Thy Mitchell and her two children Maya, 8, and Max, 4, were killed by her husband Matthew Mitchell

The loved ones of a Houston mom, who was killed alongside her two young children this week, are reeling from the devastating loss.

Thy Mitchell, 39, and her two children, 8-year-old Maya and 4-year-old Max, were found fatally shot in their Houston, Texas home on Monday, May 4, the Houston Police Department said in a statement.

Investigators determined, based on evidence at the scene, all three were killed by Thy’s husband and the children’s father, 52-year-old Matthew Mitchell, before he died by suicide.

HPD declined to confirm the names of the family members, but the victims were identified by Thy’s sister in a Facebook post. The coroner’s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for information.

Officers were led to the Mitchells’ residence following two requests for welfare checks, HPD said during a press briefing Tuesday.

The two requests were made by the children’s babysitter and the sister of one of the adults, HPD said at the briefing, which was live-streamed by local independent reporter “Grizzy’s Hood News,” who PEOPLE was directed to by HPD.

Police were told by the relative that the family had not been heard from since the previous evening; the babysitter called police when they had not heard from the family on Monday.

Family in Murder-Suicide Identified as Houston Restaurant Owner, His Wife, and 2 Kids

Thy Mitchell with children Maya and Max.

Thy Mitchell with children Maya and Max.thy_travelers/Instagram (2)

Thy was an award-winning restaurateur — in an Instagram post in September 2025, Thy noted she and her husband had been named “Restaurateurs of the Year – Houston Chapter.”

“This industry demands resilience every single day, and this year tested that more than ever. The wins feel incredible, the setbacks cut deep, but each one shapes the journey,” she wrote in the post.

The Texas Restaurant Association, which made the selection, commented on the poignant post: “The honor is all ours! Y’all are an inspiration in this industry!”

Her other recognitions include being honored at the Women Who Mean Business event by the Houston Business Journal in 2023; in an Instagram video of her proudly showing off the award, her husband can be seen in the background, seemingly cheering her.

Beyond her recognitions on these platforms, those who collaborated with her remember her as “the real deal.”

“She showed up with intention. She opened her doors. She created welcoming spaces. And she made it clear that our community mattered,” Tammi Wallace, CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a tribute on Wednesday, adding: “Now, there is a hole in my heart and in our hearts at the Chamber.”

Thy often shared on social media about feeling grateful for her life. In a post about her birthday, Thy wrote on Instagram in January: “I already have [everything I wish for] all right in front of me. Anything wonderful that comes next is simply a bonus.”

Authorities have not announced a motive behind her husband’s actions.