New court date set for Michael McKee in Tepe murder case

The vascular surgeon accused of killing his ex-wife and her new husband won't actually be in court on the upcoming date.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Michael McKee, 39, has a Feb. 23 court date identified as a "trial" in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. However, the case against McKee will not be going to trial that day and McKee probably won't appear before the judge. The date is instead a status meeting between the attorneys and the judge to discuss the progress of the discovery process and timelines in the case moving forward.

Why it matters

The killing of Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37, in their Columbus home over the holiday season has grabbed national headlines. The case against McKee, Monique's ex-husband, is being closely watched by true crime aficionados.

The details

McKee is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary in connection with the Dec. 30 shooting deaths of Monique Tepe and Spencer Tepe. Discovery, the process of exchanging and reviewing evidence, can take months and is not unusual, particularly in a homicide prosecution. The Feb. 23 date is a regular meeting between the attorneys and the judge to check on the status of the case, not an actual trial date.

  • McKee was arraigned in a Franklin County courtroom in January.
  • The killings of Monique Tepe and Spencer Tepe occurred on Dec. 30.

The players

Michael McKee

A 39-year-old vascular surgeon accused of killing his ex-wife and her new husband.

Monique Tepe

McKee's 39-year-old ex-wife who was killed along with her new husband.

Spencer Tepe

Monique Tepe's 37-year-old new husband who was killed along with her.

Judge Kim Brown

The Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge presiding over the case.

Diane Menashe

McKee's attorney.

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What’s next

The judge and attorneys will meet on Feb. 23 to discuss the progress of the discovery process and timelines in the case moving forward.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and lengthy legal process involved in a high-profile homicide prosecution, where discovery and evidence exchange can take months before a trial date is even set. The Feb. 23 court date is simply a status check, not the start of the trial.