Thy Mitchell, owner of the soon to open restaurant ‘Traveler’s Cart’, inspired by street food and food halls from around the world, is photographed on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in Houston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer)
Houston community members and public figures mourned Thy Mitchell and her two children Tuesday after they were first confirmed dead by her sister in a Facebook post.
In a suspected murder suicide, four bodies were discovered on Monday at 5:30 p.m. during a welfare call to a home in the 2100 block of Kingston Street in Houston. Three of the four bodies, two adults and two children, were confirmed to be Thy Mitchell and her children Max and Maya, in the Facebook post by her sister Ly Mai. Thy Mitchell’s husband and business partner, Matthew Mitchell, was later confirmed dead in Harris County’s medical examiner case database.
Maya Mitchell attended River Oaks Elementary School, the Houston Independent School District confirmed.
The Mitchells co-owned Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart in Montrose, as well as the clothing line Foreign Fare.
People who knew the family took to social media to recount memories shared with Thy Mitchell and her children, from business owners to the photographer that captured images of her when she was still pregnant with her son Max.
“Thy was one of the first people who ever let me photograph her,” said Kim Pham in a long Facebook tribute post. “I was just beginning to find my way in photography. She trusted me anyway. When I photograph someone, I make a promise – that the moment will outlive itself.”
Several other community members took to social media to pay their respects.
“Tragic…just tragic,” said Adrianna Rubio-Clasen, founder of International Women’s Fest. “Thy Mitchell was (a) soft spoken beautiful girl who had a dream…may her legacy live on forever. Houston is mourning and may she and her babies rest in peace.”
“Thy was a friend who was always in your corner,” said Patrick Magee, art director of Houston CityBook. “From donating food for my Shuck Cancer fundraising efforts to being a client of Clarified, she showed up. Our city will miss her bright light and the many contributions and connections she made along the way.”
Tammi Wallace of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce recalled meeting Thy Mitchell during a Houston Business Journal culinary event. Wallace said Thy Mitchell was a unique person who gave to the community and contributed to the city’s food scene.
“We have such a vibrant scene here, with entrepreneurs like her that have helped elevate the food scene in our city, and thus, elevate our city in so many ways,” Wallace told the Chronicle on Tuesday.
Restaurant owners in the Houston area also paid their respects.
“There aren’t enough words to capture the weight of losing Thy,” said Sandy Nguyen, co-owner of Saigon Hustle and Sunday Press. “She was a force never defined by her petite frame, always commanding respect with her presence, her conviction, and her voice. A true leader in our industry, she moved with vision and purpose, unafraid to speak the truth while lifting those around her. She had that rare balance of honesty and heart.”
Houston chef Lena Le said Thy Mitchell made “people feel seen, safe, and loved.”
“A truly beautiful soul,” Le said in an Instagram Post. “Matthew…there are no words for the weight you must have carried. This kind of pain doesn’t make sense-and that’s what breaks me-love was there, and still…it wasn’t enough.”
Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, said in a statement that the organization stands “with the Greater Houston hospitality community as we try to process the horrific deaths of Thy Mitchell and her family.”
“To say that Thy will be missed is an understatement,” Knight said. “She served on the board of the Greater Houston Chapter of the TRA, and she was selected by her peers to represent the chapter as Greater Houston Restaurateur of the Year for 2025. We will remember Thy as a ray of light who inspired everyone around her.”
An Instagram post on the Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart’s accounts called for “unity and respect for our privacy as we navigate this immense loss.”
“Hospitality comes from within, and to honor the Traveler’s legacy, we will continue to welcome you into our restaurants,” the post reads.
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