Hidden True Crime - A Suppressor, a Locked Bedroom & a Chick-fil-A Arrest | Bombshell Tepe Murder Indictment

Episode Date: January 18, 2026

The Grand Jury has officially indicted Michael McKee and Lauren is here with all of the latest details in the case and in the indictment. Sponsor: Daily Look: For 50% off your order, head to https://DailyLook.com and use code HIDDEN About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Minky Couture.com, the original best blanket ever. What a Friday. In Ohio grand jury has now officially indicted Michael McKee, and prosecutors say the gun used to kill. Monique and Spencer Tepe was equipped with him. suppressor, fired behind a locked bedroom door while their children slept just feet away. We have the indictment. We've read it. And I am going to break it all down for you. There's some disturbing evidence that investigators say show planning and an effort to disappear

without being heard. I'm Lauren Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. On Friday, exactly what happened to Monique and Spencer Tepey became. much more clear. In Ohio grand jury has now indicted Dr. Michael McKee in the double homicide of his ex-wife, Monique, and her husband, Dr. Spencer Teppie. Court records show a Franklin County grand jury returned the indictment on January 16th, giving us the most detailed look yet at how prosecutors believe this crime unfolded. Michael is a 39-year-old vascular surgeon who was living and working in Illinois at the time of the killings. He and Monique were married in the summer of

2015 separated just seven months later and finalized their divorce in 2017. Family members say Michael didn't want that divorce, not at all. Monique and Spencer Teppi, while they were found shot to death in their Wineland Park home in Columbus, Ohio, in the early morning hours of December 30th. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said authorities now believe Michael is the person seen walking through a dark alley near the Tepey's home in surveillance video from the night of the murders. His vehicle was also identified traveling near the house shortly before the homicides and leaving shortly afterward. License plate reader data tracked that vehicle traveling roughly 325 miles from Illinois to

Columbus arriving shortly before the murders and leaving soon after. Chief Brian also confirmed that a firearm recovered from Michael's Illinois residents was linked to evidence found at the scene. The preliminary analysis through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network connected that gun to three 9mm shell casings recovered from inside the tepee home. Michael was officially identified as a suspect on January 10th, though friends and family members say they raised concerns about him almost immediately. He was arrested that same day at a chick-fil-A, we have learned, in Rockford, Illinois, near his place of employment. He has been held in the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office custody since then after waiving his right to an extradition hearing.

He is expected to be transported to Ohio where he will be housed in the Franklin County Jail and appear in court for bond to be set. As of now, no attorney is listed as representing him in Ohio. The hospital, though, where Michael worked OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, they released a statement after his arrest saying, quote, OSF is cooperating with authorities who will provide any further information. All questions should be directed to law enforcement authorities, end quote. So on January 16, 26, Michael was indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary. Every count includes firearms specifications. Prosecutors allege that Michael used a gun to commit the killings and that the firearm was equipped with a suppressor. Those specifications carry mandatory additional prison time if there is a conviction. Under Ohio law, aggravated burglary does not require that anything be stolen.

It involves unlawfully entering an occupied structure with the intent to commit a crime inside. Investigators have emphasized that nothing was taken from the Tepey home. home, which supports the theory that the entry itself was for the purpose of violence and the purpose of violence only. There was one reason he entered that home. Let's walk through the indictment together. Count one alleges that Michael purposely, and with prior calculation and design caused the death of Monique Teppi. The grand jury specifies that he had a firearm under his control and used it to facilitate the offense and that the firearm was equipped with a muffler or suppressor. Count two, mirrors that charge for the death of Spencer Tepe, again alleging prior calculation

and design and including both firearm and suppressor specifications. Count three, charges Michael with aggravated burglary, alleging that he trespassed into an occupied structure by force, stealth or deception, while Monique and Spencer were present, inflicted, physical harm and possessed a deadly weapon. Counts four and five allege aggravated murder committed during the course of that burglary. One count for Monique and one for Spencer, each again including firearm and suppressor specifications. What prosecutors are doing here is laying out multiple paths to conviction. They are alleging premeditation. They are alleging murder committed during another felony, and they are reinforcing those charges with firearm and suppressor specifications.

