Tepe case puts a spotlight on Ohio's rising domestic violence deaths
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There's a person behind every domestic violence statistic — and year after year, more represent lives lost in Ohio.
Why it matters: The recent arrest of Monique Tepe's ex-husband in the Weinland Park murders underscores a troubling trend of rising domestic violence-related deaths.
The big picture: Advocates and police have sounded the alarm for a while, and Franklin County's only victim shelter keeps expanding to accommodate demand.
By the numbers: The Ohio Domestic Violence Network noted a 37% surge in statewide fatalities between its last two annual reports, measuring deaths from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, and July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
- The report, released every October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is compiled by researchers who comb news reports for cases.
- The death count includes targeted victims of intimate partner violence and perpetrators (including murder-suicides), along with others who were present when those fatalities occurred.
- It's likely some figures are undercounted, policy director Maria York tells Axios.
Zoom in: Over a third of Columbus' 81 homicides last year were related to broader domestic violence, Columbus police data shows.
- That's up from 17% in 2023 and 19% in 2024.
Domestic violence is "difficult to police, and addressing it takes the entire community," spokesperson Nicole Jaros tells Axios.
- Trained victim liaisons have joined police on calls in recent years, and the division has increased its efforts to advertise resources in multiple languages, she says.
What they found: Of the 157 deaths in the most recent statewide report, an overwhelming majority involved gun violence (84%) and nearly half were people of color.
- Franklin County had the most deaths, at 33.
- Male deaths exceeded female deaths, but males were much more likely to be perpetrators.
- Just over half of perpetrators had a criminal history.
What they're saying: "I hate referring to people as numbers, because it's more than the numbers," York says. "These are lives that are lost."
- The goal is for the devastating data to help prevent future tragedies, as the Ohio Domestic Violence Network advocates for stricter gun laws and uniform police protocols.
What's next: Michael McKee, Tepe's ex-husband, is in the process of transferring to Ohio from Illinois for court proceedings, and that could take some time. He has no criminal history.
- Police said Wednesday they believe they found the murder weapon at his home.
- McKee plans to plead not guilty and remain silent, his public defender said Monday.
If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, help is available 24/7 by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also text LOVEIS to 22522 or live chat at thehotline.org.