A surgeon accused of killing his former wife, Monique Tepe and her husband, Spencer Tepe, in Ohio, made his first court appearance Monday afternoon in Winnebago County, Illinois.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 39-year-old Michael David McKee is currently behind bars in Winnebago County, in connection with the couple’s December 30 deaths.
During the brief court hearing, McKee waived his extradition to Columbus, Ohio. According to the Rockford Register Star, public defender Carrie Poirier said McKee plans to plead not guilty and “remains silent.”
Shortly before the hearing, authorities upgraded McKee’s charges to two counts of aggravated murder with premeditation. He had initially been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Under Ohio law, aggravated murder is considered a more serious charge than murder, with an extended punishment of life in sentence without parole or a possible death penalty.
Court officials reportedly said that transportation is currently being scheduled to take the defendant to Ohio this week.
McKee, of Chicago, is accused of fatally shooting the Tepe couple inside their residence off of North 4th Street at around 3:52 a.m.
The Tepes, according to police, were shot in the upstairs area of their home. Their two children, ages 1 and 4, were found unharmed inside the residence.
Authorities issued a warrant for McKee’s arrest on January 10, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Spencer and Monique were a few weeks shy of celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary when the killings occurred.
Records from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas court named McKee as Monique’s former husband.
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Loved ones described the couple as devoted parents who were happy, warm, and lived their days “filled with joy,” according to a family statement.
A funeral visitation for the couple has been set for Sunday in Upper Arlington, Ohio.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Spencer and Monique Tepe/GoFundMe]