Dentist, wife fatally shot inside Ohio home, suspect flees

An Ohio dentist and his wife were found fatally shot inside their home the day before New Year’s Eve — with their two crying children inside — sending police on a manhunt for the suspect.

Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique, 39, were found dead inside their Weiland Park home in Columbus on Tuesday following a welfare check from a family friend and Columbus police, local ABC 6 reported.

Tepe, who worked at the Athens Dental Depot, was found with multiple gunshot wounds, with Monique suffering at least one shot to the chest, according to police records.

There were no obvious signs of forced entry, and no firearm was discovered at the scene, police said, adding that they do not believe the deaths were a result of a murder-suicide.

The welfare check was conducted after Tepe failed to show up for work this week, something that his boss, Dr. Mark Valrose, told police was odd given his punctual nature.

“He is always on time and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Valrose told dispatchers.

“I don’t know how else to say this but we are very very concerned. This is very out of character for him.”

Several coworkers drove out to Tepe’s home on Tuesday morning and insisted a welfare check be conducted after they heard children crying inside the house.

At around 10 a.m., one of Spencer’s friends reported seeing the dentist’s body inside the home near a bed.

“There is a body inside,” Spencer’s friend told dispatchers.

“Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead.”

Police then arrived to confirm the double homicide, with the two young children inside the home without any injuries.

The investigation into the Tepes’ murder remains active, with investigators asking anyone with information to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

The Tepes were married in 2021 and were just one month away from celebrating their five-year anniversary, Monique’s brother, Rob Misleh, told the local outlet.

A vigil with roses and sunflowers was placed outside the couple’s Weinland Park home on Wednesday.