Police have released a video of a “person of interest” in the mysterious murders of a beloved Ohio dentist and his wife, who were gunned down last week at their home.
The chilling clip, released by the Columbus Police Department on Monday, shows an individual wandering in light pants and a dark, hooded coat in a snowy alley near the Weinland Park home of Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique, 39.
The person of interest had their head down and their hands in their pockets as they strolled at a calm pace, the surveillance footage showed.
The Tepes were discovered shot dead on the morning of Dec. 30 and were believed to have been killed some time between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. that day in the upstairs of their residence, cops said.
Spencer and Monique Tepe were murdered last week at home in Ohio.Facebook
The slain couple’s two children and their goldendoodle dog were found unharmed in the four-bedroom abode.
Police had asked anyone with security footage near the couple’s home on North 4th Street within the three-hour window to submit clips to authorities in hopes of finding a lead in the double-homicide investigation as it moved into its second week.
The Columbus Police Department opened an anonymous portal for people to submit evidence. They have received and continue to receive numerous tips, the department said.
“We want to thank the community for the tips we have received. We know there are questions and concerns surrounding this tragic incident,” police wrote in a statement.
“Detectives are working diligently to solve this case. We will continue to update you as the investigation progresses,” the department continued.
Cops urged anyone with information on the individual’s identity to come forward to authorities.
Columbus police have since released surveillance footage of a shadowy figure walking near their home.Columbus Division of Police
Tepe, who worked at the Athens Dental Depot, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and Monique suffered at least one shot to the chest, according to police records.
Columbus police have remained tight-lipped about a possible motive in the tragic double slayings, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
The Tepes were found after a coworker grew concerned when Spencer did not show up for work, the outlet said.
Monique and Spencer did not return the fellow dentist’s calls, leading them to reach out to police. Cops then conducted a wellness check at the family’s home, but left after there was no answer at the front or back door, the outlet reported.
Police returned to the home an hour later after coworkers and at least one friend went to check in on the couple and noticed troubling signs that something sinister may have happened.
Cops responding to the scene last week.ABC 6
An alarmed coworker and a friend called authorities after hearing children inside and seeing Spencer Tepe’s body by a bed in the home, the outlet reported.
Columbus police said no gun was recovered from the scene and determined their deaths were not a result of a murder-suicide. There was no sign of forced entry either, authorities said.
The Tepes had been married for five years and had two children, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl. The family of four also had a goldendoodle dog, according to reports.
The Tepe children were unharmed and have since been taken into the care of other family members.
The couple has been remembered as a family-focused duo who built a life “rooted in love” in Columbus.
“Together, Spencer and Monique shared a beautiful, strong, and deeply happy relationship. They loved to travel, to laugh, and to build a life rooted in love,” Monique’s brother, Rob Misleh, said in a previous statement on behalf of their family.
“They were proud parents of two beautiful children and their beloved Goldendoodle, and they created a home filled with warmth, happiness, and connection. We are heartbroken beyond words,” the family added.
Spencer, a graduate of Ohio State University and member of the American Dental Association, was known as a devoted father, loving husband, and friend to anyone who came his way.
He was a dedicated Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals fan, having been raised in the Cincinnati area, according to the report.
Monique, who had also attended Ohio State University and had a background in education, was described by family as a “loving, patient, and joyful mother whose warmth defined her.”
Her marriage to Spencer was her second. She tied the knot with a fellow Ohio State student in 2015, and the pair had an amicable divorce in 2017, records obtained by the Dispatch showed.
A GoFundMe has since raised over $146,000 for the care of Monique and Spencer’s children.