Long-Delayed NJ Quadruple Murder Trial Finally Begins: Suspect Killed Four Family Members and Torched Two Homes | Crime Alert 6AM 01.14.26

An Illinois surgeon accused of gunning down his ex-wife, Monique Tepe, and her husband, the father of their two young children, Spencer Tepe, allegedly threatened to kill Monique nearly a decade ago on “multiple occasions” during their brief marriage. Police arrested Michael D. McKee, 39, at a Chick-fil-A in Rockford, Illinois, on January 10, 2026, and charged him with two counts of murder in the deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe. Authorities then upgraded the charges against McKee, who now faces premeditated aggravated murder. Police report they have the suspect's vehicle on neighborhood video surveillance in the couple's Ohio neighborhood, arriving just before the murders and leaving shortly after. A search warrant of McKee's luxury Chicago condo results in multiple weapons being found, with one of those weapons preliminarily matching evidence through ballistic testing to the Tepe murder scene. Twelve weeks before McKee is accused of murder, he is sued for malpractice by a Nevada man who claims McKee went into hiding or just disappeared, so he couldn't be served with legal documents papers. Nevada lawyer Dan Laird files the suit, but serving McKee was nearly impossible, as the surgery group he works for gives the attorney a fake address, and the phone number issued by the state medical board for McKee is a fax machine. Joining Nancy Grace: Randy Kessler - Atlanta Trial Lawyer, Emory Law School Professor, Past Chair ABA Family Law Section, and Author of "Divorce, Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future;" Instagram: @rkessler23, X: @GADivorce Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive Koa Lorimor - Former Army Sniper    Dr. Thomas Coyne - Chief Medical Examiner, District 2 Medical Examiner's Office, State of Florida; Forensic Pathologist, Neuropathologist, Toxicologist; X: @DrTMCoyne Susan Hendricks - Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi;" IG @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks     Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A dad blames his ex-wife for their son's road rage murder; he's suing the mom claiming raising her middle at another car finger put their 6yo in the crosshairs.  A grave insult for a slain Arkansas mom: she's buried alone, as her abusive ex claims their twins bodies following a triple shooting. Plus, a gym floor face off goes from thrusts to cuffs. Jennifer Gould reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Morphew returns to the Alamosa County court to formally face murder charges for the second time. Morphew is soft-spoken in a cream-colored sweater and light-wash jeans, sitting next to attorneys David Beller and Jane Fisher-Byrialsen. His daughters, Mallory and Macy, sat behind him in the first row.  Beller enters a not guilty plea on Morphew's behalf. Maintaining his innocence in his wife’s murder, Morphew waives his right to a speedy trial. Defense attorneys and prosecutors, agreeing on the large amounts of data, anticipate that the length of the proceedings requires more time to prepare. The judge sets October 13 for Morphew’s jury trial; it is expected to run up to six weeks. Barry Morphew was originally charged with the murder of his wife in May 2021, but the case was dropped days before trial, after the judge barred prosecutors from calling key witnesses to the State's case, for failing to follow rules in turning over evidence. Former 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley was later disbarred by the Colorado Supreme Court for significant ethical misconduct. Stanley made inappropriate comments in the media and even improperly investigated the judge in the case. Her actions compromised the Morphew prosecution and led to disciplinary action. Joining Nancy Grace today: Mark Tate - Trial Lawyer, The Tate Law Group Caryn Stark -  Forensic Psychologist; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice   Scott Eicher - Digital Forensics Expert, Founding Member of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T); Historical Cellular Analysis Expert; Currently with Precision Cellular Analysis Handling Criminal, Defense and Civil Cases Dr. William Morrone  - Medical Examiner, Toxicologist, Pathologist, Opioid Treatment Expert, Author: “American Narcan: Naloxone & Heroin-Fentanyl Associated Mortality” Gregory Nieto - Reporter, Fox 31 Denver - KDVR; X: greg_nieto, IG: nwzdude  Dave Mack - 'Crime Stories'  Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-delayed quadruple murder trial is now underway in New Jersey, with prosecutors and defense attorneys laying out starkly different versions of how an entire family was wiped out inside their own home. A North Texas reality television husband and wife are now convicted felons after a federal jury found they ran a multi-million-dollar pyramid scheme that prosecutors say preyed on trust inside the Black community during the pandemic. Shock ripples through a small North Carolina town after its police chief is jailed on child sex charges, with prosecutors detailing allegations involving secret photos taken while a child slept. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sources say Nick Reiner believes he’s the victim of a "conspiracy" after killing his parents. It is clear that Reiner knows he killed his parents, but doesn’t understand why he’s in jail. Reiner, delusional, thinks the people who put him there are "conspiring against him." Sources close to the legal proceedings claim it’s likely Reiner will plead not guilty by reason of insanity, placingthe blame on unbalanced schizophrenia meds. Now, claims are being made that a change in medication may have led Reiner to murder his parents.  Reiner reported complaining to his doctors that his meds had caused him to gain weight. Changes were made, and some are saying the new medication allegedly caused him to become increasingly "erratic," "dangerous," and isolated, marking a total physical and mental decline. Joining Nancy Grace today: Josh Kolsrud - Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Founder of Kolsrud Law Offices; Facebook and YouTube @KolsrudLawOffices, Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive Rob Shuter - Host: Naughty But Nice Podcast, Author of Newly-released Novel, “It Started With A Whisper," and Former publicist of Sean Combs; IG: @naughtygossip Dr. DeWayne Hendrix - Former Warden at the MDC in Brooklyn, also served as a Warden in Sheridan, Oregon, Former Senior Warden with the US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Founder and President of A New Daylight Foundation, Author: "Who Are You?  