The family was identified by relatives and friends as Matthew and Thy Mitchell and their two children.
HOUSTON, TX — Four family members were found dead Monday evening inside a River Oaks home after a welfare check, and police said the case is being investigated as a suspected murder-suicide.
Houston police said officers responded at about 5:26 p.m. May 4 to a home in the 2100 block of Kingston Street after a babysitter became worried because she had not heard from the family. The deaths brought a homicide investigation into one of Houston’s most established residential neighborhoods and stunned the city’s restaurant community, where the family was well known.
Police said the dead were a 52-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman, an 8-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy. Investigators said evidence at the home showed the man shot the woman and both children before shooting himself. Family members and friends identified the adults as Matthew Mitchell and Thy Mitchell. Relatives identified the children as Maya and Max. Police had not announced a motive by Tuesday, and investigators said the case remained in its early stages.
Officers entered the home after the welfare check and found the four bodies inside, police said. The department said all four people were members of the same family and died from gunshot wounds. A babysitter and a relative had reported concern after not hearing from the family for more than a day, according to local reports. “Evidence on scene indicated the incident was a murder-suicide in which the male shot the three victims and then shot himself,” the Houston Police Department said. Police said no one other than officers entered the home before the bodies were found.
The home sits on Kingston Street in the River Oaks area, a neighborhood known for quiet residential blocks near central Houston. Neighbors described the scene as rare and jarring. A neighbor identified as Cindy told KPRC that she had lived nearby for 19 years and had not seen a tragedy like it in the area. “It’s very sad,” she said. “I just shake for the little kids.” Police remained at the scene Monday night as homicide investigators worked to document the home, collect evidence and confirm the sequence of events.
The Mitchells were known in Houston for Traveler’s Table, a Montrose restaurant focused on globally inspired dishes. They also were connected to Traveler’s Cart, another food business launched after the restaurant’s success. The couple’s work had made them familiar names in the city’s dining scene, and news of the deaths spread quickly among restaurant workers, customers and neighbors. Friends described Thy Mitchell as a mother, business owner and visible presence in the hospitality community. Relatives asked for privacy as the family grieved.
Officials had not released a full timeline of when the shootings occurred. Local reports said the family had last been heard from before the Monday welfare check, but police had not publicly confirmed the exact time of death. Investigators also had not confirmed any prior calls for service at the address or any known warning signs before the shooting. The question of motive remained unanswered Tuesday as homicide detectives continued reviewing evidence, speaking with relatives and neighbors, and waiting for official findings from the medical examiner.
The deaths also affected River Oaks Elementary School, where one of the children was reported to be a student. School officials and community members were preparing for grief support after the loss. Outside the family home, mourners placed flowers and photos as word spread that the victims were the Mitchell family. The display grew as neighbors and friends stopped by the block, leaving signs of grief near the scene while investigators continued their work inside and around the residence.
No criminal charges are expected if police confirm the suspected shooter died at the scene, but the case remains an active homicide investigation. Detectives must still complete interviews, evidence testing and final reports. The Harris County medical examiner’s findings will help establish the official causes and manners of death. Police said anyone with information may contact the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division.
The investigation remained open Wednesday, May 6, with police still working to determine the full timeline and motive in the deaths of Matthew Mitchell, Thy Mitchell and their two children.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.