Surgeon Dr. Michael McKee faces murder charges, malpractice evasion

Separate lawsuits present that Dr. Michael McKee confronted a number of allegations of medical malpractice and negligence within the months main as much as his indictment within the deaths of an Ohio dentist and his spouse.

Federal courtroom information present that McKee, a 39-year-old vascular surgeon, was named as a defendant in a civil rights and medical negligence lawsuit filed on June 7, 2024, within the U.S. District Court docket for the District of Nevada. In a separate case, state courtroom information in Clark County present McKee can be the prime suspect in an lively medical malpractice lawsuit scheduled for a jury trial.

Based on Las Vegas-based legal professional Dan Laird, McKee managed to evade authorized justice earlier than allegedly killing his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, 39, and her husband, Spencer Tepe, 37.

“They’re typically very accountable individuals,” he stated WSYX. “They don’t seem to be the sort of people that simply out of the blue disappeared, and this was very shocking to us.”

Ohio dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe and his spouse, Monique Tepe, had been discovered shot to loss of life of their house in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Whereas their two youngsters had been discovered unhurt, authorities reportedly imagine their deaths weren’t the results of a murder-suicide. (Athens Dental Depot)

FAMILY ‘QUICK FAITH’ SURGEON EX WAS INVOLVED IN THE MURDER OF A DENTIST IN OHIO AS CO-WORKER DETAILS ACCIDENTS

Laird informed WSYX that in a 2023 lawsuit reviewed by Fox Information Digital, McKee allegedly failed to coach a doctor assistant, inflicting a affected person to be injured throughout remedy and require emergency surgical procedure.

The lawyer stated he was deceived when McKee allegedly supplied false addresses and “questionable” state-issued cellphone numbers.

“Curiously, the handle given to us by the surgical group he labored for turned out to be a false handle,” Laird informed the native outlet, referring to Las Vegas Surgical Associates LLP. “It was an handle that does not exist.”

Laird stated he made repeated makes an attempt to contact McKee for years, even going to former colleagues, together with Dr. Peter Caravella, who can be named within the malpractice swimsuit. Fox Information Digital has reached out to Laird for added particulars.

“He stated he has no concept the place Dr. Michael McKee is correct now,” Laird stated. “He simply disappeared.”

He simply disappeared.

— Dan Laird, Las Vegas legal professional

Michael David McKee, a 39-year-old from Chicago, is charged with two counts of homicide within the loss of life of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his spouse Monique Tepe. (Winnebago County Sheriff’s Workplace)

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The lawsuits had been lively within the months main as much as the Ohio couple’s deaths. Rob Misleh, Spencer’s brother-in-law, informed NBC Information that their household “rapidly believed” McKee was by some means concerned of their deaths.

“He was an emotionally abusive particular person once they had been collectively, that is all I do know,” Misleh stated.

Attorney Lindsay Richardsa former prosecutor, informed Fox Information Digital that whereas the civil lawsuit offers context, it seems “his life definitely spiraled uncontrolled.”

“The prosecutor will in all probability solely take a look at the civil circumstances to see if there may be any overlap in habits or if it has brought on rising strain or stress for this defendant. It places his life in context to color an image for a jury. This in all probability will not have a lot impression on the prison case, apart from understanding the circumstances.”

“It seems his life spiraled uncontrolled, which might be the one purpose the prosecution would use these civil circumstances,” she stated.

Spencer and Monique Tepe had been getting ready to have a good time their five-year marriage ceremony anniversary. (Rob Misleh)

Data present McKee was arrested after allegedly killing the couple on December 30. Law enforcement officials went to a house in Columbus’ Weinland Park neighborhood round 10 a.m. on December 30 and located the couple, each useless from gunshot wounds.

FRANTIC 911 CALLS DETAIL MOMENTS BEFORE COLUMBUS DENTIST AND WIFE ARE FOUND DEAD: ‘THERE IS A BODY’

Within the Nevada lawsuit, an incarcerated man alleges that McKee, whereas serving on the Nevada Division of Corrections’ Medical Evaluation Panel, knowingly delayed medical look after a severe situation.

Based on the criticism, reviewed by Fox Information Digital, the plaintiff skilled persistent ache and problems over an prolonged time frame and underwent a number of procedures that had been allegedly ineffective.

Chronology of key occasions within the murders of Spencer and Monique Tepe. (Fox Information)

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The lawsuit alleges that approval for applicable specialty care was repeatedly delayed regardless of the plaintiff’s deteriorating situation. In consequence, the criticism states, the plaintiff in the end suffered everlasting accidents, together with the lack of a testicle. McKee and the opposite defendants named within the federal case deny the costs. The courtroom has not but dominated on the claims.

Neither the federal civil rights case nor the state abuse case has led to a decision.

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Michael McKee seems in courtroom on the Winnebago County Justice Heart, Monday, January 12, 2026, Rockford, Illinois. McKee is extradited to Ohio for the homicide of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe. (WIFR through swimming pool)

Each Nevada circumstances had been lively throughout roughly the identical time interval that McKee would later be charged in Ohio in reference to the deaths of his ex-wife and her husband. Authorities in Ohio have charged McKee with two counts of homicide.

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McKee was booked into the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Workplace in Illinois simply earlier than midday on Saturday.

He faces upgraded first-degree homicide prices in Ohio in reference to the deaths of Spencer and Monique.

Common view of Winnebago County Justice Heart, Monday, January 12, 2026, Rockford, Illinois. (Kamil Krzaczynski for Fox Information Digital)

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Based on a doc obtained by Bryan Llenas of Fox Information, McKee won’t be transported to Franklin County, Ohio on Monday, January 19. The doc states that the transport “won’t be possible”, and the beforehand scheduled courtroom listening to for Monday, January 19 at 2 p.m. has been canceled. A brand new date has been provisionally set for January 23 at 2 p.m

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Fox Information Digital’s Adam Sabes and Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.