Shellshocked family reveals disturbing moment they realized something was terribly wrong... only to discover wealthy restaurateur dad had killed wife and two kids in horrific murder-suicide

By JAMES CIRRONE, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:57, 20 May 2026 | Updated: 17:58, 20 May 2026 The family of a Texas woman whose husband, authorities say, killed her and their two children before taking his own life has released a statement addressing rumors about the horrific murder-suicide. On the evening of May 4, police were dispatched to a River Oaks home and found the bodies of Thy and Matthew Mitchell, who together owned and operated two popular Houston-area multicultural restaurants, Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart. The couple's children, 8-year-old Maya Mitchell and 4-year-old Maxwell Mitchell, were also found dead in the home. All four family members died of gunshot wounds to the head. The deaths of Thy Mitchell, 39, and her children were ruled homicides by the medical examiner, while 52-year-old Matthew Mitchell's death was deemed a suicide. On Tuesday, the family of Thy Mitchell posted a statement to Facebook denying claims that she had been pregnant when she was killed. 'The family would like to clarify that reports stating Thy Mai was pregnant are false,' the family said, referring to Thy Mitchell by her maiden name. 'No law enforcement official has made such a statement, and no such information appears in the autopsy report.' 'The family can also confirm that the welfare check was initiated after the children's babysitter went to the school to pick up Max and Maya and discovered the children had never arrived. After repeated calls went unanswered, 911 was contacted to request a welfare check by Thy's sister at the residence. No family member or individual entered the home prior to law enforcement responding,' the statement continued. 'The family turned over all security camera videos recorded in the residence to the police to aid the investigation,' the statement concluded. 'We respectfully ask for privacy, compassion, and accuracy in reporting as the investigation continues.' Thy and Matthew Mitchell are pictured with their two children, 8-year-old Maya Mitchell and 4-year-old Maxwell Mitchell. On May 4, all four of them were found dead from gunshot wounds in their family home in Houston  Matthew Mitchell's death was ruled a suicide, while the deaths of Thy Mitchell and her children were deemed homicides. The couple had run two successful restaurants in the Houston area, Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart The Mai family said Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart will remain open. Thy and Matthew Mitchell's clothing company, Foreign Fare, will pause operations as relatives grieve and focus on funeral arrangements. 'Operations will resume at a later date in honor of Thy and the passion she poured into it,' the Mai family said. Additionally, the family is in the process of creating the Thy Mai Foundation in honor of her and the children's 'lasting impact on the community.' The family also thanked the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) and its Greater Houston chapter for establishing the Thy Mai, Maya & Max Memorial Hospitality Scholarship. Thy Mitchell served on the board of the Greater Houston chapter and was selected as the Greater Houston Restaurateur of the Year in 2025. The scholarship named for her and her children will provide financial aid to students throughout Texas pursuing careers in culinary arts, restaurant and hospitality management, foodservice operations and hospitality entrepreneurship. 'Thy defined what it means to truly care for people - she led with generosity, lifted others up and made everyone feel seen and valued,' said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. 'This scholarship is a way to carry that spirit forward, opening doors for future leaders who will shape the hospitality industry with the same heart and purpose she brought to it every day.' Social media was flooded with well wishes and condolences for Thy Mitchell and her children after her sister, Ly Mai, confirmed their deaths on Facebook the day after the shootings. Thy Mitchell (pictured with her daughter) was described as a vibrant person who inspired others From a first-generation Vietnamese family, Thy Mitchell (pictured with her son) incorporated her culture's cuisine into her restaurants The Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) and its Greater Houston chapter established the Thy Mai, Maya & Max Memorial Hospitality Scholarship for up and coming restaurateurs and chefs People who knew Thy Mitchell, who is from a first-generation Vietnamese family, talked about how inspiring she was for incorporating her culture's cuisine into her restaurants. They described her as kind, giving and vibrant. Thy and Matthew Mitchell's businesses, their restaurants and their clothing brand, were inspired by their years traveling the world together. 'Her love of travel and food is what brought her and her husband, Matthew, together. That shared passion ultimately led to the creation of Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart, built around their philosophy of exploring the world through food and drink, a mission that remains deeply personal to Thy,' reads her bio page on the Traveler's Table website. Brittany Britto Garley, the editor-in-chief of Houstonia Magazine, knew Thy Mitchell and wrote about her experiences with her. 'I’ve had my own share of flashbacks,' Garley wrote. 'Memories of meeting Thy for the first time at her Montrose restaurant with a friend, the three of us gushing about our children and the particular challenges and beauty of being mothers in an industry that rarely sleeps.' Garley continued: 'The passion in her voice when discussing her restaurants. Stopping to say hi to Matthew and the kids before meeting Thy for brunch at Traveler’s Table. How she welcomed my family and assuaged my nerves as my two toddlers ran wild on the back patio of Traveler’s Cart. She didn’t flinch.' 'Thy and her children deserved so much more. It breaks my heart that we’ll never get to see her welcoming smile again,' she added. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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