Police in Columbus, Ohio, are searching for a suspect who killed a dentist and his wife during an apparent home invasion.
Columbus Police Patrol officers responded to the residence of couple Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe on the morning of Tuesday, December 30, after a welfare check was requested, according to an incident report viewed by ABC News.
Upon the officers’ arrival, Spencer, 37, and Monique, 39, were found with apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics came to help the couple, while police confirmed that they were declared dead soon after.
Spencer was struck several times and Monique had at least one gunshot wound to the chest, according to WSYX.
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Police were not able to find any obvious signs of forced entry into the home, while no firearms were found. WSYX reported that authorities are not considering the deaths to be a murder-suicide as of this time.
Additionally, the incident report revealed that two small children were also found in the residence, and they were unharmed following the incident.
The welfare check was requested after Spencer didn’t show up to work at Athens Dental Depot. The owner called 911 and told dispatchers that Spener was always on time for work.
“I’m on vacation, but this individual, Spencer, works with me, and he did not show up to work this morning. And we cannot get a hold of him or his family,” Spencer’s boss, Dr. Mark Valrose, said during the 911 call, according to audio reviewed by ABC News. “He’s been reliable, and we cannot get in touch with him, his wife, his family, anybody that lives in that house.”
Authorities were initially contacted by Valrose at 9:03 a.m. and an officer arrived at the home at 9:22 a.m., according to WSYX. The officer received no answer when he knocked on the door and he left.
Several of Spencer’s coworkers then drove to the home to check on the couple. One person called police at 9:58 a.m. to report that they heard children inside the home and that nobody was answering the door, according to ABC News. The same person then called 911 again to report that they could see Spencer’s body inside the home.
“There is a body inside,” the friend told dispatchers, per WSYX. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here, and he appears dead.”
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Police are asking that anyone with information contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
The Columbus Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
Following Spencer and Monique’s deaths, Valrose issued a statement on behalf of his business. “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our colleague and friend, Dr. Spencer Tepe,” Valrose said in the statement provided to WSYX. “Our heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. We appreciate the community’s thoughts and prayers.”
