Monique and Spencer Tepe's Funerals Had Largest Crowd Funeral Home Has Ever Seen, Says Family By Samira Asma-Sadeque

Around two weeks after Monique and Spencer Tepe were found slain inside their Columbus, Ohio residence, hundreds gathered at a funeral home to pay their love and respect to the couple.

The shocking murders, which took place in the middle of the night on Dec. 30 as the beloved couple’s young children were asleep in the house, has garnered national attention.

As more information emerged about Monique, 39, and Spencer, 37, and the dream life they created together, it drew interest from even those who didn’t know them personally — which was evident during the couple’s funerals on Jan. 11 in Upper Arlington.

Spencer’s brother-in-law Rob Misleh tells PEOPLE the family estimated there were more than a thousand people who gathered to pay their respect to the Tepes.

“[It was] a crazy amount of people,” says Spencer’s sister Madeleine Misleh, “…which is nice, to see all that support.”

Rob says the family was anticipating around 600 to 700 people, but was surprised to see many more.

“From all accounts it seems like we had over 1,000,” he tells PEOPLE. “The funeral home said it was the largest they had ever seen. The line was out the door.”

The funeral home declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE.

The couple left a lasting legacy on those who knew them.

Spencer’s cousin Audrey Mackie says he and Monique were the life of the party at the numerous gatherings they hosted or attended.

“When I came in town, we would all wait for them to arrive, where the party was at, and they would both come in with their arms up with such joy and excitement to see me,” she tells PEOPLE.

Spencer’s sister Madeleine says as a youth mentor who worked with a student for more than a decade, the popular dentist grew close with his mentee’s family.

“Spencer was always doing more, he was involved, he was always in a club,” she says. “He was always pushing the limits. Everywhere.”

Monique, who had a degree in early childhood education, also left a mark on others. Someone she worked with nearly 15 years ago reached out to the family following the deaths to express how Monique had shaped them, Mackie adds.

Even in death, the Tepes have left an impact — including on many who didn’t even know them. Strangers from around the world have expressed their condolences and sorrow in an online obituary for the couple.

“I’m in Australia and have never even been to Ohio. Yet I’ve shed buckets of tears this past week for these 2 people I would more than likely never have met,” wrote Jennifer Wray. “You can see the goodness and love in them both and it’s just devastating.”

Another commenter, A. Speicher, wrote, “This country is saddened … not only because of the circumstances, but because it’s obvious these two were completely in love.”

A GoFundMe set up for their young children, ages 4 and 1, has raised more than $233,000 in less than three weeks.

Rob confirms that there were strangers at the funerals as well.

“I think that obviously it’s just a testament to who they were and how many people they’ve impacted,” he says.

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The double-homicide investigation led police to Monique’s ex-husband from nearly a decade ago: Illinois-based surgeon Michael David McKee.

Investigators were able to locate the 39-year-old using vehicle information and surveillance footage from near the Tepes’ home on the night of the murder.

Columbus police have not publicly commented on a motive — but say the killings were “targeted” and related to domestic violence.

McKee, who was arrested in Rockford, Ill. on Jan. 10, has been indicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of burglary. He is awaiting extradition to Ohio, and has said through his public defender in Illinois that he plans on pleading not guilty to the murder charges.

With reporting by Chris Spargo.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.