Neighbor Reported a Stranger Banging on Door Days Before Ohio Dentist, Wife Found Slain

New details have emerged in the investigation into the deaths of an Ohio dentist and his wife, after a neighbor reported a suspicious incident just days before the couple was found shot to death in their Columbus home, as reported by The New York Post.

Police records show that a woman living near Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, called 911 in the early morning hours of Dec. 19 to report a stranger banging on her door. The call came roughly 11 days before the Tepes were discovered dead.

According to audio obtained by Fox News, the neighbor contacted emergency dispatchers at approximately 2:30 a.m., telling them someone was aggressively striking her front door at her home in Columbus.

Neighbor of slain Ohio dentist, wife reported stranger ‘banging’ on door just days before mysterious killings | New York Post https://t.co/4Tn8zhXgvg

— Andrea Jackson TV (@AJacksonTV) January 8, 2026

“Now they’re smashing on my door. I think they’re trying to get in. They’re banging on my doors,” the woman told the dispatcher.

The caller said she was unable to provide a description of the individual because she could not see who was outside. Dispatch logs indicate that the “problem left” at 2:44 a.m., and police did not respond in person to the call.

Days before a dentist in Ohio and his wife were brutally killed in their home, one neighbor called police to report a possible intruder.

Details: https://t.co/ztEKslZst6

: Columbus Police Department pic.twitter.com/xh7KT0RGki

— TMZ (@TMZ) January 8, 2026

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The neighbor’s home is located just a three-minute walk from where the Tepes lived, according to authorities.

The incident is now drawing attention as investigators continue to piece together the timeline leading up to the killings.

On the morning of Dec. 30, Spencer and Monique Tepe were found dead inside their four-bedroom home in the Weinland Park area north of downtown Columbus. Police said both victims had been shot.

Investigators have stated there were no signs of forced entry or robbery at the residence.

The couple’s children and their family dog were inside the home but were unharmed. Authorities believe the shootings occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

The case has drawn heightened scrutiny due to earlier emergency calls tied to the residence.

Separate reports have confirmed that a 911 call months earlier describing a “domestic dispute” at the Tepes’ home was made by a party guest, not by Monique Tepe, according to family members.

Friends of the couple have also described frantic moments after discovering the bodies, including hearing a child scream and placing multiple emergency calls, records show.

As of this week, police have not named a suspect in the case.

However, investigators released surveillance footage Monday showing a “person of interest” walking down an alley near the Tepes’ home in the early morning hours of Dec. 30. Authorities have asked the public to help identify the individual seen in the video.

Police have not confirmed whether the person seen on surveillance footage is connected to the Dec. 19 door-banging incident or whether the two events are related.

Investigators have said they are reviewing all available evidence, including 911 calls, surveillance video, and witness statements.

The Columbus Police Department has urged anyone with information about suspicious activity in the neighborhood during the late-night hours in December to come forward as the investigation continues.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.