The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the identities of four family members found dead inside their Westwood Highlands residence as Thomas Russell Ocheltree, 57, Paula Truong, 53, and their daughters, Alexandra, 12, and Mackenzie, 9. The discovery was made by police on October 8, 2025, during a welfare check at 930 Monterey Boulevard.
Thomas and his daughters were found in their beds with no visible signs of a struggle, though Thomas exhibited facial swelling and what appeared to be blood near his head. Paula Truong was found in the garage, where she had died by hanging.
Officers arrived at the home around 1:30 p.m. following a 911 call from Ocheltree’s brother requesting the welfare check. The San Francisco Police Department is treating the deaths as suspicious and potentially criminal, though they have not formally classified the case as a homicide.
Sources told KTVU that investigators are considering the possibility of a murder-suicide. The police department’s homicide unit is leading the case, with the medical examiner working to determine the causes and manner of death through autopsies.
Officer Robert Rueca of the SFPD stated that evidence at the scene suggested “a criminal action,” adding that such incidents are rare in the typically quiet Westwood Highlands neighborhood.
Public records show the family had been facing severe financial challenges in recent years. Truong purchased the $1.3 million home in 2014 but later used it to secure nearly $500,000 in private loans within two years. In 2017, she transferred ownership to a company linked to her auto repair business, Zentrum Motors, which then obtained $1.8 million in financing from Cathay Bank.
The couple’s financial situation worsened as they expanded their ventures. They operated Zentrum Motors, a European car repair shop, before moving into the hospitality industry. In 2020, they bought a deli on Monterey Boulevard and converted it into Starr Spirits, a high-end wine and liquor shop, which closed in 2023.
According to the San Francisco Standard, they launched four Orbit Coffee shops offering Vietnamese iced coffee—three in Oakland and one in San Jose—all of which shut down in 2023 due to business failures.
By 2019, Truong had taken on additional loans totaling more than $2.7 million, including financing from National Fleet Wholesale, a used-car dealership in Southern California. When they defaulted, foreclosure proceedings were initiated. The house was sold at auction for $2 million, yet the family remained living there.
In March 2024, Truong and Ocheltree were removed as property owners, replaced by entities connected to their mortgage lender, which was owed about $2.5 million. The sheriff’s office noted no formal eviction notice was issued prior to their deaths.
Financial strain grew further when Discover Bank sued Truong in January for $17,716 in unpaid credit card debt. A judge’s default judgment in April ordered her to pay $18,157.26, including fees.
Paul Bleeg, a retired tax partner at accounting firm EisnerAmper who worked with Truong for about 15 years, described her as a determined entrepreneur who spearheaded their various business endeavors. He said the couple stopped paying his bills and ceased communication roughly five years ago.
Neighbors recalled the family as reserved but friendly, known for elaborate holiday lights and often seen with their dog. Several residents mentioned noticing their presence less frequently in recent months.
Next-door neighbor Belinda Hanart remembered hearing the children playing and the family sharing outdoor meals, but had observed less activity recently, suggesting they might be preparing to sell the home.
The family had been regular visitors to Mudpuppy on Castro, a pet-grooming shop, bringing their dog, Mango, there over the past 4 years. A manager described news of their deaths as devastating. San Francisco Animal Care and Control confirmed they had not taken any dog from the address.
One neighbor remarked that in the days before the discovery, the family’s garbage bins were left on the curb after Monday’s collection—unusual for them—and still remained there when police arrived.
