Hidden True Crime - Dentist & Wife Killed in Own Home | Spencer and Monique Tepe Mystery FULL STORY

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

A trusted dentist doesn’t show up for work. His wife doesn’t answer her phone. And inside a quiet Columbus neighborhood, police discover a nightmare: Spencer and Monique Tepe shot dead in their home, their two young children still inside—alive, crying, and alone. No forced entry. No weapon. No clear motive. In this episode, we walk through the chilling timeline, the missed warning moments, the unexplained gaps in the investigation, and the terrifying question haunting Weinland Park: was this a random act—or did someone with access walk in and walk away? With no arrests and few answers, this case shatters the illusion of safety and leaves a city asking, why them… and who’s next? 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

There's a moment in every case when someone realizes that something isn't right. That moment happened one Tuesday morning in Wineland Park, Columbus, Ohio, when a dentist who was always on time didn't show up for work. And his wife, who always answers the phone, didn't. Inside their home, police would find Dr. Spencer Teppie and Monique Tepey, both shot, both dead, while their young two children were still inside. There was no forced entry, no weapon recovered, and no sign that this was a murder, suicide,

which means someone came into their home and walked away. But who could have done this and why? My name is Lauren Matthias, and this is hidden true crime. Before we even talk about what happened, you need to understand who this family was. Spencer Tepe was 37 years old. He was a dentist, a father, and a husband. He attended Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology, while also double majoring in Spanish. That already tells you something about the kind of person he was. He was driven, focused, and ambitious.

He went on to graduate from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2017, earning his doctor of dental surgery. Since then, Spencer invested hundreds of of hours into continuing education, especially in implant dentistry, and became known for being the kind of dentist who truly cared about his patients. For him, it wasn't just about fixing teeth. It was about building relationships. He was a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Ohio State Buccas, and even volunteered with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. He also enjoyed golf, travel, and spending time with his family, which brings us to his wife, Monique. Monique Tepe was 39 years old. After earning her degree in childhood education and before marrying Spencer,

Monique had previously been married in 2015 to another doctor. That marriage ended in divorce. She later met Spencer and the two married in 2021, holding a small COVID-era wedding at their own home. Neighbors later said the only party that ever seen at that house was their wedding. I vow to never stop loving you and to always keep working on us. And lastly, I vowed to do my best to always keep making you laugh because your smile is my favorite thing. I love you.

Spencer, what can I say? 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. throughout all of this, I knew that God was guiding me to my person and that when I met him, it would be the most magical thing ever. And boy, is that an understatement? Family described Monique as an excellent baker, a thoughtful planner and someone who found joy in bringing people together.

They went on to have two young children, their little boy, about one year old. and a little girl around four years old. They loved to travel as a family and doted over their black golden doodle Larry. Spencer and Monique were one month away from celebrating their fifth anniversary. According to friends, coworkers, and neighbors, everything about them points to a very normal, quiet, and stable life, which is what makes what happened next so disturbing. The morning of December 30th was a Tuesday. Spencer was supposed to be at work at Athens Dental Depot, which opens at 8 a.m. But Spencer, he didn't show up. And that alone was unusual because Spencer was known for one thing above almost anything else, reliability. He was always early, always communicated,

and always showed up. So when he didn't arrive and didn't call, people started to worry. His co-workers tried calling him. And then they even tried calling Monique. But no one answered. And by 903 a.m., his boss, Dr. Mark Valrose, made a decision. He called 911. That's how out of the ordinary this was. And at 903 a.m., Dr. Valrose told dispatch, I'm on vacation, but this individual, Spencer, worked with me. And he did not show up to work this morning. And we cannot get a hold of him or his family. He's been reliable. We cannot get in touch with him. his wife, his family, anybody that lives in that house. He went on to say, he is always on time. And he would contact us if there was an issue whatsoever, any issue. We're very, very concerned.

It's very out of character. Well, police logged the call. And they sent out an officer to the house. And an officer arrived at the Tepeh home on North 4th Street just past 9.20 a.m. The officer knocked, but no answer. No one came to the door. And for reasons we still don't fully understand, the officer, he left. Less than 40 minutes later, though, at 9.47am, another call came in. A. coworker was actually at the Tepey home. He could hear children crying inside, but still no one was answering the door. He said, quote, I can hear kids inside. And I swear, I think I heard one yell, but we can't get in. At this point, I don't know if I need to break the door in or get in the house or what,

end quote. And then minutes later, a third call came in. And this one is chilling. The caller told police that he could see Spencer's body inside the house lying next to the bed. He said, quote, there is a body inside. Our friend wasn't answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here and he appears dead.

