Key evidence tying surgeon to brutal murders of ex-wife and her new dentist husband with kids nearby as he faces DEATH

Cops opened up about their investigation after McKee’s first court appearance

INVESTIGATORS have revealed the key piece of evidence that they believe ties a surgeon to the brutal killings of his ex-wife and her husband.

Michael McKee, 39, stands accused of shooting Monique Tepe, 39, and her dentist husband Spencer Tepe, 37, to death inside their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30.

Dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, and his wife Monique Tepe, 39, were found shot to death inside their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30Credit: GoFundMe

Monique’s ex-husband Michael McKee has been arrested and accused of carrying out the sick killingsCredit: Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant revealed a key piece of evidence that she believes ties him to the caseCredit: WBNS

Now, detectives have said they found the gun used to carry out the horrific crime inside McKee’s house.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant told reporters that she felt confident they had clinched the killer.

“This was a targeted attack,” she said.

“This was a domestic violence-related attack.”

She said McKee’s vehicle was spotted in the Tepe’s neighborhood right before the killing, and again shortly after they were shot dead.

The police chief also said multiple weapons were found inside his property, and explained there was “a preliminary link” that ties one of the weapons to the homicide.

McKee is in Winnebago County, Illinois, about 90 miles northwest of Chicago, awaiting extradition to Columbus, where he will go on trial.

He’s already pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were drummed up to aggravated murder before his first court appearance.

Spencer’s brother-in-law Rob Misleh claimed that McKee threatened Monique’s life “many times,” People reported.

He said, “Monique was very vocal about being terrified of this guy.

“He was very emotionally abusive to her, to the point that it changed her as a person.”

McKee is a vascular surgeon who was living and working in Rockford, Illinois, when he was cuffed.

According to divorce papers seen by The U.S. Sun, he and Monique had a relatively normal split and wrapped up proceedings in just a month.

The two were already separated when Monique filed, and they never shared any children.

Monique and Spencer’s bodies were found by friends and coworkers who conducted a wellness check after the dentist failed to show up to work.

The couple shared a one-year-old boy and a four-year-old girlCredit: GoFundMe

The couple’s home where their bodies were foundCredit: WSXY

Horrifying 911 audio captured the moment that a caller stumbled on the bloody scene as he begged dispatchers for help.

The couple’s two young children, a one-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl, were found unharmed in the home following the shooting.

They’re now in the care of family members.

It’s still unclear how McKee got into the property, as cops said there were no signs of forced entry.

Timeline of the deaths of Spencer & Monique Tepe

DENTIST Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique were found dead inside their Ohio home on December 30.

2 am to 5 am: Cops believe Spencer and Monique were killed between this timeframe

8 am: The Dentist’s office where Spencer works opens

9:03 am: The first 911 call received

9:22 am: Cops go to the Tepe family home, where there is no answer

9:57 am: Worried friend calls cops, telling them they can hear children inside the home

10:05 am: The same person calls 911 again, telling dispatchers there’s a body near a bed