The double homicide of Spencer Tepee and his wife Monnique Tepee has shaken Columbus, drawing national attention and leaving a community struggling to comprehend how such violence could unfold behind the doors of a family home. As police continue their investigation, the case remains defined by unanswered questions, quiet grief, and a sense that something deeply unsettling occurred in the early hours of an otherwise ordinary winter night.

On a recent morning, four close friends arrived at the couple’s home on North Fourth Street carrying flowers arranged inside a soccer ball, a symbol of the life and family that once filled the house. The makeshift memorial stands as a reminder of Spencer and Monnique’s presence in the community and of the two young children now left without parents. Neighbors stop, look, and leave in silence, uncertain what words could possibly fit the moment.

Spencer Tepee, a 37-year-old dentist who worked in Athens, Ohio, and Monnique Tepee, 39, were found shot to death inside their Weinland Park home on December 30, just one day before New Year’s Eve. According to police records, Spencer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while Monnique was shot at least once in the chest. Their bodies were discovered during a welfare check requested by a family friend after Spencer failed to show up for work—something those who knew him say was completely out of character.

Inside the home, investigators found the couple’s two children—a one-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl—crying but physically unharmed. The children were later placed in the care of family members, a small mercy in an otherwise devastating scene. Police have stated there were no obvious signs of forced entry and no weapon was recovered at the residence. Authorities also said they do not believe the killings were the result of a murder-suicide, leaving the identity and motive of the person or people responsible still unknown.

The chain of events that led to the discovery began earlier that morning when Spencer failed to appear at Athens Dental Depot, where he was known as a reliable and punctual professional. His employer, Mark Valro, contacted authorities to request a welfare check, telling dispatchers that Spencer’s absence was deeply concerning. Coworkers tried repeatedly to reach both Spencer and Monnique by phone, but received no response.

Growing increasingly worried, several colleagues drove to the couple’s home and reported hearing children crying inside. Around 10:00 a.m., one of Spencer’s friends entered the house and saw his body near a bed, prompting an urgent 911 call. Police arrived shortly afterward and confirmed that both Spencer and Monnique had been killed, turning a welfare check into a homicide investigation.

As detectives worked to piece together what happened, police released surveillance footage from the area on January 6 showing a person of interest walking through a snowy alley near the couple’s home during the early morning hours. In the grainy video, the individual appears to be wearing light-colored pants and a dark hooded coat, walking calmly with their head down and hands in their pockets. The footage quickly spread online, sparking intense speculation about whether the figure might be connected to the killings.

Despite the attention the video has received, family members have urged caution. In an interview with NewsNation, Spencer’s brother-in-law Rob Misle downplayed the significance of the individual seen in the footage. He acknowledged that the person’s presence might look suspicious, but noted that it could just as easily be someone walking home late at night. Misle emphasized that Spencer and Monnique were widely liked and had no known enemies, a fact that only deepens the mystery surrounding their deaths.

Those closest to the couple describe them as warm, generous, and deeply devoted to their children. Married in 2021, Spencer and Monnique were just weeks away from celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. Friends say their home was often filled with laughter and visitors, a place where people felt welcome and safe. The idea that violence could erupt in such a setting has left loved ones searching for explanations that do not yet exist.

Police have been careful in their public statements, releasing limited information as the investigation continues. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from surrounding homes and businesses, examining phone records, and following up on tips from the public. So far, no suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made. Authorities have reiterated that the person seen in the surveillance video is considered a person of interest, not a suspect, and have asked anyone with additional footage or information from the area during the early morning hours of December 30 to come forward.

The lack of forced entry has fueled questions about whether the killer was known to the victims or had some way of accessing the home without drawing attention. Investigators have not confirmed whether the doors were locked or whether anything appeared to be missing from the house. The absence of a weapon has also complicated the case, suggesting that whoever committed the crime may have left the scene with it.

For neighbors in Weinland Park, the case has shattered any sense of routine safety. Residents say they now double-check doors and look more closely at unfamiliar faces, even as they struggle to reconcile that fear with their memories of the Tepees as a happy, ordinary family. Community members have organized vigils and offered support to the extended family, but the uncertainty surrounding the case hangs heavy over every gathering.

As days turn into weeks, the pressure on investigators continues to mount. Each unanswered question reinforces the urgency to find whoever is responsible—not only to bring justice for Spencer and Monnique, but to restore a sense of security to a neighborhood still in shock. For now, the house on North Fourth Street stands quiet, marked by flowers and memories, while the search for answers continues behind the scenes.