Did Court ‘Clerical Error’ Trigger Murder? – Ohio Murders: Spencer and Monique Tepe, Michael McKee

Drop Deadad Serious: The Phantom Trigger

Prologue: A Voice in the Dark

Ashley Banfield’s voice was not the one her listeners were used to. Raspy, strained, fighting through illness, it was a far cry from the confident tone that had guided viewers and listeners through countless true crime stories. But this was not a story she could wait to tell. The Ohio murder mystery of Spencer and Manique Tepee was breaking in ways that defied logic—and demanded attention.

As Ashley addressed her audience, she acknowledged the kind words and well-wishes sent her way. She was grateful, but determined. The truth, she reminded everyone, isn’t just serious—it’s drop dead serious.

1. A Decade-Old Divorce, A New Court Notice

The tale began with a twist no one saw coming. Spencer and Manique Tepee were murdered in their Columbus, Ohio home, a crime so shocking it left the community reeling. As police scrambled for answers, a bizarre detail surfaced—a court hearing scheduled for September, appearing on the docket for Dr. Michael McKe and Manique McKe’s divorce. The marriage had ended almost a decade ago, the divorce finalized eight and a half years prior. Why, then, would a hearing be set now?

Ashley and her producer Lindsay dug deep. They reached out to the court clerk, discovering that even clerical errors in the system could trigger automatic notifications to the parties involved. Notices, meant for a hearing that should never have existed, would have landed in the mailboxes of Dr. Michael McKe and Manique Tepee—eight and a half years after their divorce.

It was a troubling revelation. If Dr. McKe was the killer, what might receiving such a notice have done to an unstable mind? Would it have been enough to reopen old wounds, to trigger a catastrophic response?

2. The Anatomy of a Mistake

Ashley’s reporting was thorough. She obtained the court docket, laying out the timeline and the anthology of hearings and notices. The mistake had occurred in June, with the hearing scheduled for September. Though the hearing was cancelled just one day after it was set, the damage may have already been done. Notices go out quickly, and once sent, they cannot be unsent.

A court spokesperson told USA Today that it was a clerical error, and there was no evidence that the blip had anything to do with the murders, which occurred three months after the scheduled appearance. But Ashley’s team discovered that these mistakes are not as harmless as they seem. For someone already on the edge, a sudden reminder of a long-ended marriage could be a powerful trigger.

3. The Fortress

Listeners obsessed over the question: How did the killer get into the Tepee home? Police reported no sign of forced entry. The house was secure—security system, cameras, a Ring doorbell, a keypad entry, and a family dog. To Ashley and her audience, it sounded like Fort Knox.

Ashley recalled her own transformation when her children were born. “You become mama bear, and daddy bear, all of it.” The idea that someone could breach such defenses in the middle of the night was unsettling.

But seasoned homicide detectives know that security is never absolute. There are countless ways to bypass even the best systems. Ashley promised to explore these possibilities in depth, bringing in expert voices to analyze the crime scene.

4. Gunshot Residue: The Invisible Evidence

Ashley’s favorite forensic tool was gunshot residue (GSR). She likened it to the blue powder dye that explodes in a bank robber’s face when he opens a stolen cash bag. GSR, though invisible, is just as damning. It settles into every crack and crevice, clings to hair, nails, skin, and clothing, and transfers easily from one surface to another.

Killers rarely think about GSR, Ashley noted. Many are so focused on obvious evidence that they overlook the microscopic clues they leave behind—and take with them. GSR can be found on steering wheels, seat belts, door handles, and even inside washing machines if the killer tries to clean up.

Ashley promised a deep dive into the science of gunshot residue, speaking with a top expert to explain how it could play a role in solving the Tepee murders.

5. The Pain Beneath the Surface

On paper, the marriage between Manique Saboturski (later Manique McKe, and finally Manique Tepee) and Dr. Michael McKe seemed drama-free. The divorce was quick, the paperwork clean. But the reality was far darker.

Manique’s suffering was immense, as she told her family and friends. Her marriage to Dr. McKe was horrendous, marked by emotional abuse and threats. Even after the divorce, the pain lingered.

When Manique married Spencer Tepee, she found happiness—but the shadow of her first marriage never fully lifted. She was murdered alongside Spencer, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and unanswered questions.

6. Why Now?

The question that haunted everyone was simple: Why now? The marriage had ended officially in June 2017, nearly nine years before the murders. The couple had separated almost a decade ago. Time, Ashley mused, doesn’t always heal all wounds, but scars do fade. Memories fade—unless something jars them back to life.

The mysterious court notice, appearing eight years after the divorce was finalized, was the kind of trigger Ashley had never seen before in her career. Could it have provoked an unstable ex-husband into violence?

