Houston Restaurateur, Husband, 2 Young Children Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide

Houston police are investigating the deaths of a prominent local restaurateur, her two young children, and her husband—who authorities believe killed his family before taking his own life.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 5/6/2026, 5:27:11 AM EDT

Houston Restaurateur, Husband, 2 Young Children Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide — Police tape in a stock photo. (Carl Ballou/Shutterstock)

Houston police are investigating the deaths of a prominent local restaurateur, her two young children, and her husband—who authorities believe killed his family before taking his own life.

Officers discovered the four bodies during a welfare check at their River Oaks home Monday evening. They arrived at the home on Kingston Street around 5:25 p.m. after receiving a report that a family had not been seen or heard from since the previous night.

Inside, they found four people unresponsive, each with apparent gunshot wounds. Evidence at the scene led investigators to conclude what occurred was a murder-suicide, the Houston Police Department (HPD) said.

Police said the identities of those involved are pending official verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Houston television station KTRK identified the suspect as Matthew Mitchell, 52. His wife, Thy Mitchell, 39, and their two children—a daughter, 8, and a son, 4—were identified as the victims.

The Mitchells were deeply embedded in Houston's culinary scene, owning and operating the restaurants Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart in Montrose, as well as a clothing brand. Just last year, the Houston Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association honored the couple as its 2025 Restaurateurs of the Year.

Craig Howard, president of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association, described Mrs. Mitchell as a rising force in the local industry. "She hosted the Houston Restaurant Association board meeting last week," he told KTRK. "Afterward, they had a social for us, and had 50 restaurateurs show up. Great operation. Wonderful staff, great food."

Howard added that the association had recently invited Mrs. Mitchell to join its board. "We saw such a bright star with Thy that we asked her to serve on our board. We knew she would inject some new ideas," he said. "It looked like this was a successful power couple doing this together."

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Mrs. Mitchell's sister, Ly Mai, confirmed the deaths of her sibling and the children. "We are heartbroken to share that my sister, Thy, and her beloved children, Maya and Max, passed away last night," Mai wrote. "Our family is grieving deeply and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be shared when they are available."

Brittany Meisner, who worked as Mrs. Mitchell's publicist, paid tribute to her on social media. "Thy was not only a client, but a great friend. She was a devoted mother and business woman, and we are completely devastated and heartbroken a million times over again," Meisner wrote. "Young and innocent lives gone from this world way too soon."

Friends left flowers, photos and other mementos outside the family's home as word of the tragedy spread throughout the city.

HPD Homicide Division Detectives L. Brooks and R. Bounds are leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.