Surgeon Accused in Double Homicide of Ex-Wife and Dentist Husband Shows No Emotion During Jail Booking
Exclusive video footage obtained by Fox News Digital captures the first moments inside an Ohio jail for the surgeon accused of a brutal double homicide. Dr. Michael McKee, 39, is seen entering the Franklin County Corrections Center with an unsettling calmness, just hours after being extradited from Illinois.
The booking video, timestamped January 20, shows McKee in a light blue jacket and dark pants, walking through the facility seemingly handcuffed. He submits to a pat-down search, changes into standard-issue red shorts and a blue tee, and is led away—his demeanor notably impassive throughout the procedure.
McKee faces severe charges, including four counts of premeditated aggravated murder and aggravated burglary, in connection with the December 30 shootings of his ex-wife, Monique Tempe, and her husband, Dr. Spencer Tepe. The couple was found dead in their Columbus home in the early morning hours. A friend discovered the bodies after the pair failed to respond to calls. The couple's two young children were present in the home but were physically unharmed.
Court documents reveal a short-lived marriage between McKee and Monique Tempe, lasting only seven months before she filed for divorce in 2015, citing incompatibility. At the time of the divorce, McKee was a medical resident. Tragically, the Tepes were reportedly preparing to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary just one month after the murders.
Investigators traced a vehicle seen near the crime scene back to McKee in Rockford, Illinois, where he was arrested on January 10. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant confirmed that several weapons were seized from McKee's property, with a preliminary forensic link established between one firearm and the homicides.
During his arraignment, McKee entered a plea of not guilty. The charges include specifications that he used an automatic firearm or silencer.
Community Reaction and Analysis
The chilling booking video and gruesome details of the case have sent shockwaves through the local community and the medical profession. The apparent premeditation and the victims' professional standing—a dentist and a surgeon—have added layers of public intrigue and horror.
Public Commentary:
"As a colleague in the medical field, this is beyond comprehension," said Dr. Evelyn Reed, a cardiologist at a nearby hospital. "We take oaths to 'do no harm.' To see someone entrusted with that responsibility accused of such violence shakes the very foundation of patient trust. The legal process must run its course, but the footage is deeply disturbing."
"That video isn't calmness; it's the look of someone who calculated every move and feels no remorse," argued Mark Higgins, a former prosecutor and now a legal analyst. "The rapid extradition, the firearm specs, the vehicle tracking—this is a prosecution building what looks like a very strong, forensics-heavy case. His demeanor in custody will likely be a point of contention for both the defense and the prosecution at trial."
"It makes me sick. Where is the humanity?" exclaimed Lena Choi, a neighbor who lived on the same street as the Tepes. "Monique was a lovely person, and Spencer was our family dentist. Their kids are now orphans because of this. That monster's blank stare in that jail video says everything about his character. He shouldn't see the light of day again."
"We must remember the two young children at the center of this tragedy," added David Chen, a family counselor. "Beyond the legal proceedings, the long-term psychological support for those children will be immense. They've lost both parents in the most traumatic way imaginable."
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Kyle Schmidbauer contributed to this report.