A month before their 5-year anniversary, an Ohio couple was killed in the home where they exchanged vows. Here’s what we know

The immense joy Spencer and Monique Tepe experienced on their wedding day was clearly visible in a video shared by the family in 2021 of them exchanging vows. The then-newlyweds embraced and laughed as friends and loved ones applauded them at their home in Columbus, Ohio.

However, just a month before their fifth anniversary, the environment where the couple started living together became the scene of an indescribable tragedy. The 37-year-old respected dentist and his 39-year-old wife, a stay-at-home mom, He was found dead after being shot on Tuesday in their luxury home with their two young children inside.

As news of the shocking murders spread across the country just days after Christmas, a monument of roses and sunflowers now grows outside the house, raising more questions than answers.

Law enforcement officials were reluctant to release any details about a possible suspect or motive but said the young couple’s killer or killers were at large. Even more mysterious, police discovered there were no obvious signs of forced entry and no firearms were found at the scene. CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

Police are seeking any information from the public about a case they say is being investigated as a double homicide and not a murder-suicide.

Here’s what we know and don’t know about the tragedy:

How worried friends and colleagues led police to the house

Spencer Hill rarely missed work Athens Dental DepotThe owner of the practice, Dr. Mark Valrose was located about 75 miles southeast of the family’s home in Columbus, and according to the owner of his practice, he and his wife were always responsive.

But when he didn’t show up for work Tuesday morning, his colleagues’ concerns continued to grow when they couldn’t contact him or his wife, according to 911 calls reported by WSYX.

According to the recording, Valrose first called 911 around 8:58 a.m., asking police to perform a welfare check and telling the dispatcher: “He’s always on time and will contact us if there are any problems.”

“I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him,” she continued. “We cannot contact his wife, which is probably more concerning.”

According to WSYX, based on police records, a police officer came to the house at 9.22 a.m. to do a health check, but no one opened the door.

According to delivery note records, about 30 minutes later, Tepe’s colleagues and a friend arrived at the house but still did not receive a response. A man at the scene also called 911 at 9:56 a.m. and said he heard children crying inside.

According to the audio recording, the caller said, “I can hear the kids inside and I swear, I think I heard yelling.” “But we can’t get in. At this point I don’t know if I have to break down the door to get into the house.”

Two minutes later, another colleague of Tepe’s called 911 and said they had not been able to reach him for nearly three hours, according to records obtained by WSYX.

Tepe’s friend, who said he had spoken to the last two people the day before, stated that he was audibly distressed when he called 911 around 10:03 a.m. and said, “There is a body.”

“Our friend wasn’t answering his phone…we just got here and he looks dead,” the friend said.

Police found the bodies of Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe at their home in the Weinland Park neighborhood, Columbus police said.

Police said her two children, ages 1 and 4, were also found unharmed in the home.

How will the police investigate the incident?

Columbus police provided no warning to the community about an ongoing threat, and the agency did not respond to CNN’s questions about the timing of the killings, whether Tepes was specifically targeted or any information about a suspect or motive.

The Franklin County Medical Examiner’s Office told CNN it could take eight to 10 weeks for autopsy reports to be completed. Tuesday’s police incident report identified Spencer and Monique Tepe as homicide victims.

A police crime camera sits on a lamppost at an intersection a few hundred meters from Tepes’ home. Columbus Dispatch.

The police were released on Monday surveillance video The person investigators identified as the suspicious person walking in the alley near Tepeş’s home around the time they believed the couple was killed (between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.).

In the video, the person is seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and light pants and walking along a snow-covered street with his hands in his sweater pockets.

According to CNN Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem, investigators will use forensics to determine the cause of the incident and possible suspects, the possible entry of the killer, whether anything was stolen from the home, and examining the history of the Tepe family to determine if there is another threat to the rest of society.

Kayyem said it wasn’t surprising that detectives investigated the deaths as a double homicide and not a murder-suicide, with no firearms seized. “The other tip, of course, is to keep kids safe.”

Kayyem said one of two scenarios for how the crime unfolded seemed most likely: “A stranger at the door who killed this couple, or some story that might explain why they were targeted.”

He added that such crimes were “extremely rare” given there was no sign of forced entry. “… You look at people they might know or unfortunately know where they live and start from there.”

“Maybe this was a random incident. But… national data shows both how rare this is and the possibility that there was someone who knew them and was involved,” Kayyem said.

What we know about the ‘extremely happy’ couple

Spencer and Monique Tepe “share a beautiful, strong and extremely happy relationship” bonded by a love of travel, laughter and a mission to “build a life based on love,” their family said.

In the statement made on behalf of the Tepe family, it was said, “We are too upset to be expressed in words.”

As the couple’s devastating loss extends to their community, the family said they are “committed to seeing this tragedy brought to full and fair justice” and to honor their beloved child by protecting the future of their beloved child, who is now in the care of relatives.

Meanwhile, Spencer Tepe’s employer, Athens Dental Depot, shared the news of the couple’s “sudden death” on Facebook and announced that it would be closed for the rest of the week.

“He will be greatly missed by our team and the many patients he cared for over the years. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with his families and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Spencer Tepe, an Ohio State University graduate and American Dental Association member, was “a devoted and proud father, a loving partner and a friend to everyone he met,” his family said.

They said he spoke Spanish fluently, was a big fan of the Bengals and Buckeyes football teams, and had a generous and energetic spirit.

His wife, Monique Tepe, has a background in childhood education and “brings care and intention to everything she does,” his family said. She was described as a loving, patient and cheerful mother whose “warmth defined her”.

Their family said the couple were “remarkable people whose lives were filled with love, joy and a deep connection with others.”

CNN’s Holly Yan, Caroll Alvarado and Yan Kaner contributed to this report.

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