Thomas Russell Ocheltree and his family, including Paula Truong, were found dead in their San Francisco home. The fatal incident occurred in Westwood Highlands.
Fatal deaths in Westwood Highlands, San Francisco, involving Thomas Russell Ocheltree and his family.
A relative discovered the tragic scene at the Westwood Highlands home on Monterey Boulevard, as the family had not been in contact for nearly a week. According to a source briefed on the investigation, this relative broke into the residence Wednesday after not hearing from one of the victims, Thomas Ocheltree’s brother.
Further details reveal that Thomas Ocheltree was found alongside his two daughters, Alexandra and Mackenzie, in their beds, partially covered, with no signs of a struggle. The source noted swelling on Ocheltree’s face, with what appeared to be blood around his head. Truong was located hanging in the garage.
The San Francisco Police Department labeled the investigation as ongoing, and the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the cause and manner of death are still under examination.
Thomas Ocheltree informed his brother that day he had not returned home yet due to a golf tournament in Monterey, claiming Ocheltree had misplaced his phone. However, upon the brother’s return Wednesday, he found the family deceased around 1:25 p.m. and entered the home.
Investigation into the family’s background indicates they faced significant financial difficulties. Records show Truong and Ocheltree, married in 2006, lost their home at 930 Monterey Boulevard to foreclosure last year after defaulting on a $2.24 million mortgage from March 2022.
Civil court documents mention that Discovery Bank sued Truong in January for credit card debt, leading to an April court order for her to pay over $18,000. Both individuals were business owners, operating companies like Red Planet Roastery and Orbit Coffee across San Francisco and Oakland. Their businesses closed around the same time as the financial troubles escalated.
Paula Truong, a Vietnam War refugee, founded Orbit Coffee in 2019 with aspirations to share Vietnamese coffee culture and create a welcoming space for her family, as per a Sprudge blog article. The company’s social media presence stopped updating around May 2023, coinciding with the closure announcement.
