Police in Columbus, Ohio, searched for the killer or killers of dentist Dr Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, after the couple was found dead on Tuesday in their upscale home in the Weinland Park neighbourhood while their two young children were inside.Police said the case was being investigated as a double homicide, not a murder-suicide, and asked the public for information. Law enforcement did not disclose details about a possible suspect or motive and said the killer or killers remained on the loose. Police also said there were no obvious signs of forced entry and no firearm was found at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.A memorial of roses and sunflowers grew outside the home as news of the killings spread nationwide just days after Christmas.
How police uncovered incident?
Spencer Tepe rarely missed work at Athens Dental Depot, about 75 miles southeast of the family’s Columbus home, and he and his wife were always responsive, according to the owner of his practice, Dr Mark Valrose, WSYX reported. On Tuesday morning, Tepe did not show up for work, prompting concern from colleagues who could not reach him or his wife, according to 911 calls reported by WSYX.Valrose made the first 911 call at around 8:58 a.m. and asked police to conduct a wellness check, telling the dispatcher: “He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were any issues,” according to the recording. “I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him,” he continued. “We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”At 9:22 a.m., an officer arrived at the home to perform the welfare check, but no one answered the door, WSYX reported, citing police records. About 30 minutes later, Tepe’s colleagues and a friend arrived at the home but also did not get a response, dispatch records showed.A man at the scene called 911 at 9:56 a.m., saying he heard children crying inside. “I can hear kids inside, and I swear I think I heard one yell,” the caller said, according to dispatch audio. “But we can’t get in. At this point, I don’t know if I need to break the door in to get in the house or what.”Two minutes later, another colleague called 911 to say they had been unable to reach Tepe for about three hours, according to recordings obtained by WSYX. At around 10:03 a.m., a friend of Tepe, who said the two last spoke the day before, called 911 and said: “There’s a body,” according to WSYX.“Our friend wasn’t answering his phone … we just came here and he appears dead,” the friend said.Officers found the bodies of Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe in their home, Columbus police said. Their two children, aged 1 and 4, were found unharmed in the residence, police said.The Franklin County Coroner’s Office told CNN autopsy reports could take between eight and 10 weeks to complete. A police incident report from Tuesday said Spencer and Monique Tepe were victims of homicide.A police crime camera was situated on a utility pole at an intersection a few hundred feet from the Tepes’ home, according to The Columbus Dispatch. CNN asked police whether any neighbourhood cameras captured relevant clues.
‘Heartbroken beyond words’: Family
Spencer and Monique Tepe “shared a beautiful, strong and deeply happy relationship,” bonded by a love of travel, laughter and a mission to “build a life rooted in love,” their family said.“We are heartbroken beyond words,” read a statement on behalf of the Tepe family.The family said they were “committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice” and to honouring them by protecting the future of their children, who were in the care of relatives.Athens Dental Depot announced it would close for the rest of the week and shared news of the “sudden passing” of the couple on Facebook.“He will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this very difficult time.”Spencer Tepe, a graduate of Ohio State University and a member of the American Dental Association, was a “devoted and proud father, a loving partner, and a friend to everyone he met,” his family said. He was fluent in Spanish, a fan of the Bengals and Buckeyes football teams and had a generous and energetic spirit, they said.Monique Tepe had a background in childhood education and “brought care and intention into everything she did,” their family said. She was described as a loving, patient and joyful mother “whose warmth defined her.”The family said the couple were “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and a deep connection to others.”A 2021 family video showed Spencer and Monique Tepe exchanging vows and embracing and laughing in their Columbus, Ohio, home as friends and loved ones cheered them. One month before their fifth anniversary, the same setting became the site of the killings. Go to Source
