Earlier this week in the Columbus area of Ohio, a dentist and his wife were found shot dead in their home, leaving their two young children orphaned. The authorities are currently in pursuit of the gunman.
On Tuesday, December 30, the bodies of Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe were discovered. In the morning around 9 a.m., at least four colleagues and family members of the victims called the police because they noticed that the couple did not show up to work and were not answering their phones.
The first call to the police came from the boss of Spencer’s dental clinic, who expressed concern as Spencer was never late to work and always called in if he was going to be absent.
The second call was made by an unidentified man outside the couple’s home, reporting that he heard children inside but couldn’t enter the house.
At 10 a.m., a friend of Spencer’s called the police after seeing a body inside the house. According to the 911 call records, the friend mentioned seeing blood and a body lying next to the bed, unable to get closer due to the distressing scene.
Police reports indicated the discovery of three 9mm shell casings inside the house. The couple’s two children were found unharmed in a separate room from where their parents’ bodies were found.
The authorities have ruled out the possibility of a murder-suicide and are treating the case as a homicide investigation. As of Friday, January 2, no suspects have been publicly named, and no new developments have been disclosed.
In a statement given to NBC News, the Tepe family described Spencer and Monique as wonderful individuals whose lives were filled with love, joy, and deep connections with others.
The statement further praised the couple for their beautiful, strong, and happy love; their passion for traveling, laughter, and creating a life based on love; and being proud parents to their two lovely children and their beloved golden retriever, creating a warm, happy, and intimate home together.
Monique was described by relatives as a loving, patient, and cheerful mother with a warm personality and kind-hearted nature. She also had a background in child education and was skilled in baking.
Family members revealed that the date of the incident was just a month before their fifth wedding anniversary.
Relatives also depicted Spencer as a loving and proud father who was fluent in Spanish and practiced dentistry at a dental clinic.
Dr. Mark Valrose, the boss of the clinic, was the first person to contact the authorities on December 30. He expressed deep sorrow for the loss of Spencer, stating that his team and many patients who had been under Spencer’s care over the years were grieving.
In a social media post, Valrose extended his heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased couple.
On December 9, the dental clinic had posted birthday wishes to Spencer along with two photos of him, showing the late dentist wearing his medical attire, smiling, and holding balloons in his hands.
(References have been made to NBC NEWS reporting)