The McKee Indictment: Four Counts Of Aggravated Murder, A Suppressor Allegation, And What Prosecutors Have To Prove
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3.3 • 907 Ratings
🗓️ 21 January 2026
⏱️ 16 minutes
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Summary
The indictment against Dr. Michael McKee tells a story of alleged premeditation. Four counts of aggravated murder. One count of aggravated burglary. And the allegation that McKee used a firearm equipped with a suppressor to kill Monique and Spencer Tepe.
A silencer changes this case. It's not impulsive. It's not rage. It's allegedly making sure no one would hear the shots while the victims' young children slept in another room.
Defense attorney Bob Motta breaks down what this indictment reveals — and what it doesn't. Under Ohio law, "prior calculation and design" is an element prosecutors must prove for aggravated murder. The suppressor allegation helps them do that. But why four counts for two victims? Motta explains how Ohio structures murder charges and what each count requires.
The aggravated burglary charge is significant. It doesn't necessarily mean theft — it suggests prosecutors have a theory about how McKee entered the home. Because there's still no public explanation for how he allegedly got inside with no forced entry.
The NIBIN ballistics match linking a firearm from McKee's Chicago apartment to shell casings at the scene is still being called "preliminary." McKee gave police an alibi before his arrest. It didn't hold up. He only invoked his right to remain silent after the cuffs went on.
Prosecutors have not filed capital specifications. They're not seeking the death penalty — at least not yet. Motta analyzes what that decision tells us: is it strategic, or does it suggest they see weaknesses in their case?
#MichaelMcKee #MoniqueTepe #SpencerTepe #TepeMurders #BobMotta #HiddenKillers #Suppressor #AggravatedMurder #OhioLaw #ProsecutionCase
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Hidden Killers Live with Tony Bruske, Stacey Cole and Todd Michaels. |
| 0:08.8 | Let's move on to another case that has been getting a lot of attention. |
| 0:17.2 | The Tappy murders. |
| 0:18.1 | A Franklin County grand jury just handed down a five-count indictment against |
| 0:22.1 | Dr. Michael McKee, four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary in the |
| 0:27.6 | deaths of his ex-wife, Monique Tappy, and her husband, Spencer. But here's the detail that changes |
| 0:33.4 | everything. The indictment alleges McKee used a firearm equipped with a suppressor, a silencer. |
| 0:40.1 | That's not impulsive. That's not a crime of passion. That's someone who allegedly planned this down |
| 0:44.8 | to making sure no one would hear the shots. He's facing a minimum of life with parole after 32 years, |
| 0:51.1 | maximum life without parole. Prosecutors have not filed capital specifications yet. |
| 0:56.6 | They're not seeking the death penalty, at least not yet. |
| 0:59.5 | There's a moratorium on the death penalty there, but it doesn't mean you can't try somebody |
| 1:03.1 | with it. |
| 1:03.9 | Joining me to break down what is going on in this indictment, Bob Mata, host of the podcast |
| 1:08.6 | Defense Diaries. |
| 1:10.1 | Bob, let's start with the suppressor |
| 1:11.6 | allegation. The indictment says McKee used a firearm with it. From a legal standpoint, |
| 1:18.5 | what does it tell us about how prosecutors are framing this case and how does it affect the |
| 1:22.5 | prior calculation and design element to this? Yeah, I think if there was any question about premeditation or concern, that's no longer |
| 1:32.2 | an issue. |
| 1:33.3 | I think most of us understood with the fact that the guy didn't even live in that state |
| 1:39.6 | anymore and they got him in Illinois. |
... |
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