See it Say it and Seize it;" @anewdaylight (IG), @drdewaynehendrix (LinkedIn), @anewdaylight (X) Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)  Alexis Tereszcuk - "Crime Stories" Investigative Reporter; X @swimmie2009  Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter ‘Crime Stories’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Seventy years later, an Alabama disappearance remains the state’s longest-running cold case • Mississippi authorities charge a suspect after six people are killed in a series of shootings • A former federal agent goes on trial in Virginia in the deaths of his wife and another man • Florida schedules its first execution of the year in a case dating back to 1989See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators obtain all available surveillance video from the Tepe neighborhood, focusing on the time between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., and release video of one person walking in the alley behind the Tepe home. Police believe that person is Michael McKee. One car with an Illinois license plate arrives in the neighborhood shortly before the Tepe murders take place, and leaves shortly thereafter. The license plate on the vehicle is registered to Michael McKee, a vascular surgeon in Chicago. McKee is also Monique Tepe's ex-husband. The vehicle registered to McKee is traced to Rockford, Illinois, and evidence inside the vehicle links McKee to the murders of Spencer and Monique. Police are not saying what evidence was found in the vehicle, and a motive for the murders has not been made public, but police say there is proof McKee had the vehicle prior to and after the homicides. The arrest warrant for McKee says the murders took place at 3:52 am, and McKee is identified by surveillance video and the vehicle. McKee is charged with two counts of murder and is currently in a Winnebago County jail awaiting extradition to Ohio. Monique Tepe married vascular surgeon Michael McKee in August 2015, but separated as a couple after just seven months. The couple had no children. Monique stated the reason for the divorce was that they were "incompatible." After living separately and apart for a year, divorce proceedings began in May 2017, and the divorce was final the next month. Joining Nancy Grace: Greg Morse - Criminal Defense Attorney of Morse Legal, Author of “The Untested” (found on Amazon) Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author of "Deal Breaker: When to work on a relationship and when to walk away,” and featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive  Ron Bateman - Sheriff (Former Homicide and Undercover Narcotics) & Author: "Silent Blue Tears: Voice of The Victims;" X: Ronbatemanbooks, TikTok: @Ron.Bateman.655  Joseph Scott Morgan -  Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", Instagram @JoScottForensic Susan Hendricks - Journalist, and Author of “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi;" IG @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks  Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1st District Court of Appeal has decided to hold oral arguments in the case of Charlie Adelson, who is seeking a retrial after being convicted for his role in the 2014 murder-for-hire of law professor Dan Markel. A 24-year-old man from Mississippi has been charged with the murder of six individuals, including his father, brother, uncle, and a 7-year-old cousin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New details are emerging in the case of a 21-year-old college student and cheerleader from the University of Kentucky accused of hiding her newborn inside her college apartment closet. Laken Snelling's case is on its way to a grand jury. The panel is expected to hear evidence in late January. The grand jury will likely be asked to indict Snelling on the three charges she initially pleaded not guilty to, and there’s possibly a count of murder or manslaughter depending on the newborn's autopsy results. Laken Snelling is arrested after her infant is found dead in a trash bag inside the closet. An autopsy report only deepens the mystery surrounding the infant's death because the results are found to be inconclusive. Snelling posted baby bump pics before her infant was found dead. Authorities allege Snelling gave birth in secret, wrapped her baby in a towel, placed him in a trash bag, and left him in her closet. According to an arrest report, Lexington police were called to a home on Park Avenue for an unresponsive infant on Wednesday. Police said they found a baby's body in a closet, wrapped in a towel inside a black trash bag. The UK cheerleader is now charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant. Court records show Snelling took selfies during the birth. Joining Nancy Grace today: Josh Kolsrud - Criminal Defense Attorney and Former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Founder of Kolsrud Law Offices; Facebook and YouTube @KohlsrudLawOffices   Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker,” featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive    Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)   Chris Byers - Private Investigator and Owner of Byers Investigative Services, Former Police Chief in Johns Creek, Georgia (25 years as police officer) Germania Rodriguez - Chief US Reporter, DailyMail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Grace Patrick is accused of murdering her mother and stepfather while they were asleep in their bed, leaving their bodies to be discovered by the couple's five-year-old daughter. The trial was schedule to begin yesterday, January 5, 2026, but has now been delayed until August awaiting a report from a forensic neuropsychologist who evaluated the teen over several visits in August 2025. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the scene of the crime, trajectory of bullets and sound...is it possible shots were fired in the home but not heard by a 16-year-old? Also, the long, "crying without tears" eulogy of the now accused teen.    Transcribe Highlights 00:00.03 Introduction - Sarah Grace Patrick   00:53.56 Rural Geography - Double homicide 04:12.36 Blended Family with a past 07:11.46 A person's past follows them around 09:57.18 James Brock - Victim had a VLAD 15:08.86 5-year-old finds parents bodies in their bed, sister Sarah Grace Patrick calls 911 16:52.09 Sarah tells 911 bodies cold to the touch, no need for CPR 20:34.55 House is small  25:01.27 Weapon used in small house, but Sarah says she didn't hear anything  30:02.20 16-year-old accused of the murders 35:12.47 Cause of death will state which gun shot wound was fatal 39:57.98 Months between murders and arrest of Sarah Grace Patrick  45:04.02 LVAD would show when heart stopped beating 50:11.23 Gunshot residue and trajectory of bullets 51:46.78 Conclusion    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.