The former spouse of an Ohio dentist’s wife, now facing charges in the couple’s murder, reportedly provided a bogus address and a nonexistent phone number to his past employer. This detail has led a forensic scientist to suspect he was attempting to “conceal his identity” before the alleged crime.
Michael David McKee, aged 39, was taken into custody on January 10, following accusations of murdering a couple in Columbus, Ohio, according to court documents. Law enforcement discovered the bodies of Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, at a residence in Columbus’ Weinland Park area around 10 a.m. on December 30. Both victims had sustained gunshot wounds. McKee is identified as Monique’s former husband.
McKee now faces elevated charges of premeditated aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of the Tepes.
Divorce documents obtained by Fox News Digital reveal that McKee and Monique tied the knot on August 22, 2015, only to part ways by March 2016. Monique cited “incompatibility” in her divorce filing as the reason for their separation after just seven months. The couple did not have children during their brief marriage.
Spencer and Monique Tepe were discovered deceased on December 30. (Rob Misleh)
Dan Laird, a Las Vegas attorney who initiated legal action against McKee, disclosed to WSYX that McKee had provided a fraudulent address with his former employer, Las Vegas Surgical Associates LLP.
“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 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.
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 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.
