The person who gunned down a dentist and his wife inside their Ohio home is still at large one week later — but authorities hope new surveillance video of a person of interest will lead to an arrest.
Police officers performing a welfare check the morning of December 30 found Spencer and Monique Tepe dead in their Columbus home. Their children — ages 4 and 1 — were also inside, but they were not physically harmed, police said at the time, adding that they found no sign of forced entry.
“Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of December 30th in the upstairs of their residence,” Columbus police said in a written statement.
The clip, released by the Columbus Police Department on Monday, was recorded in an alley near the Tepe’s residence in Weinland Park. It shows a figure dressed in light pants and a dark, hooded coat wandering in the snow with their hands shoved in their pockets, shortly after authorities suspect the couple was killed. Both 37-year-old Tepe and his wife, 39-year-old Monique, were pronounced dead on the scene.
The Franklin County coroner’s office told NBC Chicago that the pair died in an apparent homicide by gunshot wounds but emphasized that the case is not finalized and that additional reports, including toxicology, are pending.
Authorities are still working to determine a motive for the double-homicide, but they previously said they do not believe it to be a murder-suicide. Few other details in the case have been provided, including whether they have homed in on a suspect.
“We want to thank the community for the tips we have received,” Columbus police said Monday evening. “We know there are questions and concerns surrounding this tragic incident. Detectives are working diligently to solve this case. We will continue to update you as the investigation progresses.”
Spencer Tepe worked at a dental practice in Athens, with a focus on comprehensive dentistry and implant therapy, according to a company biography.
In a message shared on a GoFundMe page, family described the couple as “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connection to others.”
“Our family is devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of Spencer and Monique,” they said.