The indictment does not include capital specifications, meaning there is no indication at this time that prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty. Former prosecutor and defense attorney RJ dryling said the ballistic evidence alone presents major challenges for the defense. He said, quote, when we have casings at the scene that we know we're from the murder weapon, matching a gun within Michael's possession, that's going to present some significant issues to the defense. Once you have that, it resolves one of the two essential questions in any murder case who committed the crime, end quote. Drying added that when identity becomes harder to dispute defense teams, they often pivot.

He said, what they're going to be focused on is trying to see if they can put together a motive for him that fit within the context of what we know about the case, end quote.

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A friend who frantically called 911 from outside told the dispatcher he could hear crying inside the house. And that crying came from the couple's children. Their four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son were found unharmed. Family members believe the one-year-old was crying because he couldn't get out of his crib. The family also say that the four-year-old is inquisitive and intuitive enough to know that something is wrong. Spencer's brother-in-law, Rob Mesla, said she's got a big personality, not unlike her mom and her dad. You totally see them shine through her. There were moments where she was playing and laughing and then all of a sudden she'd get very serious.

You could just see it. End quote. Extended family members have taken the children in and say they are relying on professional guidance to help them explain what happened. I can only imagine. books have been delivered to help navigate those conversations as well. And a cousin named Audrey, she stated, we have a village, and our family just got bigger. We're all going to make sure that we honor Spence and Moe in the best way

and that the kids get to know them as best as possible, end quote. Family members have also spoken out even more about Michael's relationship with Monique. According to Rob, Michael emotionally abused Monique and threatened her life multiple times, not ones, not twice, multiple times during their marriage. He said Monique was very vocal about being terrified of this guy. He was very emotionally abusive to her, to the point that it changed her as a person. Myself and many others were well aware of the negative impact he had on her, the abuse, the torment. She was willing to do anything to get out of there, end quote. She just had to get away from him.

Rob Mizla, the brother-in-law of Monique and Spencer Tepe, now speaking out about the man accused of killing the couple. Misla says Monique told him her ex-husband, Dr. Michael McKee, was emotionally abusive. Myself and many others were well aware of kind of the negative impact that he had on her. She was willing to do anything to get out of there. McKee is charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Investigators say he shot and killed a couple last month. Divorce documents show Monique and McKee's marriage was brief. They married in 2015 and split abruptly in 2017, citing they were incompatible.

Monique speaking about her past relationships in her wedding vows to Spencer. From day one, I knew you were something special. I had quite a journey to get to you, countless bad bumble dates, of wrong relationships and waterfalls of tears. But it was worth every cringing second because it led me to you. We just want justice. We want this person that took so much from not just us as a family, but so many more people and obviously the kids especially.

We want this person to pay for what they did. On your side, Terry Sullivan, ABC 6 News. He also said, quote, she was a very strong person. She wasn't shy about talking about the traumatic experiences she had with her ex. It affected her to this day. Now, a more recent ex-girlfriend of Michael has also begun speaking out, describing how he was during the relationship and how he described his breakup with Monique. Take a listen. Okay. So crazy story time.

So last Sunday, I get a text message from an old coworker that linked to this article about a Michael David McKee. And my heart dropped because that's one of my ex-boyfriends, which is pretty insane. I was floored. So just wanted to help on and talk about. talk a little bit about the whole situation. So I dated him around the end of 2017 through a good chunk of 2018, I think. So what I remember of him is he was just like a nice guy. Like he was quiet introverted, which there's nothing wrong with that. He was a general surgery resident at the time where I was doing my residency as well. And he was just he was really nice. Like there was no

issues with him. He was always kind and respectable with me. I've been over his house. It's pretty crazy that you never know someone. But long story short, he did tell me a little bit about his divorce at the time. So, and again, I want to preface this with this is his side of the story and what he spoke to me. This is not truth. This is obviously very biased. But what he told me was that one day he came home from residency and that Monique had vanished. Like she took everything. She left the house completely empty and also took their dog. He was just left very stunned because he didn't see this coming and he was like completely devastated. So again, this is his side of the story. his thing, not even sure if it's truth, but I do remember him saying that to me. He also,

