Spencer and Monique Tepe were found shot to death Tuesday morning at their Weinland Park home; their two children were discovered unharmed inside.
COLUMBUS, OH — Columbus police are searching for a suspect after a dentist and his wife were found shot to death inside their North Fourth Street home on Tuesday morning, Dec. 30, 2025, following a welfare check that drew officers to the Weinland Park neighborhood.
Authorities identified the victims as Spencer Tepe, 37, a dentist, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39. Investigators said there were no obvious signs of forced entry and no firearm recovered at the scene. Detectives do not believe the deaths were a murder-suicide. The couple’s two young children were found inside the house and were not physically hurt, according to police. The discovery has prompted a citywide search for whoever is responsible while detectives process the home, canvass the block for surveillance video, and interview relatives, coworkers and neighbors about the couple’s movements in the days leading up to the shootings.
Officers went to the two-story home after coworkers reported that Tepe failed to show up for work Tuesday, which they described as out of character. A friend who checked the residence around midmorning found one of the victims and called for help. Police arrived shortly after 10 a.m., secured the home and located both adults with gunshot wounds, according to an incident narrative. Sgt. Joe Albert said the initial call began as a welfare check and quickly turned into a homicide investigation once officers reached the bedroom area. “We’re treating this as a targeted double homicide until evidence proves otherwise,” Albert said, noting that early indicators did not show signs of a break-in.
Detectives spent hours photographing rooms, collecting shell casings and swabbing potential touch points such as doorknobs and light switches. Crime scene technicians documented the staircase and entryways and marked trajectories inside a second-floor bedroom where one body was discovered. Preliminary findings show Spencer Tepe suffered multiple gunshot wounds and that his wife was shot at least once in the chest. Police have not released a motive. It remains unknown how the shooter entered or left the house. Investigators said the children were found crying but uninjured; they were placed with relatives as detectives notified next of kin and arranged interviews to establish a timeline.
Neighbors described hearing little overnight in the dense block of older homes north of downtown. By afternoon, a small memorial of roses and sunflowers gathered near the front steps, alongside handwritten notes and a candle jar. Residents said the couple had recently hosted friends over the holidays. Public records show the address sits within the Weinland Park area, a neighborhood that has seen redevelopment in recent years while still experiencing pockets of violent crime. Friends said Spencer Tepe practiced dentistry in Columbus and previously worked in Ashland, and that Monique Tepe was active in their children’s school community. The couple married in 2021. Police emphasized they are examining home and street cameras and were asking nearby households to share footage from late Monday through Tuesday morning.
Investigators are reviewing 911 calls, canvassing businesses along North Fourth Street and Summit Street, and coordinating with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office on potential charges once a suspect is identified. Autopsy examinations will be conducted by the county coroner to confirm the manner and cause of death and to narrow the estimated time of the shootings. Detectives said any future arrests would be announced after consultation with prosecutors. Police did not name any person of interest on Thursday and did not discuss whether they were pursuing a specific vehicle or weapon. Officials said additional updates could come after lab processing of ballistic evidence and DNA swabs, which can take days.
As darkness fell Tuesday, officers strung crime scene tape across the front walkway while technicians worked under portable lights. A man who said he grew up with Spencer described him as “steady and reliable,” adding, “He wouldn’t miss work without calling.” A neighbor on the block said she woke to sirens and later watched detectives carry paper bags and sealed boxes from the doorway. “It’s heartbreaking. They were friendly and kept to themselves,” she said. Outside the home, two stuffed animals were tucked against the railing, and a handwritten note read, “We love you, Spencer and Monique.”
The double homicide remains active with no suspect named as of Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Detectives plan to release additional information after autopsies and evidence testing are completed and as they verify any tips and video leads gathered from the neighborhood.
Author note: Last updated January 2, 2026.