Monique and Spencer Tepe were killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and no arrests have been made Police in Ohio say they’ve received several tips about a person of interest in their investigation into the killings of Ohio dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife Monique Tepe.
The Tepes were killed inside their Columbus, Ohio, home in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, sparking an investigation that is now in its second week.
Investigators have shared limited information about the case, but have released surveillance footage showing someone they’ve described as a “person of interest” walking by the couple’s home around the time of the killings.
This week, investigators hinted there has been movement in the case as they continue to receive tips and evaluate “tons and tons of evidence.”
Columbus police told local outlet ABC 6 that they have received numerous tips about the person of interest, saying at a press briefing on Thursday, Jan. 8 that they’ve gotten tips from emails, social media, telephone calls, texts and in-person.
“We know that people are concerned and we know that people have a lot of questions,” Assistant Chief Gregory Bodker said at the briefing. “What we’re asking for is patience as it relates to this investigation.”
A relative of the beloved couple says while it can feel “frustrating” to have limited information, they respect that the police have a job to do.
“I think the family would like to know more,” Audrey Mackie, Spencer’s cousin, tells PEOPLE. “But we’re also in the camp of: these are professionals doing their job, and if it’s going to hurt the investigation in any way, then we’d rather it unfold in a way that they are willing to give out information.”
The couple’s children, ages 4 and 1, were physically unharmed inside the residence. A friend who called 911 from outside the home — as he waited for police to respond to the wellness check — told the dispatcher he could hear the children crying inside.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Police are reminding the public to contact them with any tips or information they have.
“Even if you don’t think it’s something that’s relevant in that moment, it may have been something you saw last week,” Police Chief Elaine Bryant said at Thursday’s briefing. “It may have been something that you saw the day before. It could be relevant to this case.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