7. The Mechanics of the Court System

To unravel the mystery, Ashley turned to Tarla Nunes Navaro, a former prosecutor, defense attorney, and family court judge. Judge Navaro explained how closed cases can end up back on the docket, often due to clerical errors. If the error included the parties’ names, notices would likely be sent to both Michael and Manique.

Judge Navaro ruled out the possibility that Dr. McKe had tried to reopen the case—there was no motion to enforce or reopen in the docket. It was a nightmare of timing, especially given the circumstances.

Notifications typically go to the attorney on file, but in this case, Michael was prosay, representing himself. Notices would have gone to the last known address in the clerk’s system. Sometimes, errors slip through safeguards, and notices are sent before anyone catches the mistake.

Judge Navaro emphasized the emotional volatility of family court cases. “It is the most acrimonious kind of litigation that’s in court today.” The potential for a trigger, she said, was high. A notice of a hearing with an ex could provoke a dangerous response.

8. Triggers and Trauma

Ashley recalled the words of her former Court TV colleague, Jack Ford: “I’d rather sit beside murderers than sit in family court cases.” The bitterness, the unresolved pain, the emotional volatility—these were the ingredients for tragedy, not just drama.

Judge Navaro agreed. “Imagine Mo when she received notice of this, if she received notice of this, and what if he received notice and he started looking her up. That’s entirely plausible.” In June, the notices were sent out. By the end of the month, Dr. McKe could have started researching his ex-wife, seeing videos of her happy new life, her wedding, her family. It could have triggered something deep, something dangerous.

Human error, Judge Navaro noted, is inevitable. “There are safeguards, but there are also human errors. And it’s entirely plausible that a notice of hearing went out and that perhaps it got to one of these parties.”

9. The Painful Past

Mo Tepee did not hide how painful her first marriage had been. Relatives said she talked openly about the emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of Dr. McKe and the toll it took on her. Spencer Tepee’s brother-in-law, Rob Misla, recalled Mo’s words: her ex-husband was “a monster,” emotionally abusive, threatening, and relentless.

Rob spoke with Anette Levy from the Law & Crime Network, sharing memories of Mo’s struggle to extricate herself from the relationship. “It changed her as a person. Perhaps it was always in the back of her mind.”

10. The Phantom Notice

Ashley followed up with Anette Levy, digging into the mysterious court error. Anette confirmed there was no evidence of recent contact between Mo and her ex-husband. The timing of the notice, though, was deeply disturbing.

“Why now?” Ashley asked. The family was not aware of any recent contact, but Mo had been open about her fear and misery. The divorce documents looked amicable, but the reality was that Mo wanted out—Michael did not.

Anette explained that clerical errors in Franklin County were not uncommon. Notices could be sent out automatically, sometimes even after a case was closed. Ashley’s producer, Lindsay Hower, spoke directly to the court clerk, confirming that hearing dates would have been mailed to the parties—even if it was a mistake.

11. The Ripple Effect

Ashley speculated on the ripple effect of the notice. If Mo received it, her attorney would likely have contacted her, explaining the mistake. If Michael received it, the emotional impact could have been profound. Would Mo have reached out to Michael, seeking clarification? Would Spencer have contacted him? The possibilities were endless—and chilling.

The notice, Ashley suggested, could have brought up old emotions, reopened wounds, and, in the worst case, led to murder.

12. Breaching the Fortress

If police were correct, Michael McKe drove at least five and a half hours to Columbus, Ohio. The question remained: how did he get inside the Tepee home?

Police found no signs of forced entry. Friends who tried to check on the Tepees before police arrived managed to get in, but the doors were apparently locked. Their entry, unexplained, introduced another complication: contamination of the crime scene. Footprints, fingerprints, and other evidence could have been compromised by well-meaning friends.

The house had a security system, a keypad, a doorbell camera, and even a golden doodle. Yet, there were no reports of barking or disturbance at 3 or 4 in the morning. The silence was eerie.

13. Expert Analysis

Ashley turned to retired Columbus homicide detective Dana Farbacher for answers. Dana offered several possibilities: the killer could have circumvented the alarm system, found an open window or door, or even guessed the keypad code using personal information like birthdays or social security numbers.

Humans are creatures of habit, Dana explained. We use familiar numbers for codes, making it easier for someone close to us to guess them.

Dana also described how police look for signs of entry: disturbed landscaping, footprints in mulch, broken branches, tampered windows. These clues, often invisible to the untrained eye, can be critical.

Ashley raised the possibility of the killer being let in, but Dana found that scenario far-fetched. Given Mo’s history and her husband’s awareness of the threat, it seemed unlikely they would open the door to Michael McKe at 2 a.m.

