Surgeon Faces Murder Charges in Ex-Wife, Husband's Holiday Slaying; Jail Booking Footage Reveals Stoic Demeanor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Newly released footage shows Dr. Michael McKee, the vascular surgeon charged with the double homicide of his ex-wife and her husband, displaying a detached calm during his booking into the Franklin County Jail last month. The visual record adds a chilling layer to a case that has rattled the local medical community and raised urgent questions about domestic violence escalation.

The video, obtained and reviewed by PEOPLE, captures McKee, 39, undergoing a standard search procedure on January 20. He is seen methodically removing outer clothing to shorts and a t-shirt, submitting to a pat-down and oral inspection by deputies without visible reaction. His transfer to the Ohio facility followed his initial arrest by federal agents at an Illinois fast-food restaurant on January 10.

McKee faces four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary in the deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37. The couple was found shot in their Columbus home in the pre-dawn hours of December 30, while their two young children slept nearby. According to police reports, Monique sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, while Spencer suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The investigation gained traction through neighborhood surveillance footage that allegedly captured a vehicle linked to McKee arriving at and departing from the scene around the time of the killings. A subsequent search of his property yielded multiple firearms. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant indicated one weapon was similar to the suspected murder weapon.

Court documents and statements from friends sketch a troubling prelude. A probable cause affidavit alleges McKee trespassed on the Tepe property weeks before the murders. Friends and family previously told PEOPLE that McKee had made threats during and after his relationship with Monique, with one friend recalling threats of violence if she left him.

Prosecutors allege McKee undertook a grueling 900-mile round trip from Rockford, Illinois, to Columbus on the night of the killings, completing the journey in under 17 hours. It was this alleged trip, and the silver SUV used, that provided key evidence for his arrest.

In his first Ohio court appearance via video link, McKee’s attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The case highlights the deadly intersection of professional stature, personal grievance, and alleged premeditation.

Community Reaction

The case has provoked strong reactions from local residents and observers:

• David Chen, a neighbor in the Tepe's subdivision: "It's horrifying. This was a quiet street, families with kids. To think this violence happened here, with the children so close... it shatters any sense of safety. The booking video just shows a coldness that's hard to comprehend."
• Rebecca Miller, a fellow surgeon at a nearby hospital: "The professional and personal disconnect is staggering. In the OR, you're trusted with lives. These allegations suggest a catastrophic moral failure. The medical community is reeling, but our primary thoughts are with Monique and Spencer's families."
• Marcus Johnson, a local advocate for domestic violence prevention: "This isn't an isolated outburst. The alleged prior threats, the trespassing—these are classic red flags of escalation that were tragically missed or unheeded. The system needs to respond faster and more forcefully to stalking and threats, no matter the perpetrator's job title. That video isn't stoicism; it's the face of a man who allegedly planned this and feels no remorse."
• Sarah Wilkins, a former patient of McKee's: "He was always so composed and reassuring in consultations. Seeing that same calm in a jail setting is deeply unsettling. It makes you question everything."

The investigation is ongoing. McKee remains held without bond.