another thing that I remember is that he didn't really talk about his parents. He did tell me he was adopted by an older couple and he just, like, they were good parents, but he just never talked about them. He never talked to them. I would call my mom like every day. We have a great relationship, but he was just much more reserved. He never really, when I asked him more, he just didn't really want to talk about it. So I kind of left it at that. This is him. This is a celebrating New Year's with a bunch of my friends and family. And this is me right here. and that's him, which is crazy. He also has been to my family home. That's him right there. This is me and my family members. But it's honestly shocking and I'm grateful that the Lord protected me from

moving forward in that relationship. The reason why it ended was I honestly wasn't feeling it. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but he was just kind of boring and he was very much like kind of surface level. There was no like I couldn't go deep with him. And yeah, that's why I like It couldn't form like a deep connection with him because of that like, I think he had a wall up where he just like could not go deep with like any conversations really. So that's why it ended. And I moved up north and the long distance thing didn't work out either. I'm praying for Monique and the Tepe family and their children.

But I don't know. I'm shocked. Also, I age like a banana. So don't judge me. So it seems that Michael was unaware that Monique wanted to leave him despite the problems they were having. Even Rob Mesla said she just had to get. away from him and it seems like he never understood why. There are also allegations about Michael's movements in the hours surrounding the murders.

According to a source, Michael worked on December 29th and had a cot reserved at the hospital that night. It is alleged, he left his cell phone in that room, drove to Columbus, committed the murders, and then returned to Illinois in time to clock in at 11. atm on December 30th. And if this is true, that shows how he was seeking an alibi, right? Interesting. Interesting information. Federal authorities reportedly contacted the hospital on January 8th and 9th to verify his whereabouts. And as for motive, we still don't have specific answers. That wasn't specifically answered in the indictment. But we have now learned that the

divorce between Monique and Michael was accidentally reopened in 2025. It was a clerical error posted on the court docket on June 17th of 2025, and it was notice of a continuance in trial that would start on September 26th, 2025. Well, a day later, it was stricken, and we now know it was a clerical error. But now, I mean, I admittedly, I have to wonder, was any sort of automated letter, possibly, or correspondence sent out to Michael and or Monique? Could that have reignited any obsession and become part of what led up to the murders? This is speculation. Let me be clear at this point. Total speculation. But I'll be honest, a part of me is wondering if that error ties into any motive in any possible way. I don't know.

We're now also hearing from a friend who knew both Monique and Michael when they were together. The friend says that while Michael McKee and Monique Tepey were once very in love, his controlling tendencies were evident, even early on. She said, quote, at first when it was just starting out, they seemed so happy and they were so in love, but he was always manipulative. She added that Michael had a way of, quote, bending things to his will and that he needed to be in control of most situations, but wouldn't make it seem like he was the one controlling the situation. The friend also described how moving to Virginia for Michael's medical residency intensified Monique's frustration. She said, quote, she is a family girl and a girl's girl.

She needed that in her life and she didn't have that. It was just the two of them in a new place and she had no support system. After their divorce in 2017, Monique eventually remarried, finding happiness with Spencer Tepe. But the friend says that Michael didn't move on and kept tabs on Monique from a distance. She said, quote, he thought she couldn't live without him, that she needed him. So for her to thrive in her new marriage, that just destroyed his fragile little ego. And quote. And even though some people have raised questions about McKee allegedly stalking Monique before the tragedy,

the friend says, I'll say that we've been talking. talking about it, but none of us ever actually saw any evidence of this. She had moved on he had not, end quote. But as this case moves forward, the indictment lays out what prosecutors believe was a deliberate act, a quiet entry, a silenced weapon, children asleep nearby, and a man that investigators say was willing to travel hundreds of miles to carry out something that Monique's family says that she feared for years. We'll keep following this case closely, listening to the families, tracking the court proceedings, and bringing you all the updates and new information as it comes in. Most people don't realize how much their personal

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