Surgeon ex in Ohio dentist murders job hopped across country, dodged lawsuits after divorce
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The former husband of an Ohio dentist’s wife, who now faces charges in connection with the couple’s murder, was found to have provided a fictitious address and a fake phone number to his previous employer. This discovery led a forensic scientist to conclude that he may have been attempting to conceal his identity prior to the alleged murders.

Michael David McKee, aged 39, was taken into custody on January 10, accused of killing a couple in Columbus, Ohio. According to court documents, police were called to a residence in the Weinland Park area of Columbus around 10 a.m. on December 30. Upon arrival, they discovered the bodies of Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, both of whom had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. McKee was identified as Monique’s former spouse.

McKee is now facing elevated charges of premeditated aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of the Tepes.

Documents from their divorce, obtained by Fox News Digital, reveal that McKee and Monique were married on August 22, 2015, but had separated by March 2016. Monique cited “incompatibility” as the reason for their separation after just seven months of marriage. The couple did not have any children during their brief union.

Spencer and Monique Tepe outside

The tragic deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe were discovered on December 30.

According to WSYX, Las Vegas attorney Dan Laird, who filed a lawsuit against McKee, said an address on file with his previous employer, Las Vegas Surgical Associates LLP, turned out to be a fake address.

“Interestingly, the address that was given to us by the surgery group that he worked for turned out to be a fake address,” Laird said. “It was an address that doesn’t exist.”

The address provided by Las Vegas Surgical Associates was also non-existent, and the phone number associated with his state medical board profile led Laird to a fax machine.

Spencer and Monique Tepe on wedding day

Spencer and Monique Tepe pictured on their wedding day. (Rob Misleh)

Laird said he attempted to reach McKee through former co-workers, which included another individual named in the lawsuit, Dr. Peter Caravella.

“He said he has no idea where Dr. Michael McKee is now,” Laird said, recalling his conversation with Caravella. “He just disappeared.”

Laird said the process server he used attempted to locate and serve McKee nine times, all of which failed.

A Nevada judge in October granted a declaration of due diligence, which allowed McKee to be served through a newspaper notice.

Forensic scientist and Jacksonville State University Professor Joseph Scott Morgan told Fox News Digital McKee may have been trying to “disguise” himself.

“Well, for me, from an investigative standpoint, it would seem to imply that there was maybe intent to disguise themselves,” Morgan said.

Morgan added that this level of deception would make sense for someone trying to throw people off, like investigators or a potential lawsuit.

Mugshot of Ohio dentist murder suspect

Booking photo of Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old from Chicago, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe. (Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office)

“Why are you going to deceive them to this level? Unless you’re trying to put people off of a scent. Because look, I mean, with a physical address, you have to think about if there’s going to be a warrant served. If there’s going to be any kind of papers that are served from a court, they’re literally going to go to a physical address and track you down,” Morgan said.

Michael McKee in court

Michael McKee appears in court at Winnebago County Justice Center, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois. McKee is facing extradition to Ohio for the murder of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband, Spencer Tepe. (WIFR via Pool)

“Had he developed some level, some kind of paranoid delusion or something where he’s trying to create and trying to stay ahead?” he asked.

McKee is awaiting extradition from the Winnebago County jail in Rockford, Illinois, where he’s being held. Once McKee is extradited, he’ll be taken to Columbus, Ohio.

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