What DARK DOMESTIC SECRET Did the Ohio Police Chief Just Hint at in the Chilling Murders of Beloved Dentist Spencer Tepe and His Wife Monique?

Police in Ohio say they have an idea of what led to the murders of Monique and Spencer Tepe in the couple’s home last last month.

Monique, 39, and Spencer, 37, were fatally shot in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, just a few feet away from their young children, ages 4 and 1.

Investigators arrested Monique’s ex-husband Michael David McKee, whom she divorced nearly a decade ago, on Jan. 10. He was arrested in Rockford, Ill., a nearly 500 mile drive from the couple’s Columbus, Ohio home.

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Investigators have largely kept the details of the case under wraps, but at a press conference this week, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant alluded to what could’ve led to the 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 killings.

“This was a targeted attack,” Bryant alleged. “This was a domestic violence-related attack.”

Police declined to explicitly state a motive when asked during the press conference.

Bryant’s statement echoes what the Tepes’ family members had suspected from early on in the investigation.

Monique had been “terrified” of McKee, says Rob Misleh, who is married to Spencer’s sister.

He’d heard stories from Monique about McKee’s alleged emotional 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 which he says “changed her as a person,” Misleh tells PEOPLE.

Monique also allegedly told Misleh that McKee had threatened her life several times during their marriage, which lasted less than two years.

McKee has not been charged in connection with the 𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃𝓈 of emotional 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 or threats; a public defender currently representing him in Illinois did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comments on the 𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃𝓈.

A Columbus police officer adjusts crime scene 𝓉𝒶𝓅𝑒 after officers responded to 1411 N. 4th St. where they found Monique and Spencer Tepe dead at the residence.

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Investigators tracked McKee to Illinois through surveillance footage, which showed a vehicle near the Tepes’ residence during the window they believe the killings occurred.

McKee, who was arrested on murder charges, now faces upgraded charges of aggravated murder. He is set to be extradited to Ohio to be arraigned on the charges.

His public defender said during a court appearance this week that he plans on pleading not guilty.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.