The devastating double homicide of Spencer Tepe, 37, a revered dentist, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, a cherished former educator and baker, has entered its second week with heart-wrenching revelations from the family and chilling new evidence that amplifies the nightmare in Columbus, Ohio’s Weinland Park. Found slain from multiple gunshot wounds in their North 4th Street home on December 30, 2025, the couple’s deaths have left their two young children—a 4-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy—orphaned and in the protective care of relatives.
As the community grapples with the loss, family members have opened up about the excruciating task of helping the older child comprehend the finality of her parents’ absence, describing her silence and the need for gentle distractions amid overwhelming grief.
Investigators from the Columbus Police Department continue to treat the case as a targeted attack, with no forced entry, no recovered weapon, and three 9mm shell casings on the second floor where the killings unfolded between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Motive remains shrouded in mystery, but fresh details paint a picture of desperation and terror. A distress call to 911 was discovered unsent on a phone at the scene, digits dialed but never transmitted, suggesting a frantic final effort cut short by the assailant. Even more harrowing, kitchen surveillance CCTV footage has surfaced, capturing the unimaginable final 90 seconds of the tragedy—shadowy movements, audible struggles, and acts of brutality that have stunned detectives and fueled public outrage.
This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of a prior 911 call from April 2025, initially linked to a “domestic dispute” but clarified by Spencer’s brother-in-law as originating from a party guest, not Monique, dispelling any notions of marital discord. Police have emphasized this incident’s irrelevance to the murders, focusing instead on a person of interest captured in newly released external surveillance video: a figure in a dark hoodie and light pants lurking in a nearby alley during the crime window. Authorities report investigating numerous tips related to this individual, urging the public for more leads through anonymous channels like Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
Spencer was a pillar in the community, fluent in Spanish and dedicated to mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters, profoundly impacting lives like that of Hans Hernandez, who rose from mentee to engineer under his guidance. Monique’s warmth shone through her baking and family devotion, making their home a beacon of joy. A private vigil on January 6, 2026, brought neighbors together to mourn, with tributes highlighting their extraordinary kindness. The children, now with family and their Goldendoodle, face an uncertain path as loved ones commit to their well-being.
As the investigation intensifies without arrests, the case underscores vulnerabilities in suburban safety, with Columbus having resolved most 2025 homicides yet struggling here. Could the unsent call or kitchen footage hold the breakthrough? Or does the person of interest tie into deeper secrets? The family’s plea for justice echoes amid rising community anxiety, hoping for swift resolution to heal the wounds of this unthinkable loss.
