnight and 9 am on December 30.
FAMILY’S DEVASTATING STATEMENT
In a family statement, loved ones said the couple were devoted parents and partners whose lives centered on service, family, and community.
“We are heartbroken beyond words,” the statement said.
“While no outcome can ever undo this loss, our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice, and to honoring Spencer and Monique by protecting the future of the children they loved so deeply.”
The couple’s family has now launched a GoFundMe to help support Spencer and Monique’s two young children, and the fundraiser has already brought in more than $130,000.
In an appeal on the page, Spencer’s cousin Audrey Mackie said the family is “devastated” by what she called the “tragic and senseless loss” of the pair.
“They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others,” she wrote.
Mackie said Monique was known for her “charm and infectious smile,” adding that she was “warm” and had a “strength that inspired everyone around her.”
She described Spencer as “the soul of every gathering – grand in personality, yet calm, steady, and kind.”
The couple, she said, were devoted parents who showed up every day with “unwavering love” for their family.
“The abrupt loss of Spencer and Monique has changed daily life in ways that are still unfolding,” Mackie wrote, saying the fund is meant to provide stability for the children and help the immediate relatives now caring for them.
The pair were found dead inside the same home where they got married in 2021.
They were killed just a month before their wedding anniversary.
The couple was found dead in the home where they tied the knot in 2021Credit: LiveNOW from Fox
