Texas restaurateur kills wife and 2 young children before turning gun to himself in horrific murder-suicide

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - A prominent Houston, Texas family has been found dead in what authorities are describing as a tragic murder-suicide. Matthew Mitchell, 52, his wife and business partner Thy Mitchell, 39, and their two children, 8-year-old Maya and 4-year-old Max, were discovered Monday evening in their River Oaks home.

The Houston Police Department responded to the residence at approximately 5:30 p.m. for a welfare check after a relative and a babysitter reported they had not heard from the family since the night before.

Upon entering the home, officers found all four family members deceased from gunshot wounds.

According to a police statement, evidence at the scene indicated that Matthew Mitchell shot his wife and two children before turning the gun on himself

While the medical examiner has not released a formal identification for all victims, Thy Mitchell’s sister, Ly Mai, confirmed the deaths of her sister and the children in a heartbreaking social media post, asking for privacy for the grieving family.

The Mitchells were well-known figures in the Houston hospitality scene.

They were the founders and owners of Travelers Table, a celebrated restaurant known for its globally inspired cuisine, and the more recent Traveler’s Cart, which focused on international street food.

The couple's success garnered national attention, with their restaurants being featured on the Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri. Additionally, one of their chefs gained fame for defeating celebrity chef Bobby Flay on "Beat Bobby Flay."

Before entering the restaurant industry, both Matthew and Thy had established successful careers in other fields. Matthew was a former journalist who worked in London, Paris, and New York, and later served as a pharmaceutical CEO after attending Rice University.

Thy grew up in her family’s Vietnamese restaurant business and later held high-level HR leadership roles for several Fortune 500 hospitality and retail companies.

The couple’s shared passion for food and global travel was the foundation of their business ventures and their relationship. The Houston community and culinary world have expressed deep shock and sorrow as details of the tragedy continue to emerge.