Autopsy reports released Monday have confirmed the grisly reality behind last month’s discovery in Westwood Highlands: four members of a San Francisco family died in an apparent murder‑suicide. Investigators say the father and his two daughters were shot, and the mother was found hanging in the garage. Their bodies were discovered on Oct. 8 after a relative, unable to reach them, initiated a welfare check.
Autopsy: Shootings And A Hanging Confirmed
According to autopsy reports reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, the deaths of Thomas Ocheltree, 57, and his daughters, Alexandra, 12, and Mackenzie, 9, were ruled homicides caused by gunshot wounds. Paula Truong, 53, was determined to have died by suicide. The Chronicle’s account formalizes what investigators had been treating as an isolated, violent incident.
A Brother’s Welfare Check, A Grim Discovery
On Oct. 8, Ocheltree’s brother returned to the Monterey Boulevard home after not hearing from his sibling, used tools to force entry, and called 911 upon finding the four deceased, the San Francisco Standard reports. Responding officers found the father and girls in bed with covers partially over them and Truong in the garage. The SFPD Homicide Detail is leading the investigation.
Financial Strain And Shuttered Ventures
Public records and reporting indicate the couple had been under heavy financial pressure: they defaulted on a $2.24 million mortgage in 2022, and the property later sold at public auction, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Most of their businesses — including Orbit Coffee, Red Planet Roastery, and Starr Spirits — had ceased operations, while an auto shop, Zentrum Motors, reportedly remains open.
Neighborhood Grief, Lingering Questions
Neighbors have left flowers and held a small vigil outside the Westwood Highlands home, describing the family as private and the loss as stunning. Hoodline previously chronicled the early fallout in its October coverage of the initial discovery and community reaction, found under mysterious circumstances.
Investigation Status And Resources
Officials have not publicly announced a motive and are still piecing together the timeline. Police have told local outlets the incident appears isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the public, per the San Francisco Standard. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.
