Police Chief hints at motive behind Ohio dentist and wife's murder after her surgeon ex was charged

A police chief has alluded to a possible motive in the alleged double murder of a couple in Ohio.

Monique and Spencer Tepe, aged 39 and 37, were shot dead on December 30 just metres away from their two young children.

Monique's ex-husband, Michael David McKee, was arrested on suspicion of murder on January 10, and the charges have since been upgraded to aggravated murder.

McKee was arrested in Rockford, Illinois, nearly 500 miles away from Monique and Spencer's home in Columbus, Ohio.

The 39-year-old is now being held in jail in Illinois ahead of being extradited across state borders back to Ohio to face prosecution.

McKee, who was licensed to practise as a surgeon, and Monique divorced around 10 years before the tragedy.

Police were called to a home in the Weinland Park neighborhood, Columbus (CNN)

Monique had been 'terrified' of her ex-husband, according to Spencer's brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, who is married to Spencer's sister.

Now, police have alluded to a possible motive behind the deaths of Monique and Spencer, though they declined to disclose a specific motive.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said: “This was a targeted attack. This was a domestic violence-related attack."

Police were alerted that something was wrong after Spencer's colleagues said he had failed to show up for work, while Monique's friends said she wasn't answering her phone.

Dr. Mark Valrose owns the dental practice where Spencer practised as a dentist, and was the first to call 911.

In an audio recording which was shared with CNN, he can be heard saying: "He is always on time, and he would contact us if there were any issues. I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him."

Michael David McKee, 39, was charged with two counts of murder (Winnebago County Sheriff's Office)

He added: "We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing."

A separate call saw someone tell the 911 dispatcher that they could hear children crying inside the couple's home.

"I can hear kids inside, and I swear I think I heard one yell," the caller said.

"But we can’t get in. At this point, I don’t know if I need to break the door in to get in the house or what."

In a statement from their family, Rob Misleh said: "Nothing can undo the devastating loss of two lives taken far too soon."

He added: "Monique and Spencer remain at the center of our hearts, and we carry forward their love as we surround and protect the two children they leave behind.

"We will continue to honor their lives and the light they brought into this world."