The Chicago-area physician is charged in the December shootings of his ex-wife and her husband in Columbus, Ohio.
ROCKFORD, Ill. — Michael David McKee made his first court appearance Monday in Winnebago County, where he confirmed his identity and agreed to return to Ohio to face two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of Monique and Spencer Tepe. The brief hearing lasted only minutes as a public defender spoke on his behalf and a judge set the paperwork in motion.
Authorities in Columbus accuse McKee of planning and carrying out a double shooting that left the couple dead inside their Weinland Park home on Dec. 30. Investigators say there were no signs of forced entry and nothing was taken. The couple’s two children were found unharmed. McKee, a 39-year-old physician who once lived in Ohio and later worked in Illinois, was arrested over the weekend after investigators tracked a vehicle seen near the crime scene. He had been held in Winnebago County pending Monday’s appearance and the decision on extradition to Franklin County, where prosecutors are preparing the case.
During the appearance, McKee answered routine questions to establish who he was and whether he understood the process. He waived a formal extradition hearing, clearing the way for Ohio authorities to transport him. Court officers described the session as procedural. A defense attorney noted McKee intends to plead not guilty once in Ohio. Across the state line in Columbus, police have kept many investigative details sealed but said detectives are sorting through surveillance images, phone records and lab reports. Family members of the victims, including relatives of Spencer Tepe, a neighborhood dentist known to patients on the city’s north side, have attended memorials as arrangements continue for the couple’s children.
Police say officers first went to the Tepe home after Spencer failed to arrive for work the morning of Dec. 30. When officers entered, they found both victims shot. A review of neighborhood surveillance video later showed a person walking near the block and a vehicle consistent with one registered in Illinois. Detectives followed that lead to Rockford, where McKee had been living and working. In court documents, investigators say they have not recovered the weapon used. They have not publicly discussed a suspected motive, and no additional suspects have been named. Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and that tips from residents have been reviewed and forwarded to detectives.
Monique Tepe and McKee divorced in 2017, according to public records, and both later remarried. Friends and colleagues have described the couple as devoted parents and community-minded professionals. At a weekend vigil, mourners placed flowers and candles along the sidewalk near the home as neighbors spoke about safety, the tight-knit feel of Weinland Park, and the shock of a killing inside a house where children slept. Records show Columbus has struggled with gun violence in recent years, though homicides declined last year from a pandemic-era peak. The Tepe case drew wide attention because it unfolded with few visible clues and because the children were not hurt.
Prosecutors in Franklin County said they expect to present the case to a grand jury after McKee arrives in Ohio custody. If the grand jury returns an indictment on aggravated murder, the case would move to arraignment in Common Pleas Court, where a judge would consider bond and set a schedule. Officials said transport arrangements typically take several days. Once in Ohio, additional filings could follow, including requests for discovery, motions on evidence, and any protective orders sought by the state or defense. Police said they plan to release updates after major milestones, such as the filing of an indictment or scheduling of an initial appearance in Columbus.
Outside the Winnebago County courtroom, a small group watched as deputies escorted McKee back to the jail. In Columbus, neighbors continued to add notes to a growing memorial. “They were good people who cared about this neighborhood,” said one resident who left a bouquet at dusk. A former patient of Spencer Tepe said he “built trust with families over years,” while a family friend described Monique as “warm, organized and always thinking of the kids.” The Franklin County coroner’s office has not released additional autopsy details. Police said officers continue to canvass the area for doorbell footage and to speak with anyone who might have seen activity near the house late on Dec. 29 or early Dec. 30.
McKee remains jailed as authorities coordinate his transfer to Franklin County. An Ohio court date will be set after he is booked in Columbus; officials indicated the first appearance could occur shortly after transport is completed.
Author note: Last updated 2026-01-13.