Police in the United States have taken the significant step of releasing security footage showing a hooded individual they wish to trace in connection with the mysterious double murder of an Ohio dentist and his wife. The couple were found slain in their Columbus home just days before the New Year.
A Chilling Video and a Three-Hour Window
Authorities from the Columbus Division of Police have publicised video captured near the victims' downtown residence. The grainy footage shows a figure dressed in black and grey, with their hood up and head down, walking the streets in the early hours of the morning.
The critical time frame for the murders is between 2 am and 5 am on December 30, 2025. This three-hour window is when the footage was recorded. Despite the area being described as heavily surveilled, the individual's identity remains concealed in the clips released to the public.
A Family Shattered, Children Unharmed
The victims have been identified as 37-year-old dentist Spencer Tepe and his 39-year-old wife, Monique. Tragically, they were just a month away from celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
In a detail that has added to the mystery of the case, the couple's two young children were inside the family home at the time of the shooting but were left physically unharmed. The motive for the targeted attack remains entirely unknown to investigators.
A GoFundMe campaign, organised by Spencer's cousin Audrey, has been launched to support the orphaned children. It has seen an outpouring of support, raising over $157,000 towards its $200,000 goal at the time of reporting.
Community Shock and a Plea for Information
The local community has been left reeling by the brutal crime. Resident Lana Oriani told local media ABC 6 that the presence of numerous security cameras in the neighbourhood makes the incident even more shocking.
Police are now urgently appealing to residents and businesses in the area for any additional information or private footage that could help identify the person in the video. The investigation is ongoing, with detectives examining every possible angle.
The family of the victims has appealed for the case not to be sensationalised. Spencer Tepe's brother-in-law, Rob Misleh, emphasised that the tragedy has affected "hundreds and hundreds of people" and that the priority is a thorough investigation, not a swift one.
"This is not an episode of TV or a true crime podcast. This is a family," Misleh stated, urging the public and media to respect their profound loss as the search for the killer continues.
