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Published 09:25 06 May 2026 GMT
Family in tragic murder-suicide identified as Houston restaurant owner, his wife, and 2 kids
The identities of the family of four who were found dead in their Houston home have been revealed.
It was reported that a man and his wife, along with their two young children, were found shot and killed in their River Oaks home, in what is believed to be a murder-suicide.
ABC13 reports that the parents were Matthew Mitchell, 52, and Thy Mitchell, 39, and that they were prominent figures in the city's culinary scene.
The couple operated popular restaurants such as Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart, while also having a clothing brand.
But their bodies, along with their daughter, eight, and son, four, were found by authorities and they suspect that Matthew was responsible.
Houston police were carrying out a welfare check at around 5:25PM on Monday (May 4) at their home when they discovered the family's remains.
Press release from the Houston Police Department
Authorities shared a press release following the harrowing discovery, where the victims remained unnamed as they are "pending verification" via forensics.
They wrote that they are "investigating the fatal shooting of a woman, a juvenile female and a juvenile male and the apparent suicide of a man."
It further detailed: "HPD patrol officers responded to a welfare check at a residence at the above address. They were told a family had not been heard from or seen since the previous night.
"Officers entered the residence and located four unresponsive individuals with gunshot wounds.
"Evidence on scene indicated the incident was a murder-suicide in which the male shot the three victims and then shot himself."
About the Mitchells
Just last year, the Mitchells were named 2025 Restaurateurs of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association.
Speaking to the publication, local Association President Craig Howard said: "She (Thy) hosted the Houston Restaurant Association board meeting last week,
"Afterward, they had a social for us, and had 50 restaurateurs show up. Great operation. Wonderful staff, great food."
As reported by Chron, Matthew and Thy Mitchell were known for owning Traveler's Table, a restaurant which served “globally curated cuisine” inspired by their family’s travels around the world.
They would later find success and open another restaurant named Traveler's Cart, which sold local street food.
The couple's eateries have featured on several Food Network programs, with one of these being Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.
Matthew and Thy's past
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Emory University, Matthew worked as a writer and journalist in London, Paris, and New York City.
He returned to Texas and attended Rice University, working as a CEO in the pharmaceutical industry, before pivoting to the restaurant industry around a decade later.
Thy worked at her family's Vietnamese restaurant and remained in the industry through college, working her way up to HR leadership roles at three Fortune 500 hospitality and retail companies.
While police announced the discovery of their bodies, their identities weren't officially confirmed.
Family statement on their deaths
Thy's sister, Ly Mai, took to Facebook to confirm that her sister and her two children had died this week.
She wrote: “We are heartbroken to share that my sister, Thy, and her beloved children, Maya and Max, passed away last night,
“Our family is grieving deeply and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be shared when they are available.”