A family of four was discovered dead inside their luxury home in San Francisco’s Westwood Highlands neighborhood on October 8, 2024, in what police are investigating as suspicious deaths with apparent criminal elements.
The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims as Thomas Russell Ocheltree, 57, and his wife Paula Truong, 53, along with their daughters Alexandra Ocheltree, 12, and Mackenzie Ocheltree, nine. Police responded to the home on the 900 block of Monterey Boulevard around 1:30 p.m. after receiving a welfare check request from Ocheltree’s brother.
Two sources indicated to KTVU that the deaths appear to be a possible murder-suicide, though San Francisco police have not officially classified the case as a homicide. The department’s homicide unit is leading the investigation while the medical examiner works to determine the causes and manner of death.
San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Officer Robert Rueca confirmed that “this appears to be a criminal action.” He noted that such incidents rarely occur in the normally peaceful neighborhood.
Behind the family’s outward appearance of prosperity lay mounting financial troubles that had escalated over recent years. Public records revealed a pattern of failed businesses, foreclosure proceedings, and accumulating debts that appeared to be spiraling beyond control.
Truong had operated several businesses over the years, beginning with an auto dismantling operation before transitioning to European car repairs under the name Zentrum Motors. The couple later expanded into hospitality ventures, opening four Orbit Coffee locations specializing in Vietnamese iced coffee across Oakland and San Jose, all of which closed in 2023.
Paul Bleeg, a retired tax partner at accounting firm EisnerAmper, described Truong as a driven and accomplished entrepreneur who was his client for approximately 15 years. However, their professional relationship ended about five years ago when the couple stopped paying their invoices and ceased communication.
The couple’s financial difficulties extended to their real estate holdings. Property records show they purchased their Monterey Boulevard home in 2014 for $1.3 million, with Truong listed as the primary owner. Over subsequent years, she used the property as collateral for multiple loans totaling nearly $500,000 from private individuals.
By 2017, Truong had transferred ownership to a business entity operating from Zentrum Motors’ address, which secured $1.8 million in additional financing from Cathay Bank. Two years later, she obtained more than $2.7 million in loans, including funding from National Fleet Wholesale, a Southern California used-car dealership.
The couple’s retail venture, Starr Spirits, operated from 2020 to 2023 in a former deli on Monterey Boulevard. Almir Zalihic, who sold them the property, indicated that their attempt to transform the neighborhood establishment into a high-end liquor and wine retailer ultimately failed when elevated prices drove away local customers.
Financial pressures intensified when National Fleet Wholesale initiated foreclosure proceedings. The family’s home was eventually sold at public auction for $2 million, though they continued residing there. In March 2024, mortgage companies formally replaced them as owners due to nearly $2.5 million in unpaid debts.
Additional legal troubles emerged when Discover Bank filed suit against Truong in January for $17,716 in unpaid credit card debt. A judge’s default ruling in April ordered her to pay the full amount plus costs, totaling $18,157.
Neighbors described the family as quiet and somewhat private, though they were known for elaborate holiday light displays. Several residents noted seeing the family less frequently in recent months, with some wondering if they were preparing to sell their home.
Belinda Hanart, who lived next door, indicated she could occasionally hear the children playing in the garden and the family having outdoor dinners, but had limited direct interaction with them despite having children of similar ages.
One neighbor noticed an unusual detail on the day the bodies were discovered: the family’s garbage cans remained on the curb from Monday’s collection, breaking their typical routine of promptly retrieving them.
The family had been regular customers at Mudpuppy on Castro, a pet-grooming business, where they brought their dog Mango for the past four years. A manager there described the news as heartbreaking, noting that Mango was well-behaved and regularly received special ear coloring treatments.
San Francisco Animal Care and Control confirmed Thursday that officers had not taken any pets from the residence into their care, leaving questions about what happened to the family dog.
The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the final circumstances that led to the deaths of all four family members in what was once considered one of San Francisco’s safest neighborhoods.