Court appearance in Illinois
Michael David McKee, 39, appeared in a Rockford, Illinois, courtroom on Monday and formally waived his right to an extradition hearing, a move that allows authorities in Ohio to begin the process of bringing him back to Franklin County to stand trial.
Wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit and speaking only briefly, McKee indicated through his public defender that he does not intend to fight transfer to Ohio, where prosecutors have charged him with two counts of premeditated aggravated murder.
Charges in Columbus double killing
McKee is charged in the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of his former wife, 39‑year‑old Monique (Monique) Tepe, and her husband, 37‑year‑old Columbus dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, who were found dead inside their Weinland Park home after police were called for a wellness check when Spencer failed to show up for work.[1][5]
Prosecutors in Franklin County have upgraded the case from murder to premeditated aggravated murder, a charge that carries the possibility of the death penalty if McKee is convicted.
Extradition timeline and next steps
Under the timetable outlined in court, officials now have up to 30 days to transport McKee from the Winnebago County Jail in Illinois back to Franklin County, where he is expected to be arraigned and enter a plea to the charges.[6][9]
A status hearing on his transfer has been scheduled for later this month, but authorities say he could be moved sooner once governors’ warrants and transport logistics are finalized.
Investigation details emerging
Investigators say McKee, a vascular surgeon based in the Chicago area, was identified after detectives linked him to a vehicle captured on surveillance video arriving near the Tepes’ North Fourth Street home shortly before the shootings and leaving shortly afterward.
That vehicle was later located in Rockford, where McKee was arrested on Saturday, ending a multistate search that began after the couple were discovered shot to death with their two young children unharmed in the home.
Community reaction and legal outlook
The killings have rattled Columbus’ Weinland Park neighborhood and the broader dental and medical communities, where Spencer and Monique Tepe were known professionally and socially.
Relatives of the victims have expressed confidence that McKee is responsible for the shootings, while his attorney has indicated he plans to plead not guilty, setting the stage for a high‑profile, evidence‑heavy trial once he arrives in Franklin County.