Ohio dentist murders: Alley video, no forced entry fuel insider fears, experts say

Surveillance video and details emerging from the transgression country wherever an Ohio dentist and his woman were killed are offering investigators and analysts clues astir however the transgression whitethorn person unfolded, adjacent arsenic constabulary accidental they person not identified a suspect.

Columbus constabulary precocious released grainy surveillance video showing a idiosyncratic of involvement walking done an alley adjacent 37-year-old Spencer Tepe and 39-year-old Monique Tepe's Weinland Park location betwixt 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. connected Dec. 30.

Former Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead said the timing of the video stands out, peculiarly fixed the wintertime upwind conditions.

"What would beryllium the crushed for going retired erstwhile it’s that acold successful that portion with that benignant of upwind conditions?" Halstead told Fox News Digital. "It does look a small spot suspicious," helium said, adding that officers would typically privation to cognize wherefore idiosyncratic was retired astatine that hour.

Ohio dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, were recovered changeable to decease wrong their location successful Columbus, Ohio connected Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. While their 2 children were discovered unharmed, authorities said they bash not judge their deaths were the effect of a murder-suicide. (Athens Dental Depot)

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Halstead cautioned, however, that investigators indispensable find however the video relates to the killings wrong the home.

"The situation is going to beryllium however that is comparative to the horrific transgression that was committed astatine the home," helium said.

Police person not named a fishy successful the double-murder, and Halstead said releasing video aboriginal successful an probe often signals that authorities are seeking assistance from the public.

"If you look historically, the merchandise of a video precise rapidly is usually owed to the information determination is nary identified fishy astatine that time," helium said.

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Peter Valentin, an subordinate prof of forensic subject astatine the University of New Haven successful Connecticut, said the video whitethorn besides beryllium important for what it reveals astir the individual’s behavior.

"It seems reasonably evident that the idiosyncratic who’s walking successful the alley either sees that existent camera oregon has immoderate wide consciousness that a camera is successful the alley," Valentin told Fox News Digital. "They look to marque a concerted effort to support their caput pointed down."

Valentin said the video provides investigators with a clip stamp and a narrower geographic focus, allowing constabulary to refine requests for further video from adjacent homes and businesses.

"It narrows down the clip frame, astatine slightest for the egress," helium said, referring to erstwhile the idiosyncratic was leaving the area. "What we don't cognize is however agelong they were successful the country anterior to this occurring? Were they determination beforehand? Is this idiosyncratic known to the couple? Have they been determination before?"

Spencer and Monique Tepe pictured connected their wedding day. (Rob Misleh)

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Police person said determination were nary signs of forced introduction into the home. Halstead said that item is "deeply concerning" successful a lawsuit involving a convulsive crime.

"When it looks similar entree was either granted oregon the easiness of entree was accomplished, past someway there’s a narration oregon erstwhile entree that was made," helium said, adding that it would beryllium improbable for a young nonrecreational mates to permission their location unsecured overnight.

"No signs of forced introduction doesn’t mean determination wasn’t forced entry," Valentin said. "It conscionable means that nary motion was observed."

A Columbus constabulary serviceman adjusts transgression country portion aft officers responded to the location of Monique Tepe and Spencer Tepe, wherever the brace were recovered changeable to decease successful Columbus, Ohio connected Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.  (The Columbus Dispatch via USA Today)

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Detectives judge the murders took spot betwixt 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. connected Dec. 30. Both of the couple's children were recovered harmless wrong the home.

Both experts said that the information that the couple’s children were unharmed whitethorn yet assistance investigators constrictive their focus.

"Historically, it leans to the idiosyncratic not having an utmost intelligence illness," Halstead said, adding that it could suggest familiarity with the household oregon children, though helium said that investigators would request to corroborate that done evidence.

Spencer and Monique Tepe were preparing to observe their five-year wedding anniversary. (Rob Misleh)

Halstead said the biggest situation successful cases similar this is time.

"The longer this goes, the greater likelihood that the leads get weaker and weaker," helium said, calling clip "the enemy" successful high-profile homicide investigations.

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Police person said the probe remains ongoing and person asked anyone with accusation related to the surveillance video oregon the events surrounding the killings to interaction authorities.

In a statement, the couple's household said they are "heartbroken beyond words," and called the deaths "tragic and senseless."

"They were bonzer radical whose lives were filled with love, joy, and heavy transportation to others," work the statement. "Spencer, a postgraduate of The Ohio State University, was known arsenic a devoted and arrogant father, a loving partner, and a person to everyone helium met," the household connection said, adding that helium was "intelligent, warm, and endlessly welcoming."

Flowers are near extracurricular the location of Monique Tepe and Spencer Tepe, wherever the brace were recovered changeable to decease successful Columbus, Ohio connected Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.  (The Columbus Dispatch via USA Today)

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Family members described Monique arsenic a "loving, diligent and joyful parent whose warmth defined her."

Rob Misleh, Spencer's brother-in-law, told WSYX that the mates was going to observe their five-year day adjacent period aft getting joined successful 2021.

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