The immense pleasure of Spencer and Monique Tepe was unmistakable on their marriage ceremony day in a 2021 video shared by the household, which captured them exchanging vows. The then newlyweds embraced and laughed in their Columbus, Ohio, home as buddies and family members cheered them.
But only one month earlier than their fifth anniversary, the identical setting where the couple started their life collectively turned the web site of unspeakable tragedy. The revered dentist, 37, and his 39-year-old spouse, a stay-at-home mom, were found dead on Tuesday after being gunned down in their upscale home whereas their two younger youngsters have been inside.
A memorial of roses and sunflowers now grows outdoors the home as information of the stunning killings unfold nationwide simply days after Christmas, producing extra questions than solutions.
Law enforcement has been reluctant to reveal any particulars a couple of doable suspect or motive however stated the killer or killers of the younger couple stay on the free. Even extra mysterious, police revealed there have been no apparent indicators of pressured entry, and no firearm was discovered at the scene, NCS affiliate WSYX reported.
Police are asking the public for any info on a case they say is being investigated as a double murder, not a murder-suicide.
Here’s what we know and don’t know about the tragedy:
How involved buddies and colleagues led police to home
Spencer Tepe had hardly ever missed work at Athens Dental Depot, situated about 75 miles southeast of the household’s Columbus home, and he and his spouse have been at all times responsive, in keeping with the proprietor of his follow, Dr. Mark Valrose, NCS affiliate WSYX reported.
But on Tuesday morning, he didn’t present up for work, spurring concern from his colleagues that continued to develop when they couldn’t get in contact with him or his spouse, in keeping with 911 calls reported by WSYX.
Valrose made the first 911 name at round 8:58 a.m. and requested police to conduct a wellness verify, telling the dispatcher: “He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were any issues,” in keeping with the recording.
“I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him,” he continued. “We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”
At 9:22 a.m., an officer arrived at the home to carry out the welfare verify, however nobody answered the door, WSYX reported, citing police information.
Around half-hour later, Tepe’s colleagues and a pal arrived at the home, but in addition didn’t get a response, the dispatch information confirmed. A person at the scene additionally referred to as 911 at 9:56 a.m., saying he heard youngsters crying inside.
“I can hear kids inside, and I swear I think I heard one yell,” the caller stated, in keeping with dispatch audio. “But we can’t get in. At this point, I don’t know if I need to break the door in to get in the house or what.”
Two minutes later, one other colleague of Tepe referred to as 911 to say they had been unable to succeed in him for about three hours, in keeping with the recordings obtained by WSYX.
Around 10:03 a.m., a pal of Tepe, who stated the two final spoke the day earlier than, was audibly distressed as he referred to as 911: “There’s a body,” he reported.
“Our friend wasn’t answering his phone … we just came here and he appears dead,” the pal stated.
Officers discovered the our bodies of Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe in their home in the Weinland Park neighborhood, Columbus police stated.
Their two youngsters, ages 1 and 4, have been additionally discovered unhurt in the residence, police stated.
Columbus police haven’t issued any warnings to the neighborhood about an ongoing risk, and the company didn’t reply to NCS’s questions on the timing of the killings, whether or not the Tepes have been particularly focused or any details about a suspect or motive.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office informed NCS post-mortem reviews can take between eight and 10 weeks to finish. A police incident report from Tuesday stated Spencer and Monique Tepe have been victims of murder.
There is a police crime digicam located on a utility pole at an intersection situated a couple of hundred toes from the Tepes’ home, in keeping with The Columbus Dispatch. NCS has requested police whether or not any neighborhood cameras captured any related clues about what occurred.
To assist zero in on a motive and doable suspects, investigators will study forensics, the doable entry of the killer, whether or not something was stolen from the home and the Tepe household’s background to find out any additional risk to the remainder of the neighborhood, in keeping with NCS Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem.
Without any recovered firearm, it’s not stunning detectives would examine the deaths as a double murder and not a murder-suicide, Kayyem stated. “The other clue is, of course, the children are left safe.”
Either of two eventualities for a way the crime unfolded appears to be almost certainly, Kayyem stated: A “stranger at the door who just happens to kill this couple, or some narrative that might explain why they were targeted.”
This sort of crime is “exceptionally rare” given there have been no indicators of pressured entry, she continued. “… You’re going to look at people who they may have known or people who knew where they lived, unfortunately, and begin there.”
“Maybe this was random. But the … national data suggests both how uncommon this is as well as the likelihood that there may be someone who knew them who was involved with this,” Kayyem stated.
Spencer and Monique Tepe “shared a beautiful, strong and deeply happy relationship,” bonded by a love of journey, laughter and a mission to “build a life rooted in love,” stated their household.
“We are heartbroken beyond words,” reads the assertion on behalf of the Tepe household.
As the devastating lack of the couple permeates their neighborhood, the household stated they are “committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice” and to honoring them by defending the way forward for their beloved youngsters, who are actually in the care of family members.
Meanwhile, Spencer Tepe’s employer, Athens Dental Depot, introduced its closure for the remainder of the week as they shared information of the “sudden passing” of the couple on Facebook.
“He will be deeply missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this very difficult time.”
Spencer Tepe, a graduate of Ohio State University and a member of the American Dental Association, was a “devoted and proud father, a loving partner, and a friend to everyone he met,” his household stated.
He was fluent in Spanish, a serious fan of the Bengals and Buckeyes soccer groups and had a beneficiant and energetic spirit, they stated.
His spouse Monique Tepe had a background in childhood training and “brought care and intention into everything she did,” their household stated. She was described as a loving, affected person and joyful mom “whose warmth defined her.”
The couple, their household stated, have been “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy, and a deep connection to others.”