Officers were dispatched around 10:04 a.m. to the 1400 block of North 4th Street after a caller reported concern for an employee who had not shown up for work. When first responders arrived, they discovered the bodies of Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique, 39. Columbus Fire Department medics pronounced them dead within minutes of arrival.
“The caller stated they were concerned because they hadn’t heard from their employee,” said Sgt. Joe Albert of the Columbus Police. “They didn’t show up for work, and they were just concerned that maybe something was wrong with their employee.”
A Promising Career Cut Short
According to Ashland County Pictures, Spencer Tepe was a well-regarded dentist who previously practiced at Stone Creek Dental in Ashland before moving to Columbus to join the Athens Dental Depot. Records and colleagues describe him as dedicated and family-oriented. Before settling in central Ohio, Tepe lived in Mason, near Cincinnati, and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University.
The couple, who were married in 2021, had reportedly been preparing to celebrate their fifth anniversary next month, according to WSYX ABC6. Friends describe Monique as devoted to her children and active in the local community.
Investigators Seek Answers
Columbus Police Homicide detectives, led by Detective Weiner and assisted by Detective Miller, are treating the case as a double homicide. Authorities confirmed that no firearm was recovered at the scene, and there are currently no indications that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Investigators spent much of Tuesday canvassing the neighborhood, interviewing residents, and collecting evidence from the property. Police have not announced any suspects or persons of interest.
Neighbors in the normally quiet Weinland Park area expressed shock. One resident, who asked not to be identified, described the Tepes as “a warm, friendly couple who kept to themselves but were always polite.”
Community and Police Appeal for Help
As detectives continue to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the discovery, the Columbus Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or anonymously through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
Authorities have not disclosed who is currently caring for the couple’s children.
This tragedy marks the latest in a troubling series of violent incidents under investigation in Columbus, where police have reported an uptick in domestic-related and targeted homicides. Still, the motive behind the Tepes’ deaths remains unclear.
As the city grapples with grief and questions, friends, colleagues, and neighbors recall a young family with promise — a husband and wife whose lives, once full of professional success and quiet domestic joy, were suddenly and violently taken.