Executive Summary
- Indictment: Chicago surgeon Michael McKee faces aggravated murder and burglary charges in Ohio.
- Victims: McKee is accused of killing his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband, Dr. Spencer Tepe.
- Investigation: Police found no forced entry at the scene; two young children were discovered uninjured.
- Status: McKee was arrested in Illinois and has waived extradition to face charges in Franklin County.
An Ohio grand jury has formally indicted Michael McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon from Chicago, on charges of aggravated murder in connection with the shooting deaths of his ex-wife and her husband. According to court documents filed in Franklin County, Ohio, McKee faces counts of aggravated murder and aggravated burglary involving the use of a firearm suppressor following the discovery of the victims in their Columbus home.
The victims, identified by authorities as 39-year-old Monique Tepe and 37-year-old Dr. Spencer Tepe, were found dead in their residence on December 30. Columbus police officers were dispatched to the home on the city’s Near East Side for a wellness check after a coworker reported that Spencer Tepe, a dentist, had not arrived for work. Upon entry, investigators discovered both victims with apparent gunshot wounds. Police reports indicate that two children, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, were found uninjured inside the home.
Law enforcement officials stated that there were no signs of forced entry at the scene. Following the incident, McKee was apprehended in Rockford, Illinois. During a brief court appearance in Winnebago County earlier this week, he waived his right to an extradition hearing, clearing the path for his transfer to Ohio. A spokesperson for OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, where McKee is employed as a vascular surgeon, confirmed the hospital is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Judicial Proceedings and Legal Standards
The indictment marks the commencement of formal judicial proceedings in a case involving complex interstate jurisdictional elements, given the suspect’s residence in Illinois and the crime scene in Ohio. The inclusion of a firearm suppressor specification in the charges suggests prosecutors may argue premeditation, a factor that can significantly impact sentencing guidelines in capital murder cases. As the extradition process moves forward, the focus will shift to the arraignment in Franklin County where the defense will enter a plea. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation, and Michael McKee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
