An old friend of accused murderer Michael David McKee has come forward with new claims about the 2017 divorce from his ex-wife Monique Tepe, alleging that the split was tied to an undisclosed illness that prevented the couple from having children. The revelation, shared in recent media interviews and online discussions, adds another layer of complexity to the motive speculation surrounding McKee’s January 10, 2026, arrest for the alleged premeditated shooting deaths of Monique, 39, and her husband, dentist Spencer Tepe, 37, in their Columbus, Ohio, home on December 30, 2025.

The friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity to outlets including PEOPLE and true crime-focused platforms, described knowing McKee during and shortly after his brief marriage to Monique (from August 22, 2015, to the 2017 divorce). According to this source, the couple’s inability to start a family stemmed from a medical condition—potentially affecting fertility—that created significant strain. “It wasn’t just incompatibility on paper,” the friend reportedly said. “There was this deep sadness about not being able to have kids. Michael was devastated by it, and it changed everything between them.” The illness itself was not named publicly, with the friend emphasizing privacy but noting it as a pivotal, unspoken factor in the rapid deterioration of the relationship.

Court records from Franklin County Domestic Relations Court have consistently listed the divorce grounds as “incompatibility,” with no mention of medical issues, children (the couple had none), or contested elements beyond minor reimbursements. The separation agreement, filed April 28, 2017, stated plainly that “differences have arisen” and the parties were living apart by March 2016—after roughly seven months of cohabitation. Monique filed in May 2017, and the decree finalized in June 2017 included a clean split: McKee retained their Roanoke, Virginia, home (tied to his residency), each kept personal vehicles and debts, and Monique reimbursed a small $1,281.59 amount. No spousal support was ordered, and the process appeared amicable on the surface, handled partly through a private retired judge for discretion.

However, family statements from Monique’s side have long painted a darker picture, describing emotional abuse, threats, and torment during the marriage. Brother-in-law Rob Misleh told multiple outlets that Monique was “terrified,” felt she “just had to get away,” and endured a “real hell” that left lasting scars. She reportedly confided in relatives about McKee’s controlling behavior, especially after their move to Virginia for his vascular surgery residency at Carilion Clinic—far from her Ohio support network. The friend’s new account does not contradict these claims but suggests the infertility struggle may have exacerbated tensions, turning personal grief into relational fracture. “He wanted a family badly,” the friend alleged. “When that wasn’t possible, it broke something in him. Monique tried to hold it together, but she couldn’t stay.”

This perspective contrasts with McKee’s professional image as a meticulous, reserved surgeon. Former colleagues at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois (his employer until the arrest), described him as quiet, avoiding small talk, and obsessively organized—often carrying a guarded color-coded notebook for schedules. No public red flags emerged in his career, which included residencies in Virginia, fellowships in Maryland, and licenses in multiple states (Illinois, California, expired Nevada). Yet post-divorce, reports note job-hopping and efforts to evade a medical malpractice suit, adding to perceptions of instability.

The friend’s comments have fueled online speculation about motive in the Tepe murders. Police, led by Columbus Chief Elaine Bryant, classify the case as domestic violence-related, linked to the prior marriage. Evidence includes neighborhood surveillance showing a person of interest in an alley near the home, vehicle tracking placing McKee’s car in the area between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on December 30, and a firearm recovered from his Illinois property preliminarily matched to the scene (with one count involving a suppressor). McKee allegedly drove roughly 500 miles from the Chicago area, entered without forced entry, shot the couple (leaving their children, ages 4 and 1, and dog unharmed nearby), and fled. He waived extradition in Illinois and faces aggravated murder, burglary, and firearm charges in Ohio, with potential death penalty eligibility.

Monique rebuilt her life after the divorce, meeting Spencer online, marrying in late 2020 (celebrating their fifth anniversary shortly before the killings), and raising two young children. Friends and family describe her as warm, humorous, and fully recovered from the past trauma—until it allegedly resurfaced violently. The friend’s revelation about the illness and childlessness offers a possible psychological thread: unresolved grief or resentment over what could have been, especially as Monique went on to have the family McKee reportedly desired.

No official confirmation from authorities ties the divorce motive directly to infertility, and the friend’s account remains unverified beyond media sharing. It emerges amid broader scrutiny of McKee’s life, including a clerical error briefly reopening the old divorce docket in 2025 (later deemed a mix-up, with no actual filings). As the case proceeds—McKee awaits transfer to Ohio for further hearings—these personal details underscore the tragedy’s human cost: two lives stolen, two children orphaned, and questions about how long-buried pain may have erupted.

May Spencer and Monique rest in peace, surrounded by the love of their family and community. Justice and healing remain the focus for those left behind.