A VASCULAR surgeon accused of killing his ex-wife and her husband looked stone-faced during his first court appearance on Monday.
Cops ramped up charges against doctor Michael McKee, 39, hours before his hearing over the shooting deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and her dentist husband Spencer Tepe, 37.
Vascular surgeon Michael McKee, 39, made his first court appearance on MondayCredit: WTVO
He stands accused of murdering his ex-wife and her husbandCredit: Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot dead inside their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30Credit: GoFundMe
McKee arrived at a courthouse in Winnebago County, Illinois, around 90 miles northwest of Chicago, looking grim in handcuffs as he wore a yellow prison jumpsuit and glasses.
He had just been arrested on Saturday following a days-long manhunt for the shooter who gunned down Monique and Spencer in their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30.
In the speedy two-minute hearing, McKee waived his right to extradition, and the court ruled that he be sent to Ohio to stand trial.
A lawyer speaking on the suspect’s behalf noted her client’s right to remain silent and said that he was pleading not guilty to all the charges as he refused to utter a word.
He’s expected to be transferred to Franklin County sometime this week and will remain behind bars there.
Hours before the hearing, McKee’s charges were upgraded from murder to aggravated murder, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The upgraded charges are more serious and could land him a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole.
If he’s found guilty of the charges, McKee could also face the death penalty.
One of the notable distinctions between murder and an aggravated murder charge is the existence of premeditation, the paper reported.
In order for aggravated murder to be filed, cops must believe the suspect used “prior calculation and design” before carrying out the killing.
DIVORCE PAPERS UNEARTHED
The first court appearance came as newly unearthed divorce filings gave fresh insights into Monique and McKee’s doomed relationship.
The couple was married on August 22, 2015, but Monique filed for divorce in May 2017 and completed proceedings by June, according to records obtained by The U.S. Sun.
The 55 pages of filings appear to show the couple had a typical split, made easier by the fact that they didn’t share any children.
Monique never even took McKee’s last name, instead keeping her maiden surname throughout their short-lived union.
At the time, she claimed the pair was “incompatible,” revealing in the docs that she and McKee were already living in different states when the filing was made.
Monique was living in Westerville, Ohio, when she filed, while Michael was living in Roanoke, Virginia.
At one point, Monique claimed her engagement ring, which cost $2,500, and her wedding ring, costing $3,500, as separate property, explaining that she had paid for them herself.
The day the filings were submitted, the couple was granted a “standard mutual temporary restraining order,” to prevent “harassing, interfering with, assaulting, or doing bodily harm to the other spouse.”
In Ohio, this is often automatically issued by the court but can also be requested by a spouse.
According to the divorce decree, McKee was granted the Virginia home where they lived during their marriage, ABC affiliate WSYX reported.
No spousal support was awarded.
Detectives captured the suspect near the murder scene on eerie surveillanceCredit: Columbus Division of Police
Flowers and gifts were left on the couple’s porch after the murdersCredit: AP
SUSPECT ARRESTED
McKee was arrested in Winnebago County more than a week after cops found Spencer and Monique shot dead in their home.
The Tepes had been married for about five years when they were killed.
After McKee’s arrest, Monique’s family broke its silence, saying they had “suspected him from the start,” The U.S. Sun reported.
The couple appeared to have been found by concerned coworkers who were captured on 911 audio conducting a harrowing wellness check after Spencer failed to show up for work.
Detectives honed in on McKee after releasing eerie footage of a man walking around the property at the supposed time of the shootings.
State medical license records show McKee specialized in vascular surgery and holds active licenses in Illinois and California, NBC affiliate WCMH reported.
He was previously certified to practice in Nevada, but that license has expired.
McKee graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus, where Spencer and Monique also earned their degrees.
The suspect’s profile has been removed from the staff of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, a hospital in Rockford, Illinois, where he last practiced.
HORROR CRIME
The couple’s two young children, a one-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl, were found elsewhere in the house unharmed.
They’re now in the care of family members.
In a statement released after McKee’s arrest, the Tepe family thanked detectives for their work and mourned the loss of the loving couple.
“Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon,” the Tepe family said.
“We thank the community for the continued support, prayers and compassion shown throughout this tragedy.
“As the case proceeds, we trust the justice system to hold the person responsible fully accountable.”