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

Spencer and Monique Tepe’s great joy was evident in a video shared by the family on their wedding day in 2021, which captured them exchanging vows. The newlyweds then hugged and laughed as friends and loved ones cheered them on at their Columbus, Ohio, home.

But a month before their fifth anniversary, the same setting where the couple began their life together became the site of an unspeakable tragedy. The respected dentist, 37, and his 39-year-old wife, a stay-at-home mother, were found shot to death in their upstairs home on Tuesday while their two young children were inside.

A memorial of roses and sunflowers has now grown outside the home as news of the gruesome murders spread nationwide just days after Christmas, raising more questions than answers.

Law enforcement has been reluctant to release any details about a possible suspect or motive, but the killer or killers of the young couple remain at large. Even more mysterious, police revealed there were no obvious signs of forced entry, and no gun was found at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

The police have asked the public for any information about the case saying that it is being investigated as a double murder and not a murder-suicide.

What we know and don’t know about this tragedy:

Some worried friends and colleagues called the police to the house

Spencer Tepe rarely missed work at the Athens Dental Depot, located 75 miles southeast of the family’s Columbus home, and he and his wife were always accountable, according to his practice owner, Dr. Mark Valros, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

But on Tuesday morning, he didn’t show up for work, raising concerns from his co-workers that grew when they couldn’t contact him or his wife, according to 911 calls reported by WSYX.

Valros made the first 911 call at 8:58 a.m. and asked police for a well-being check, telling the dispatcher: “He’s always on time, and if there’s a problem he’ll contact us,” according to the recording.

“I don’t know how to say it, but we’re very, very concerned. It’s out of character for him,” he continued. “We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably more of a concern.”

At 9:22 a.m., an officer arrived at the home to make a welfare check, but no one answered the door, WSYX reported, citing police records.

About 30 minutes later, Tepe’s co-workers and a friend arrived at the home, but they also found no response, dispatch records showed. A person at the scene called 911 at 9:56 a.m. and heard children crying inside.

“I can hear kids inside, and I swear I heard one scream,” the caller said, according to the dispatch audio. “But we can’t get in. At this point, I don’t know if I need to break down the door to get in or what.”

Two minutes later, Tepe’s other co-worker called 911 to say they had been unable to reach him for nearly three hours, according to recordings obtained by WSYX.

At about 10:03 a.m., a friend of Tepe’s, who said the two had last spoken the day before, was audibly distressed as he called 911: “There’s a body,” he reported.

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

Authorities found the bodies of Spencer Tepe and Monique Tepe at their home near Weinland Park, Columbus police said.

Police said that their two children aged 1 and 4 years were also found safe at home.

How does the police investigate the incident?

Columbus police have not issued any warnings about the ongoing threat to the community, and the agency did not respond to CNN’s questions about the timing of the killings, whether the tapes were specifically targeted or any information about a suspect or motive.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office told CNN it will take eight to 10 weeks for autopsy reports to be completed. Tuesday’s police incident report said Spencer and Monique Teppe were the victims of homicide.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, a police crime camera is located on a utility pole at the intersection a few hundred feet from Tepps’ home. CNN has asked police if any neighborhood cameras captured any relevant clues about what happened.

To help zero in on motives and potential suspects, investigators will conduct forensics, the killer’s possible entry, the Tepe family’s background to determine whether anything was stolen from the home and an additional threat to the rest of the community, according to CNN senior national security analyst Juliet Kayem.

With no gun recovered, it’s not surprising that detectives will investigate the death as a double homicide and not a murder-suicide, Kayem said. “Another sign, of course, is that the children are safe.”

Either of two scenarios for how the crime unfolded seems likely, Kayem said: “A stranger at the door who just happens to kill the couple, or some story that could explain why they were targeted.”

This type of crime is “extremely rare” because there was no sign of forced entry, she continued. “… You’re going to look at people that they may know or people that know where they live, unfortunately, and start from there.”

“Maybe it was random. But … the national statistics suggest both how uncommon it is and how likely it is that someone they know is involved,” Kayem said.

Here’s what we know about the ‘deeply happy’ couple

Spencer and Monique Tepe “shared a beautiful, strong and deeply happy relationship,” bonded by a love of travel, laughter and a “mission to build a life rooted in love,” their family said.

“We are heartbroken beyond words,” read a statement from the Tepe family.

As the couple’s devastating loss ripples through their community, the family said they are “committed to bringing this tragedy to full and fair justice” and honoring them by protecting the future of their beloved children, who are now in the care of relatives.

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

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

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

He was fluent in Spanish, a major fan of the Bengals and Buckeyes football teams and had a generous and energetic spirit, they said.

His wife, Monique Tepe, had a background in early childhood education and “brought care and purpose to everything she did,” their family said. She was described as a loving, patient and joyful mother “whose warmth defined her.”

The couple, their family said, were “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy and deep connection with others.”

CNN’s Holly Yan, Carol Alvarado and Yann Kanner contributed to this report.

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