A prominent Houston couple known for their nationally featured restaurants were found dead alongside their two young children Monday afternoon in what investigators are calling an apparent murder-suicide, sending shockwaves through the city’s culinary community and the River Oaks neighborhood where they lived.
Houston Police Department officers responded to a welfare check at a home in the 2100 block of Kingston Street at approximately 5:25 p.m. on Monday, May 4, after a babysitter and a family relative contacted authorities saying they had not heard from the family since the previous evening. When officers entered the residence, they found all four members of the family dead from gunshot wounds.
The victims were identified as Thy Mitchell, 39, her children Maya, 8, and Max, 4, and her husband Matthew Mitchell, 52. Thy Mitchell’s sister, Ly Mai, confirmed the deaths on Facebook Tuesday. Police named Matthew Mitchell as the suspect, stating that evidence at the scene indicated the incident was a murder-suicide in which the male shot the three victims before turning the weapon on himself.
The official identification of all four individuals remains pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. No motive has been released.
Who the Mitchells Were
The Mitchells were known in Houston for their restaurant Traveler’s Table, which they opened in 2019. Through their restaurant, they built a reputation for globally inspired dishes with a modern touch. In 2024, they expanded their business with a second venture, Traveler’s Cart. The couple’s restaurants were featured on multiple Food Network programs, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In 2023, one of the restaurant’s chefs appeared on Beat Bobby Flay, defeating the celebrity chef.
Matthew Mitchell had a diverse professional background. He studied at Emory University, spent time abroad in Europe, and later worked as a journalist in cities including London, Paris and New York before shifting to the pharmaceutical industry.
A neighbor named Cindy, who has lived in the River Oaks neighborhood for 19 years, described her shock at the news. “I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 19 years and never seen anything like this. We haven’t had these kind of tragedies. I just shake for the little kids,” she said.
Traveler’s Table released a public statement following news of the deaths. The restaurant’s future remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a domestic violence situation, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.