Dentist, wife murdered — was the killer someone they knew? Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Spencer and Monique Tepe were found murdered in their Columbus, Ohio home; Spencer was shot multiple times, Monique once.
- ❖Their two young children (ages one and four) were found alive and unharmed inside the residence.
- ❖Police reported no signs of forced entry and no murder weapon at the scene, but 9mm shell casings were recovered.
- ❖Criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan believes the crime was not random, suggesting the killer was likely known to the family.
- ❖The multiple gunshot wounds to Spencer Tepe indicate he was the primary target, possibly due to rage or a struggle.
- ❖Police are likely withholding information to avoid alerting a suspect who may be in the victims' inner circle.
- ❖The presence of a keypad on the door and the common failure to change entry codes or keys could explain the lack of forced entry.
Insights
1Non-Random Nature of the Crime
The absence of forced entry, the specific targeting of the adults, and the untouched children strongly suggest the killer was known to the victims. Random burglars typically avoid occupied homes and would likely ransack the property, which was not reported.
Police found no signs of forced entry (), no gun at the scene (), and the children were unharmed (, ). Dr. Jordan states, 'that would be really unusual that this was a 100% outlier stranger slaying' ().
2Spencer Tepe as Primary Target
The fact that Spencer was shot multiple times while Monique was shot once indicates a higher level of rage or certainty directed at Spencer, suggesting he was the primary target. Monique's single shot might have been to silence her or eliminate a witness.
Spencer was found shot multiple times, while Monique was shot one time in the chest (). Dr. Jordan explains, 'multiple times on the husband in my mind means that the husband was the primary victim and the wife was the secondary victim. That's overkill' ().
3Police Withholding Information as a Strategic Tactic
The lack of new information from police is a common investigative strategy. They often keep details private to prevent a suspect, especially one within the victims' inner circle, from knowing the extent of the investigation and potentially compromising it.
Dr. Jordan notes, 'when you don't get enough information from the police... it can mean one of two things: that they are getting close and they don't want to tip their hand to the suspect' (). She cites examples like Susan Smith and Christopher Watts where police allowed suspects to believe they were clueless.
4Significance of 9mm Shell Casings
Despite the killer taking the weapon, the 9mm shell casings left at the scene are crucial ballistic evidence. If a gun of interest is found, these casings can be matched to it, providing a direct link to the perpetrator.
Police found 9mm shell casings at the scene (). Dr. Jordan states, 'with the ballistics, they will be able to match a gun to those shell casings' (). She calls the shells 'the mistake' of an otherwise organized killer ().
5Entry via Keypad Code or Unchanged Keys
The absence of forced entry, despite the crime, could be explained by the killer having access to a keypad code or an old key. People often fail to change these, meaning many individuals outside the immediate family might have access.
A Ring camera and keypad were visible on the front door (, ). Dr. Jordan, also a realtor, notes, 'people don't change their codes. That keypad could have the same code on it for 10 or 15 years from the people who owned the house before they did' ().
Notable Moments
Spencer Tepe's co-workers initiated a wellness check after he uncharacteristically missed work, leading to the discovery of the murders.
This highlights the strong professional and personal connections Spencer had, and how his reliable nature ultimately led to the discovery of the crime, preventing the children from being alone longer.
A co-worker who went to the house heard a child crying inside and saw Spencer's body, prompting a frantic 911 call.
This moment underscores the horrific scene discovered and the immediate concern for the children, who were present during or immediately after their parents' murders.
Police initially responded to a wellness check at 9:21 AM but left after finding no signs of forced entry, only for co-workers to discover the bodies around 10:00 AM.
This sequence shows the limitations of initial police wellness checks and how determined individuals, like the co-workers, can sometimes uncover critical situations that police cannot immediately ascertain without probable cause for entry.
Quotes
"When you don't get enough information from the police, and we see this all the time, it can mean one of two things: that they are getting close and they don't want to tip their hand to the suspect, especially if that suspect is in the very inner circle of the victims."
"Multiple times on the husband in my mind means that the husband was the primary victim and the wife was the secondary victim. That's overkill. That's unnecessary. That would probably indicate a level of rage or at least certainty."
"Burglaries happen most often during the day while a couple is at at work, you know, while the people are away on vacation. ... There is nothing to indicate that this was a burglary gone wrong."
"People don't change their codes. That keypad could have the same code on it for 10 or 15 years from the people who owned the house before they did."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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