The quiet, tree-lined streets of San Francisco’s Westwood Highlands neighborhood have been shattered by a devastating discovery. On Wednesday afternoon, the lives of a family of four—Thomas “T.R.” Ocheltree, 57; his wife, Paula Truong, 53; and their two young daughters, 12-year-old Alexandra and 9-year-old Mackenzie—came to a tragic end inside their home on the 900 block of Monterey Boulevard. The incident, which police are investigating as a murder-suicide, has left a community grappling with grief and searching for answers amidst revelations of severe financial turmoil that plagued the family behind their outward appearance of a normal, suburban life.
Neighbors described a family that was quiet, friendly, and blended seamlessly into the fabric of the affluent neighborhood. They were known for their elaborate holiday light displays and the joyful sounds of summer barbecues and children playing in the garden drifting over the fences. In recent months, however, the activity at the home had dwindled, a change noticeable enough for those next door to wonder if the house was for sale. The grim reality was revealed when Thomas’s brother, Robert Ocheltree, called the police after performing a welfare check. Having not heard from his brother for days, he arrived at the home to find the unthinkable.
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A Facade of Success Crumbles
Beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic family life was a rapidly escalating financial crisis. Public records and accounts from associates paint a picture of mounting debts and failed business ventures that ultimately spiraled out of control. Paula Truong, described by a former accountant as a “very driven and accomplished entrepreneur,” was the driving force behind several businesses. The couple previously owned a building in the Mission District and later operated an auto repair business, Zentrum Motors.
In recent years, they ventured into the food and beverage industry, launching four locations of Orbit Coffee, specializing in Vietnamese iced coffee, and converting a local deli into a high-end liquor store called Starr Spirits. All of these businesses had shuttered by 2023. The family’s financial house of cards was collapsing. They had stopped paying professional invoices years prior, and Truong had been ordered by a court to pay off a credit card debt of over $18,000.
Court documents show the family of four found dead in a San Francisco home Wednesday afternoon experienced a history of financial hardship. Their house was sold in a foreclosure auction after they fell more than $200,000 behind in their mortgage payments. Records also show the… pic.twitter.com/6W8v8CCPIb
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) October 10, 2025
The most significant blow, however, was the loss of their family home. After defaulting on a mortgage, the house was forced into foreclosure and sold at a public auction in late 2024, though the family continued to live there.
A Chilling Timeline and a Community’s Heartbreak
The sequence of events leading to the tragedy is still under investigation, but a chilling timeline has begun to emerge. According to reports, Thomas Ocheltree’s brother last had contact with the family days before the discovery. He grew concerned after not hearing from them and went to the home on Monday. On that occasion, Paula Truong answered the door but did not invite him in, telling him that Thomas was on a golf trip and had lost his phone. The following day, she sent him a worrying text message stating, “He is not himself, and the girls and I are scared.”
When he still couldn’t reach his brother, Robert Ocheltree returned to the home on Wednesday and forcibly entered, making the grisly discovery. His brother and two nieces were found dead in their beds, while Paula Truong was found deceased in the garage. The medical examiner has not yet released the official causes of death. In the aftermath, a relative issued a heartbreaking statement, saying, “We are devastated. Thomas Ocheltree and his beautiful daughters are the real victims here. They played no part in this tragedy.”
As police continue their investigation, the neighborhood is left to mourn a family that, from the outside, seemed to have it all. The only remaining task for the community is to process an immense loss, leaving a quiet street to wonder how the familiar sounds of a family next door could disappear so tragically.
