Columbus Ohio dentist murder: Months-old 911 domestic dispute call surfaces as investigators probe Tepe family shooting
Columbus, Ohio, is shocked after dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique, 39, were found shot to death in their home Dec. 30, 2025, leaving two young children unharmed; investigators unearthed an earlier 911 domestic dispute call.
- Two victims: Spencer Tepe, 37, and wife Monique, 39, found shot to death Dec. 30, 2025; their two children (4 and 1) were unharmed. Sources: Fox News, 6ABC, YouTube.
- Prior 911 call: A call logged as a “domestic dispute” was placed from the same address on April 15, 2025; the caller declined police response. (Fox News).
- Investigation focus: No forced entry or weapon was found; police do not consider it a murder-suicide and released surveillance of a person of interest. Sources: Fox News, 6ABC.
Discovery and initial response
Columbus police responded about 10 a.m. on Dec. 30 after a welfare check was requested by a coworker who had been unable to reach Spencer Tepe. Mark Valrose, owner of Athens Dental Depot and Spencer’s employer, told police the family had not shown up for work and could not be reached.
A friend who arrived at the Weinland Park home shortly after 10 a.m. saw what appeared to be a body and called 911. Officers entered and found Spencer and Monique dead on the second floor. Police estimate the shootings occurred between about 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning. The couple’s two young children — ages 4 and 1 — were inside and unharmed; they have been placed with family members.
No weapon was recovered at the scene and officers reported no signs of forced entry, details that led authorities to publicly state they do not believe the deaths were a murder-suicide. (Sources: Fox News, 6ABC, YouTube).
Prior 911 domestic dispute call
Public records show a 911 call logged as a “domestic dispute” came from the Tepes’ address on April 15, 2025, at approximately 2:45 a.m. In the recording published in reporting, an unidentified woman is heard crying and saying,
“me and my man got into it.”
The caller initially hung up, then declined to have officers sent to the home.
City records withheld the caller’s name from public logs, and police have not confirmed whether the caller was one of the Tepes or another occupant. Investigators say the April call is one of many pieces of the probe but have not indicated whether it is directly connected to the December killings. (Source: Fox News.)
Investigation updates and person of interest video
In early January the Columbus Division of Police released surveillance footage of a person of interest captured in an alley near the Tepes’ home during the period investigators believe the shootings occurred. The video shows a man wearing a dark coat with a hood and light-colored pants walking slowly through the alley.
Police asked anyone with video, photos, or information from midnight to 9 a.m. on Dec. 30 — especially from Summit Street, North Grant Avenue, East 7th and East 11th Avenues — to come forward. Authorities say tips have been arriving and detectives are working diligently to follow leads. To report information call Columbus police at 614-645-2228 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. (Sources: Fox News, 6ABC, YouTube.)
Family background and public reaction
Friends and relatives described Spencer and Monique as loving parents and active community members. Married in 2021 and planning a five-year anniversary celebration, the couple’s deaths prompted statements from family praising Spencer as a devoted father and Monique as a joyful, patient mother.
Neighbors in Weinland Park and community leaders expressed shock and grief, calling the killings tragic and senseless. No arrests have been announced and, as of the latest reports, police have not publicly identified a suspect. (Sources: Fox News, 6ABC, YouTube.)
Why investigators are cautious
Investigators emphasize several puzzling details: no forced entry, no weapon recovered, and no publicly disclosed motive. Those elements complicate timelines and forensic reconstructions, so detectives are focusing on small clues — witness accounts, digital records, and neighborhood surveillance — while avoiding public speculation.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Although the Tepes lived in Columbus, the case has resonances for the Inland Empire:
- Economic: Local dentists and small businesses may review security practices and community safety messaging.
- Political: High-profile incidents often influence public safety debates, patrol funding, and candidate messaging.
- Social and cultural: Tragedies like this prompt schools, churches, and community groups to offer counseling and drive neighbor-check initiatives.
- Practical: Residents can review home security, support neighborhood watch programs, and save local tip hotlines. For Columbus tips: 614-645-2228 or 614-461-8477. (Source: 6ABC.)
Reporting note
This article incorporates details from local and national reporting on the Columbus investigation and from publicly released police materials and surveillance. Original sources: Fox News, 6ABC, YouTube.
