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Police have released footage of a person of interest one week after the murder of an Ohio dentist and his wife.
Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead at their Columbus home on December 30 after concerned friends attended the property.
Police say the couple died after suffering gunshot wounds between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. that morning, and investigators are treating the incident as murder.
- Police released surveillance footage of a person of interest near an Ohio couple’s home around the time of their murder.
- Spencer and Monique Tepe were fatally shot between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30 inside their Columbus home.
- The couple’s family downplayed the footage, suggesting the stranger might just be a drunk passerby with no connection to the crime.
- Their two young children, found unharmed inside the house, are now cared for by relatives struggling with how to explain the loss.
Police have released surveillance footage of a person of interest
Image credits: GoFundMe
Authorities have not released a possible motive or confirmed whether it was a targeted attack, but on Monday released footage of a person of interest.
Police have not said why they are keen to speak to that person.
In the clip, a person wearing a dark hooded top and light-colored bottoms can be seen walking in an alley near the Tepes’ home.
The person keeps their head angled down and, at one point, appears to pull their hood further over their face.
Image credits: Columbus Police Division
“Detectives believe the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Tepe occurred sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of December 30th in the upstairs of their residence,” Columbus Police said in a statement.
“Recovered video footage shows a person of interest walking in the alley near the Tepe’s residence during that timeframe.”
Investigators are urging anyone who has information about the person seen in the footage to get in touch immediately.
Columbus Police added, “We want to thank the community for the tips we have received. We know there are questions and concerns surrounding this tragic incident.
“Detectives are working diligently to solve this case. We will continue to update you as the investigation progresses.”
Despite the person in the footage being described as a person of interest, the family of the Tepes appeared to dismiss the latest development.
Rob Misleh, who is married to Spencer’s sister, told NewsNation that the person in the footage could have been in the alley for any reason.
“I do think, you know, (it’s a) suspicious-looking person there. It also very well could be … somebody walking home drunk from a bar,” Misleh said.
He added that the couple were “so well liked and admired by everyone,” telling the outlet they had no known enemies.
“They were always smiling, they were always laughing. So, it’s really just unbelievable and shocking to all of us when we found out. Still, a week later, it doesn’t, still doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe I’m, like, here talking about this,” he said.
The Tepes were killed while their children were inside the home
Image credits: Rob Misleh/YouTube
Misleh is currently caring for the couple’s young children, aged 4 and 1, who were found inside the home unharmed.
He previously said he did not believe the children had witnessed their parents’ murder and that several family members were taking turns looking after them.
“We’ve all been grappling with how to tell a 4-year-old that they’re never gonna see their parents again,” Misleh told People. “We just don’t know how to do that.”
“I’m sure she’s wondering when is she gonna see her mommy and daddy again,” he added. “It’s just really hard to get into her mind.”
Children were heard crying inside the home when Spencer’s co-workers became concerned and turned up at the property to conduct their own welfare check.
Image credits: Athens Dental Depot
Dr. Mark Valrose, the owner of Athens Dental Depot where Spencer worked, called the police after he failed to turn up for work.
“He is always on time, and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Valrose told dispatchers, according to CNN.
“I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”
Police records seen by WSYX show that an officer then attended the property at 9:22 a.m., but no one answered the door.
Image credits: Rob Misleh/YouTube
Concerned colleagues then made their own way to the home, where they heard children crying and called the police around 9:56 a.m.
“I can hear kids inside, and I think I heard one yell,” the caller said, according to dispatch audio reported by CNN. “But we can’t get in.”
In a separate 911 call just minutes later, a distressed man told operators, “There’s a body.”
It is understood that investigators did not find a firearm at the property, there was no sign of forced entry, and that they are not treating the incident as a murder-suicide.
Fox News Digital reported Tuesday that a “domestic dispute” call was recorded at the couple’s home months before the incident.
Police do not believe the incident is a murder-suicide
Image credits: WSYX
On April 15, at 2:45 a.m., an unknown female was contacted by a 911 operator after hanging up on a call, and she said she had “gotten into it” with her man but did not require assistance.
The woman, who sounded distressed, said the altercation had not become physical, and the incident was recorded as a domestic dispute.
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