COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — One week after Spencer and Monique Tepe were found shot to death inside their Weinland Park home, investigators have yet to identify a suspect or determine a motive, leaving their family, neighbors, and the community searching for answers.
On Monday, Columbus police released surveillance video showing a person of interest walking through the back alley near the Tepe family’s North 4th Street residence. Investigators say the killings occurred sometime between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30, on the second floor of the home.
The individual in the video appears to be a male, wearing a dark hoodie and walking with his head down, moving south through the alley toward the Tepes’ garage and residence. This is the only publicly-released footage connected to the case as of Tuesday evening.
Several neighbors said the Tepes were well-liked, and described them as the least likely family on the block to be targeted.
The couple was discovered just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 30 after Tepe failed to show up for work at his Athens-based dental practice. After coworkers were unable to reach him, authorities conducted a welfare check and found the couple deceased inside the home. Their two young children, ages 4 and 1, were found unharmed and are now in the care of relatives, along with the family dog.
“This person didn’t just take two lives,” said Rob Misleh, Spencer Tepe’s brother-in-law. “They took a son and a daughter, a brother and a sister, an aunt and an uncle. They were two beautiful souls who were just wonderful parents.”
Misleh expressed confidence in the investigators.
“I know just in the world that we live in today, we can get such information so fast and we need it,” he said. “That’s not exactly how investigators operate, and we understand that. We have full faith they’re doing this the right way.”
Columbus police have not conducted on-camera interviews since the morning the bodies were discovered. In response to ABC 6’s questions regarding how a suspect may have entered the home, where the person of interest came from, and whether there are additional suspects or video evidence, investigators said they could not provide further details.
Authorities have confirmed there were no signs of forced entry, no weapons recovered at the scene, and no indication the home was ransacked.
Police continue to ask the public for surveillance footage, photos, or digital evidence from between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Dec. 30, particularly from areas surrounding North Fourth Street, Summit Street, North Grant Avenue, East Seventh Avenue, and East Eleventh Avenue.
Outside the Tepe home, a growing memorial of flowers and personal items remains as friends and neighbors continue to mourn.
“This is not an episode of television or a true crime podcast,” Misleh said. “This is a family. Hundreds and hundreds of people have been affected by this.”
A GoFundMe created to support the Tepes’ children has already raised nearly $170,000 as of this report.
Anyone with information that could help identify the person seen in the surveillance video is urged to contact Columbus police at 614-645-2228. Anonymous tips also can be submitted to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.


News
Final Words: Kouri Richins reportedly lost control emotionally after hearing her mother-in-law’s five-word statement in court
The young sons of Utah author Kouri Richins said ahead of her sentencing hearing Wednesday that they would feel unsafe if their mother was ever released from prison after she was found guilty in March of killing their father. Richins, 35, faces several decades to life in prison on five felony convictions, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors said she laced her husband Eric […]
Court Twist: Kouri Richins reportedly broke down uncontrollably after her mother-in-law delivered a chilling five-word message in court
The young sons of Utah author Kouri Richins said ahead of her sentencing hearing Wednesday that they would feel unsafe if their mother was ever released from prison after she was found guilty in March of killing their father. Richins, 35, faces several decades to life in prison on five felony convictions, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors said she laced her husband Eric […]
Court Twist: Kouri Richins reportedly appeared nearly panicked during the full 3-hour sentencing hearing after spotting her husband’s family inside the courtroom
The young sons of Utah author Kouri Richins said ahead of her sentencing hearing Wednesday that they would feel unsafe if their mother was ever released from prison after she was found guilty in March of killing their father. Richins, 35, faces several decades to life in prison on five felony convictions, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors said she laced her husband Eric […]
“I’m scared,” Kouri Richins’ son cried after hearing his mother’s name, now begging for one thing as fears grow she could be released
The three young sons of Utah kids grief author Kouri Richins said they are terrified of her and want her to spend the rest of her life in prison, prosecutors revealed — as they argued she should never be allowed parole for poisoning her husband. “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me […]
Emotional Courtroom Scene: Kouri Richins’ ch!ldren were reportedly t3rrified at the thought of their mother possibly being released from ja!l
Kouri Richins’ three sons have all submitted statements to prosecutors asking that their mother be sentenced to life in prison on May 13 after a jury convicted her of murdering their father in 2022 Kouri and Eric Richins with their three sons. Kouri Richins’ three sons are asking that their mother be sentenced to life […]
H@unting Post: A restaurant owner shared a ch!lling message online just days before she and her two ch!ldren were allegedly k!lled by her husband
The prominent Texas restaurateur who was slain alongside her kids in a shocking murder-suicide by her husband had made a haunting post about her future just days earlier. Thy Mitchell, 39, posed alongside husband Matthew Mitchell, 52, for the Instagram clip she posted on April 24 — just 10 days before he murdered her and their two […]
End of content
No more pages to load











