A surgeon facing charges for the murder of his former wife and her husband, a dentist, in Ohio, has entered a plea of not guilty after being extradited to face the allegations.

Michael McKee, apprehended on January 10, is accused of fatally shooting Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, within their home located in the Weinland Park area of Columbus. The incident reportedly occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30. Monique Tepe was McKee’s ex-wife.

Following his arrest in Rockford, Illinois, McKee was detained at the Winnebago County Jail before being transferred to Columbus, Ohio. He is currently held at the James A. Karnes Corrections Center and is facing upgraded charges of premeditated aggravated murder in relation to the deaths of Spencer and Monique.

During a virtual court appearance on Tuesday, McKee pleaded not guilty to four counts of premeditated aggravated murder with firearm specifications as well as aggravated burglary. The charges include three counts of aggravated murder with allegations that McKee either used or displayed an automatic firearm or a silencer, and a fourth count indicating a firearm was brandished.

Defense attorney Diane Menashe is representing McKee during his court proceedings. McKee’s initial appearance took place over closed-circuit television before Magistrate Mark Petrucci of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. The proceedings were held from the Franklin County Jail in Columbus, Ohio, on January 23, 2026. (Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/Pool via Reuters)

Defense attorney Diane Menashe represents Michael McKee, a suspect in the killings of Monique and Spencer Tepe, as he makes an appearance over closed-circuit TV in front of Franklin County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Mark Petrucci from the Franklin County jail, in Columbus, Ohio, U.S., January 23, 2026. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/Pool via Reuters)

McKee is being represented by attorney Diane Menashe, who manages her own firm and has been a lawyer for 27 years. Menashe previously represented Dr. William Husel, an Ohio doctor who was acquitted of 14 counts of murder after prosecutors alleged he prescribed excessive pain medication to his patients in the Columbus-based Mount Carmel Health System.

Charging documents indicate police were able to identify McKee by linking him to a car that arrived in the Tepes’ neighborhood shortly before the murders and left just after the homicides. The car was then located in Rockford, Illinois, and police found evidence it belonged to McKee.

Michael McKee allegedly shot Monique and Spencer Tepe at their Columbus home eight years after his divorce. (Rob Misleh; Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office)

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant earlier told Fox News Digital that several weapons were taken from McKee’s property, adding that a preliminary link was established for one of those guns to the murders.

One of Spencer and Monique’s friends found the couple dead Dec. 30 at their home, according to a 911 call.

Spencer and Monique Tepe were found dead Dec. 30. (Rob Misleh)

“There’s a body,” the caller says. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead. He’s lying next to his bed, off of his bed in this blood. I can’t get closer to seeing more than that.”

Monique and McKee were married for seven months after their wedding Aug. 22, 2015, before splitting up, court records show. McKee was completing his residency at the Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic when Monique filed for divorce, writing that the two were “incompatible.”

Monique and Spencer’s two children were found safe at the home after the shooting. Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law, told People the couple’s 1-year-old child was likely in a crib when the shooting happened.

Spencer and Monique Tepe in a wedding photo. (Rob Misleh)

“[He] was in the crib right, and was unable to get out of the crib on his own, and, also, it was at a time he would’ve been well awake by this time,” he said. “From the timeframe that we know, 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., [when the murders took place], the kids would’ve been in their beds. So, we assume … they did not see anything.”

The couple was preparing to celebrate their five-year wedding anniversary one month before they were killed, Misleh told WSYX.