And quote. And suddenly, this was no longer a welfare check. This was a homicide. Police rushed back to the scene. They entered the home and inside they found Spencer shot multiple times. And Monique shot at least once in the chest. And heartbreakingly, they found their two small children alive, unharmed, and crying. paramedics arrived and at 10.11 a.m. both Spencer and Monique were pronounced dead. This case is

terrifying for a multitude of reasons. This wasn't a random abandoned property, a risky lifestyle situation or domestic violence. This happened in a quiet neighborhood. In a family home with children inside and to see two parents, two quiet neighbors murdered with no suspect, no motive and no arrests, I mean, it shakes an entire community. And the neighbors, That said exactly that. One woman who lives nearby said, I just think, why them and not us? And then another neighbor said they were such nice people.

No one reported hearing any gunshots or seeing anything suspicious. So now the question hanging over Columbus is, who killed Spencer and Monique Tepey and why? When the public first heard about this case, police were careful with their words. Law enforcement surrounding the intersection of 4th Street in 8th Avenue near Wyneland Park as investigators try to piece together what led to a man and a woman being shot to death inside this home so i know that's a that's a lot of questions still out there

it's very early for us to try to answer those right now police say this does not appear to be a murder suicide they also say there were no signs of forced entry and no gun has been found officers were called to the home for a welfare check where they found the two bodies The caller stated they were concerned because they hadn't heard from their employee. Didn't show up for work and they were just concerned that maybe something was wrong with their employee. Police also found two children inside the home, both under the ages six and both unharmed. People who knew the homeowners stopped by throughout the day. One person who did not want to go on camera described them as kind and said their heart breaks for the children.

All this unfolding in a dense residential neighborhood, leaving neighbors shocked. My heart just goes out to them. That's terrible to hear that happened, especially so close. It is a little bit worrying, but all I can think about is those kids. Ethan Garcia, who lives just steps away. Says he didn't hear or see anything unusual in the days leading up to police finding the two bodies. I didn't hear anything at all. I was even outside last night at around 8.30, I'd say, and I didn't see her hear anything at all.

Police say this investigation will take time, but nearby security cameras may provide crucial evidence. Until then, neighbors say they're on edge. Pretty concerned right now, a little worrying because, you know, I do have a family at home and I want to make sure they're okay. Could be random. That's kind of my biggest fear. Again, they told us that this was not a murder, suicide, no forced entry. And while three nine millimeter shell casings were found inside the home, no firearm was recovered. But there was one quiet detail buried in a dispatcher report that sent chills through everyone. paying attention. The report referenced a 4-1A, 4-1A. That code means robbery. That could mean that someone

may have come into that home, deliberately, to take something. And whatever happened next escalated into execution-style violence. But police haven't yet said what, if anything, is missing from the home. So until we know that, the possibilities are really endless. And as of right now, there appears to be some missing time. Police still haven't said when Spencer and Monique were shot. But they are now asking the public for camera footage between midnight and 9 a.m. This tells us two things. The murders likely happened overnight or early morning,

and their children were potentially inside that house for hours with their parents' bodies. But neighbors have said that nothing seemed off. They didn't hear any screams, gunshots, or alarms, which means this killing was either very quiet or very quick or both. Police have confirmed that there is a crime camera, just a few hundred feet from the tepee home, but they're now asking for any footage from doorbell cameras, security systems, home surveillance, and dash cams within a very specific grid around North 4th Street between the hours of 12 a.m. and 9 a.m. That means that the killer may have moved through

the neighborhood while families were sleeping. Neighbors also report that Wyland Park in Columbus has been transforming in recent years. It's been regentrified or being regentrified once a high crime area has been revitalized into a family-friendly neighborhood. And that makes this hit even harder. Neighbors describe Spencer and Monique as friendly, quiet, loving parents. They waved. Their kids played in the alley. And they all watched each other's packages at the door. One woman said that she hasn't slept since. And another neighbor said, I hear gunshots all the time. I heard nothing.

Which raises a terrifying possibility. What if the killer didn't want noise? What if they knew exactly what they were doing? Just imagine two children under six waking up, too young to understand, surrounded by silence that isn't right. That alone is enough to haunt an entire city. Now days later, there are still no arrest. and still no-name suspects. We don't know a motive, and officials have gone almost completely silent,

which leads to the question nobody wants to say out loud, was this random? Or did someone know this family and target them? Once the shock settles, there is always a second phase after tragedies like this. People start whispering the same question, who could have done this? Because when something this violent happens inside a family home, the human brain automatically looks for meaning for someone with a motive that makes sense. And right now, there is nothing that makes sense. Whenever there is a married couple found murdered, the first place people naturally look is inside their personal lives, former relationships, ex-spouses, estranged family members, soured friendships or co-workers, anyone who might have had a grievance. And yes, people have noticed that Monique,

had been married once before. And while it is human nature for people to wonder, there's currently nothing public that points to any involvement from anyone in Monique's past. There is a lot of discord, though, going on online about Monique's ex-husband, potentially recently disabling his social media and some other claims that we will get into if we're able to confirm the information, which is important because we definitely don't want speculation to spiral without facts. And understandably if strangers on the internet are attempting to peer into your personal life. Shutting down social media makes sense for anyone even innocent. Which brings us back to the most terrifying possibility.

