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Twist in deaths of dentist and wife found at home with children safe inside
A disturbing new detail has emerged in the baffling case of an Ohio couple found shot to death in their home. Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were discovered dead on December 30, just days after a neighbor reported a late-night break-in attempt just down the street.
The neighbor, who lives a short walk from the couple’s Columbus home, made a chilling 911 call at 2:30 am on December 19. “They’re smashing on my door,” the unnamed woman told the operator, per The New York Post. “I think they’re trying to get in. They’re banging on my doors.”
She couldn’t identify the person or provide a description, and dispatch logs show the disturbance ended at 2:44 am.
Eleven days later, Spencer and Monique were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Police have not confirmed any connection between the two incidents, but both occurred in the same quiet neighborhood and in the early morning hours.
Surveillance footage shows person of interest
Surveillance video released by the Columbus Division of Police shows a person of interest near the Tepe home around the time of the murders. The figure, wearing a dark coat and light-colored pants, is partially obscured by a dark vehicle and appears to be standing on a snow-covered surface.
Police believe the killings occurred between 2 am and 5 am on December 30. The first 911 call came in at 9:03 am, followed by another at 9:57 am from a friend concerned about children being inside the home.
At 10:05 am, the same person called again, saying, “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.”
There was no sign of forced entry, and police found no weapons at the scene.
Family mourns loss of couple described as ‘extraordinary people’
The Tepe family shared a statement mourning the loss of Spencer and Monique, who were deeply connected to their community. “They were extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others,” the statement read, via NBC News.
The investigation into their deaths is ongoing, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.