Distressing home surveillance camera footage has revealed the final days of a Texas family, capturing the innocent play of two young children alongside the increasingly disturbing, self-directed muttering of their father as he plotted a murder-suicide. Matthew Mitchell, 52, a restaurateur, killed his wife Thy, 39, and their children, Maya, eight, and Max, four, before taking his own life on May 4 in their Houston home.
Footage from Ring cameras placed throughout the residence, spanning from April 17 to May 4, shows moments of family life interspersed with Mitchell's descent into violent planning. The videos, submitted as evidence in a wrongful death suit filed by Thy's parents, show the family engaging in activities like playing charades and exchanging "I love yous." In one clip, Maya asks her father how to spell "appreciation day" as she works on a card for her teacher. In another, young Max tells his father, "I love you, dada."
Financial Struggles and Descent
In the days leading up to the tragedy, Mitchell, owner of the restaurant Traveler's Table, was facing significant financial difficulties and accusations of fraud, according to a lawsuit filed by Thy's parents. The footage captures his apparent breakdown beginning around April 24, when he was seen pacing and admitting the family's financial situation was "too far gone." He expressed despair over losing money and questioned his own honesty with his wife.
By April 27, Mitchell's internal monologues turned explicitly to murder. "I gotta kill everybody," he stated, following hours of pacing and self-criticism. He expressed a desire to end the suffering for his wife and children, believing there was no other solution. He voiced fears of being "sued into oblivion" and described his situation as a "torture chamber." 
He was heard saying, "I fd my kids up. I fd myself up. Now I get it." The footage also shows him contemplating the amount of money involved, stating, "There's so much money. There is so much money. No wonder. No wonder." Three days later, he appeared to grapple with his plan but ultimately reaffirmed his decision to "end it."
By May 3, Mitchell seemed resigned to his plan. "I can't stop myself. I can't stop it for them. I'm in such a deep hole. I'm sorry, Mr Mai," he was heard saying. The lawsuit alleges that Mitchell had conspired with his mother, Bettie Mitchell, and his sister, Meredith, to hide $1.4 million in funds from Thy by moving them into an account controlled by Bettie prior to the murders. This was allegedly done to prevent creditors from accessing the money due to Mitchell's financial failures and fraud. Bettie allegedly returned the funds after the murders to conceal their involvement.
Final Moments and Discovery
The children were last seen alive on camera around 10:15 p.m. on May 3, as Mitchell assisted them with their nightly routine. Mitchell was observed moving throughout the house between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on May 4. 
Police discovered the bodies of the entire family in the residence around 5:26 p.m. on May 4. Maya and Max were found deceased in their beds.
Matthew Mitchell, a former pharmaceutical CEO, had co-founded Traveler's Table with his wife, Thy, who was also a restaurateur and a board member of the Texas Restaurant Association. In September 2025, the couple was recognized as Restaurateurs of the Year in Houston. His background included studies in Europe and a career in the pharmaceutical industry before entering the restaurant business. Traveler's Cart, another of Mitchell's establishments, was scheduled to close the day of the discovery.
