Illinois Surgeon Michael McKee Pleads Not Guilty to Killing Ex-Wife and Husband in Ohio
Vascular surgeon Michael David McKee entered a not guilty plea on Friday in a Franklin County courtroom, he faces charges for the double homicide of his ex-wife and her new husband, the defendant remains held without bond as prosecutors outlined forensic evidence linking him to the December crime scene.
Prior Legal Troubles and Clerical Error Preceded Tragic Violence
McKee and victim Monique Tepe finalized their divorce in 2017 after a marriage that lasted less than a year, family members previously described the relationship as volatile and controlling, however, a court clerical error in June 2025 mistakenly reopened their closed divorce case on the active docket. This administrative mistake placed a new trial date on the schedule just months before the killings occurred, legal analysts suggest this may have drawn McKee's attention back to his former spouse. The surgeon simultaneously faced professional pressure in other states, he was a defendant in multiple medical malpractice lawsuits in Nevada at the time of his arrest. Attorneys involved in those civil cases reported that McKee had become difficult to locate, they described him as evading service for months before he resurfaced at a medical center in Illinois.
Prosecutors Present Surveillance and Ballistic Evidence During Arraignment
The Franklin County court heard significant details regarding the state's case against the 39-year-old doctor on Friday, authorities allege McKee drove from his home in Rockford to Columbus to commit the premeditated murders on December 30. Police officers discovered Monique Tepe and Dr. Spencer Tepe deceased in their upstairs bedroom during a welfare check, investigators recovered 9mm shell casings at the scene that preliminary tests matched to a firearm seized from McKee’s property. Surveillance cameras in the neighborhood reportedly captured a vehicle associated with the surgeon arriving near the residence around 2:00 a.m., additional video footage showed a figure walking through an alleyway behind the home shortly before the shootings.
The indictment includes counts of aggravated murder and aggravated burglary, prosecutors noted that there were no signs of forced entry into the house, this suggests the assailant may have possessed a key or known the security code. The couple's two young children survived the incident physically unharmed inside the home, Emilia and Beckham remained alone with their deceased parents for several hours before law enforcement arrived. Police arrested McKee on January 10 following an extensive multi-state investigation, he has since been extradited to Ohio to face trial.
Medical Community and Surviving Family Face Long Road Ahead
The violent nature of the crime has shaken the local medical community where Spencer Tepe worked as a respected dentist, colleagues expressed shock that a highly trained specialist could be involved in such a brutal act. Relatives are currently caring for the two orphaned children, family spokespeople state they are focusing on providing stability and therapy to help the young survivors process the trauma. Legal experts indicate that prosecutors could potentially seek the death penalty given the aggravating circumstances, the defense team has reserved comment on specific evidence until the discovery phase concludes.
The court scheduled the next hearing for the upcoming spring session, officials indicate that the investigation into digital records and travel history will continue as both sides prepare for trial.
