WSYX, CNN
By Holly Yan, Caroll Alvarado, Yan Kaner
(CNN) — A respected dentist and his wife were gunned down in their upscale Ohio home while two young children were inside, authorities said, as the killer remains on the loose.
The bodies of Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife, Monique Tepe, 39, were found Tuesday after a welfare check at their home in the 1400 block of N. 4th Street, Columbus police said.
“Two small children were also found in the residence unharmed,” police said.
Officers found no obvious signs of forced entry, and no firearm was found at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported. Police have not released any details about a possible suspect or motive and are asking the public for any information on the case.
Detectives are investigating the deaths as a double homicide, not as a murder-suicide. Their direction is not surprising, CNN Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem said.
“If there’s no gun, there would have been no way to do murder-suicide,” she said. “So that’s why they excluded that relatively quickly. The other clue is, of course, the children are left safe.”
The Tepes’ children, ages 4 and 1, are now in the care of relatives, the couple’s brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, told CNN.
“We are heartbroken beyond words,” reads a statement provided to CNN on behalf of the Tepe family. “While no outcome can ever undo this loss, our family is committed to seeing this tragedy fully and fairly brought to justice, and to honoring Spencer and Monique by protecting the future of the children they loved so deeply.”
The couple “shared a beautiful, strong and deeply happy relationship,” the statement said. “They loved to travel, to laugh, and to build a life rooted in love.”
Missed work arrival spurred concern
The owner of the practice where Spencer Tepe worked called 911 on Tuesday morning when Tepe uncharacteristically missed work.
“He is always on time, and he would contact us if there was any issues,” Dr. Mark Valrose of Athens Dental Depot told dispatchers. “I don’t know how else to say this, but we are very, very concerned. This is very out of character for him. We can’t get in touch with his wife, which is probably the more concerning thing.”
An officer responded at 9:22 a.m., but did not get an answer, WSYX reported, citing police records.
Colleagues also drove to the Tepes’ home, and one friend heard children crying inside. But no one answered the door.
The friend called police around 9:56 a.m.
“I can hear kids inside, and I think I heard one yell,” the caller said, according to dispatch audio. “But we can’t get in.”
Around 10:03 a.m., an audibly distressed man called 911.
“There’s a body,” he said.
Type of crime is ‘exceptionally rare’
Either of two scenarios for how the crime unfolded see