Police release footage of a person of interest in the killing of an Ohio couple
Jan 6, 2026, 9:56 AM
Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)
Authorities have released security footage of a person of interest in the killing of an Ohio couple who were found shot to death in their home last week.
Police in Columbus found Dr. Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and Monique Tepe, 39, with gunshot wounds on the second floor of their home at about 10 a.m. on Dec. 30 during a wellness check, authorities said. Medical personnel later pronounced them dead.
The couple’s two young children were also in the home but were unharmed, police said.
Many questions remain about the case, including who might have killed the couple and why.
Detectives believe Tepes were shot between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the day they were found. A spokesperson for the Franklin County Coroner’s Office said in an email Tuesday that the couple died in an “apparent homicide by gunshot wounds” but that official reports won’t be completed for several weeks.
On Monday, police released security footage of a person of interest that shows the person walking in an alley near the couple’s home during the three hours in which investigators believe they were attacked. The person was wearing light colored pants and dark hooded jacket, and police asked for the public’s help in identifying them.
“We know there are questions and concerns surrounding this tragic incident,” police said in a statement. “Detectives are working diligently to solve this case.”
In a statement, family members described the couple as “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy and deep connection to others.”
Spencer Tepe graduated from Ohio State University, became a member of the American Dental Association and was involved with Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. He was also a “huge Bengals and Buckeyes fan,” the family said.
Monique Tepe was a “loving, patient, and joyful mother,” an avid baker, and a “thoughtful planner,” it said.
“They were the proud parents of two beautiful children, and every day they showed up with unwavering love and devotion to their family,” wrote a cousin, Audrey Mackie.