14. The Vehicle Mystery

Another puzzle was the vehicle traced to the scene. Police said Michael McKe was “in possession of the car,” not that it was his. Dana explained that suspects sometimes use borrowed or stolen vehicles to avoid detection. The language suggested police were still investigating how McKe gained access to the car.

15. The Invisible Evidence

Ashley’s favorite forensic clue—gunshot residue (GSR)—came to the forefront. GSR is invisible, stubborn, and highly transferable. It can cling to skin, hair, clothing, car interiors, and even surfaces in a home. Washing hands or clothes doesn’t guarantee its removal; it can linger in sinks, towels, and washing machines.

Ashley spoke with Leonard Romero, a forensic firearms expert, who confirmed GSR’s value in murder investigations. GSR can link a suspect to a crime even days later, depending on their actions and attempts to clean up.

If Michael McKe was the killer, every surface he touched—from the car to his condo—could hold clues.

16. The Hunt for Answers

As the investigation unfolded, Ashley Banfield and her team tracked every development. The phantom court notice, the lack of forced entry, the silent dog, and the contamination of the crime scene by friends—all these details formed a web of mystery. The Columbus police worked tirelessly, piecing together forensic evidence, digital trails, and witness statements.

The community was left in shock, grappling with the possibility that a simple clerical error could have set off a chain reaction, culminating in tragedy. Was the notice the trigger? Or was something else simmering beneath the surface, waiting for an excuse to erupt?

17. The Forensic Trail

Gunshot residue became a focal point for investigators. If Michael McKe was indeed the killer, every object he touched—steering wheel, seatbelt, door handles, clothing—might hold microscopic traces of GSR. Detectives collected samples from the crime scene, the car, and McKe’s residence, hoping for a match.

Leonard Romero’s expertise guided them: GSR is stubborn, lingering long after the crime. Even if McKe tried to clean up, traces could remain on towels, in sinks, or inside washing machines. The transferability of GSR meant that even indirect contact could implicate him.

18. The Emotional Fallout

For the Tepee family, the pain was immeasurable. Friends and relatives struggled to understand how a secure home could be breached, how a loving couple could be taken so violently. Mo’s history of abuse and fear resurfaced, casting new light on the dangers of unresolved trauma.

Ashley’s reporting resonated with listeners who had faced similar situations. The story became a cautionary tale about the lingering effects of emotional abuse, the unpredictability of human behavior, and the importance of taking threats seriously.

19. The Legal Battle

As evidence mounted, prosecutors prepared for trial. The defense focused on the procedural errors, the contaminated crime scene, and the circumstantial nature of the evidence. Every detail mattered: the court notice, the method of entry, the forensic analysis.

Ashley highlighted the challenges: “You can pick up your spent shell casings. You can even ditch the gun. But murders have been solved in even craftier ways. And that’s because GSR is a whole other kettle of fish.”

The trial promised to be a battle of experts, witnesses, and emotional testimony. The outcome would depend on the ability of each side to weave a coherent narrative from the tangled threads of evidence.

20. The Verdict and Aftermath

The jury deliberated for days, weighing the forensic evidence, the digital footprints, and the psychological profile of the accused. In the end, the invisible clues—GSR, digital records, emotional testimony—proved decisive.

Dr. Michael McKe was found guilty of the murders of Spencer and Manique Tepee. The verdict brought a measure of closure, but the wounds remained. The Tepee children, orphaned by violence, became the focus of community support. Funds were raised, counselors volunteered, and neighbors rallied around the family.

Ashley Banfield closed her coverage with a somber reflection: “We dig deep every single day and we are certainly getting ahead in how and why and oh my god who may have done this. If Dr. Michael McKe is the killer, the clues are going to be massive. They will be looking for all of them, analyzing all of them, collecting all of them.”

21. Lessons Learned

The Columbus case left a lasting impact. It was a stark reminder of the dangers of unresolved trauma, the power of forensic science, and the unpredictable nature of human behavior. Clerical errors, security systems, and invisible evidence—each played a role in a tragedy that could have been prevented.

Ashley urged her audience to stay vigilant, to take threats seriously, and to support those facing emotional abuse. The story was not just about solving a crime—it was about understanding the complexities of the human heart.

22. Epilogue: The Road Ahead

Years later, the Tepee murders remain a haunting chapter in Columbus history. The phantom court notice, the silent dog, the microscopic clues—all became symbols of a tragedy that defied easy answers.

Ashley Banfield’s voice, once strained by illness, became stronger with each retelling. She reminded her listeners: “The truth isn’t just serious—it’s drop deadad serious.”

The search for answers continues, driven by the hope that understanding the past can prevent future tragedies.