The most uncomfortable explanation that this could have been random. Which is honestly scarier than if it were personal because random violence means you were just that unlucky person in the wrong house at the wrong time. and it means it could happen to anyone. And there's one huge missing piece that could answer a lot, but police haven't said yet. What if anything was taken? If this was a robbery, we still don't know if anything was missing, right?

If valuables were taken or if the house seemed ransacked, because that matters. If electronics, wallets, jewelry, or firearms were missing, that points to theft, to robbery. If nothing was missing, that points to something else entirely. And police have been tight-lipped. Right now, the information hasn't been released. And without that information, motive remains a complex question. However, there is a Reddit post going around from someone claiming to be a family member. This user hasn't been authenticated on Reddit. But a man named, named Rob Mesla is a member of their family and even did videography for the Tepew wedding.

This username seems to be the initials for Rob Mesla. And it says, quote, Spencer was my brother-in-law. My wife and I would stay at their place at least once a month, never felt unsafe. While we don't have much information right now, everything we do know points to a calculated and premeditated murder by a person who knew what they were done. doing. Nothing was stolen, nothing was out of place, and there was no sign of a break-in. This clearly wasn't committed by your average street criminal, end quote. So if that's true, then this may not be a random burglary gone bad after all, a robbery. And one detail that keeps haunting people

is that police said there was no sign of forced entry. That could mean one of three things. The door was unlocked, someone was let inside, which would mean they might know them, or someone had access. And that dramatically shifts the investigation because random robbers usually have to force their way in. Targeted crimes often do not. So again, we are stuck between two possibilities, a crime of opportunity or a crime of access. And the difference between those two things is massive. As days past, police have released very little, which has left the community in a kind of suspended because not knowing who did this means not knowing if it could happen again. And for parents, families, and neighbors, that's terrifying.

One of the most devastating parts of this case isn't just that two people who had an entire life ahead of them were murdered. It's that it shattered something invisible but vital. The feeling of safety. Weiland Park isn't some isolated rural area. It's a neighborhood filled with families, children. people walking dog neighbors grabbing each other's mail and now people are locking doors earlier. They're looking out windows longer and are double checking cameras because this didn't happen

in the middle of the night in a deserted place. This happened in a family home that felt safe and secure. And again, that one neighbor put words to what so many are feeling. Why them and not us? that one sentence carries the whole fear and the question of motive so much that we don't know because nothing about Spencer and Monique suggested danger. Exactly the opposite actually. Spencer and Monique suggested security. And they weren't involved in crime. They weren't isolated.

They weren't controversial. They were a normal family. And that makes this terrifying. And we're left with, for me at least, the haunting image of two precious children crying inside a house where their parents were already gone. They lost their entire world and security in one moment. And the killer is still out there, walking free out of everything. Those are the parts that keep people awake at night, at least, keeping me up.

I've been thinking about this since it happened, since this case first broke. I have been speaking with friends of the family, people who knew Monique personally. And over and over again, we heard the same thing. She was kind, warm, and just an amazing person. Monique loved being a mom, and she loved her husband. And Spencer described as gentle, dedicated, and dependable. He was the kind of man whose coworkers panicked when he did. show up because that simply didn't happen. Her family also released a statement that said,

quote, we are heartbroken beyond words while no outcome can ever undo this loss. Our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and barely brought to justice into honoring Spencer and Monique by protecting the future of the children they loved so deeply, end quote. Spencer's brother-in-law, the same Rob Mesla shared a post that said it all. He said, my brother and sister were the best of the best. Just can't believe that somebody would do this. Not just good people, not just nice neighbors, the best. And now, their home sits quiet, their laughter is gone, routines are raised, and two children are left to grow up with memories that stopped far too early. While in Park is still waiting for answers, hidden true crime is following. We along with them want to know if this was random, targeted, or something far darker.

We want to see the person who did this brought to justice. Because justice isn't always just about closure. It's about protecting everyone else and making sure that this never happens again. Spencer and Monique deserve to grow old together. Their children deserved a lifetime of birthdays, graduations, and quiet nights at home. home and until answers come, this story remains unfinished. We will be following.