A Texas couple who were found dead alongside their two young children in an apparent murder-suicide on Monday were identified as prominent Houston-area restaurant owners whose business was featured on the Food Network. Thy Mitchell, 39, and her children Maya, 8, and Max, 4, were identified by her sister on Facebook as victims in what the Houston Police Department labeled an apparent murder-suicide.
While police did not identify the victims in the press release, multiple local news outlets identified their killer as Mitchell's 52-year-old husband and business partner, Matthew Mitchell, who was also dead at the scene. Police say they responded to a call for a welfare check at the Mitchell family's home on Monday after they had not been heard from or seen since the previous night. When officers entered, they found the family of four dead. "Evidence on scene indicated the incident was a murder-suicide in which the male shot the three victims and then shot himself," police said.
Family and Business
Thy Mitchell's sister told friends on Facebook that "we are heartbroken to share that my sister, Thy, and her beloved children, Maya and Max, passed away last night." "Our family is grieving deeply and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be shared when they are available," she wrote. "Thank you for your understanding and support." The Mitchells owned two restaurants, Traveler's Cart and Traveler's Table, the latter of which was featured in an episode of Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on the Food Network. One of the restaurant's chefs, Stanton Bundy, also appeared on "Beat Bobby Flay."
Community Response
In a statement posted on Facebook, Traveler's Table said both restaurants will remain open following the tragedy. "We want to thank our loyal staff, who have shown up and worked through these difficult circumstances, ensuring that we continue to serve our community," the business wrote. A close friend and publicist for Thy Mitchell called her "a great friend" in a tribute post on Instagram. "She was a devoted mother and business woman, and we are completely devastated and heartbroken a million times over again," the friend wrote. "If there was one thing about Thy, it's that she was always on her own journey — always looking for the next adventure, and we had a blast doing it together."
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
