Former colleagues now accuse surgeon Michael David McKee of serious medical misconduct, exposing a secret double life that forced him into hiding. While Monique Tepe is gradually regaining her happiness, sources suggest his obsession is escalating—culminating in a 450-mile nighttime journey and a plan that terrifies investigators

As the investigation into the December 30, 2025, double homicide of Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old Columbus, Ohio dentist, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, intensifies, new details have emerged about the accused killer, Michael David McKee, Monique’s ex-husband and a 39-year-old vascular surgeon. While police have not released an official motive, emerging reports and court records paint a picture of a man facing mounting professional and personal turmoil—including allegations of medical malpractice, evasion of legal accountability, and a possible descent fueled by long-simmering resentment toward his ex-wife’s new life.

These images show Michael David McKee in recent booking photos and court appearances following his arrest on January 10, 2026:

Allegations of Medical Malpractice and Professional Evasion

Court records reveal that McKee was named in multiple civil lawsuits alleging medical negligence prior to the killings. In a prominent case from Las Vegas, Nevada, McKee—while practicing at Las Vegas Surgical Associates—was accused of failing to properly train or supervise a physician’s assistant during a varicose vein procedure in 2023. The plaintiff claimed an 8.6-inch catheter shard broke off and remained in his leg, causing severe complications including bleeding, edema, pain, and disfigurement that required emergency surgery.

Lawyers pursuing the malpractice suit described extraordinary difficulties in serving McKee with papers. Process servers documented at least nine failed attempts, citing a non-existent business address, a phone number routing to a fax machine, and McKee’s apparent “disappearance.” One attorney, Dan Laird, told media outlets, “He just disappeared,” noting that McKee’s Nevada medical license expired in June 2025 amid these efforts. Additional records reference other negligence claims, including a federal civil rights and medical negligence suit filed in 2024.

Former colleagues and observers have highlighted a pattern: McKee frequently relocated across states (including Virginia, California, Maryland, Nevada, and Illinois), taking new positions after short tenures. Some reports suggest his career involved moving from job to job, potentially to avoid scrutiny, though no formal disciplinary actions appear on his active licenses in Illinois and California.

Here are visuals of the Las Vegas clinic where McKee practiced and related court documents highlighting the malpractice allegations:

A Possible Descent: Jealousy and “Hidden” Turmoil

Experts and family statements suggest McKee’s actions may stem from unresolved bitterness over Monique’s happy remarriage to Spencer in 2020, with whom she shared two young children. Monique reportedly confided in relatives about emotional abuse and repeated death threats during her brief 2015–2017 marriage to McKee, describing herself as “terrified” long after the divorce.

Criminologists have speculated that seeing Monique thrive—complete with a loving family and stable life—could have triggered deep jealousy, envy, or a desire to “share the pain” after years of simmering resentment. One analyst noted patterns of “long-held jealousy” that might erupt after a trigger, such as social media glimpses of her happiness or professional setbacks in McKee’s own life.

Reports describe a “slow, silent unraveling,” with McKee’s professional moves and alleged evasion aligning with personal decline. While no “secret life” like hidden relationships has been confirmed, the pattern of disappearing from colleagues, using questionable contact info, and relocating has fueled speculation of mounting instability.

These family photos of Monique and Spencer Tepe illustrate the joyful life they built together, which may have fueled the alleged motive:

The Crime Scene and Ongoing Case

The attack was described as targeted and domestic violence-related, with no forced entry and the couple shot in their Weinland Park home while their children slept unharmed nearby. Surveillance showed a hooded figure and a vehicle linked to McKee in the area. Ballistics preliminarily match one of multiple firearms recovered from his Chicago property to shell casings at the scene.

McKee faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary. He waived extradition and awaits transfer to Ohio for trial.

The Tepe children are in relatives’ care, and the community mourns two lives dedicated to healing others. As more emerges about McKee’s professional troubles and alleged personal demons, the case underscores how past traumas and professional pressures can intersect tragically.