The baby son of the Ohio couple shot dead inside their home was likely stranded in his crib and awake for hours following the grisly double-slay, a loved one reportedly said.
Spencer and Monique Tepe’s brother-in-law told People on Wednesday that 17-month-old Beckham was likely crying in his room before first responders finally reached the Columbus home on Dec. 30.
“[He] was in the crib right, and was unable to get out of the crib on his own and also it was at a time he would’ve been well awake by this time,” said Rob Misleh.
Misleh added the baby boy likely did not eat for hours while his parents laid dead.
The Tepes were allegedly killed by Monique’s ex-husband, Illinois surgeon Michael McKee, who authorities said snuck into the home in the middle of the night and shot the couple in their bedroom with a silencer.
Mckee and Monique were married for two years before divorcing in 2017.
Misleh told the outlet that the 1-year-old and his now-4-year-old sibling have different rooms and likely weren’t witness to their parents’ violent end.
“From the time frame that we know, 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., [when the murders took place], the kids would’ve been in their beds so we assume that they did not see anything,” he said.
McKee is facing murder charges after he was captured in Illinois nearly two weeks after the shooting.
He was hauled back to Ohio and is currently in custody.
