Authorities have released surveillance video of a person of interest in the slayings of an Ohio couple who were found shot to death in their home last week.
Columbus police discovered dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, suffering from gunshot wounds on the second floor of their home during a wellness check around 10 a.m. on Dec. 30, authorities said. Paramedics later pronounced them dead.
The couple’s two young children were also at the home but were not injured, police said.
what happened?
Many questions remain about the case, including who may have killed the couple and why.
Detectives believe Tepes was shot between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. the day he was found. A spokesperson for the Franklin County Coroner’s Office said in an email Tuesday that the couple died of “apparent homicides from gunshot wounds,” but that an official report won’t be completed for weeks.
The video shows a person of interest
On Monday, police released surveillance video from a person of interest that showed the person walking in an alley near the couple’s home during the three hours that investigators believe they were attacked. The person was wearing light-colored pants and a dark hooded jacket and police are asking for the public’s help in identifying them.
“We know there are questions and concerns about this tragic incident,” police said in a statement. “Detectives are working hard to solve this case.”
Community condolences
In a statement, the family described the couple as “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy and deep connections with others.”
Spencer Tepe is a graduate of The Ohio State University, a member of the American Dental Association, and involved with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. He was also a “huge Bengals and Buckeyes fan,” his family said.
Monique Tepe was a “loving, patient and joyful mother”, an enthusiastic baker and a “thoughtful planner”, it said.
“They are the proud parents of two beautiful children who live each day with unwavering love and devotion to their family,” cousin Audrey McKee wrote.