THE OCHELTREE/TRUONG MURDER-SUICIDE
Thomas Ocheltree (57), his wife Paula Truong (53) and their two daughters Alexandra (12) and Mackenzie (9) were found dead in their multi-million dollar San Francisco home on October 5, 2025.
Paula immigrated to the US from Vietnam and she married Thomas in 2006. Thomas had a Bachelor’s of Applied Art and Design from Cal Poly State University.
Early on in their relationship, the couple purchased investment properties at one point in the Mission area of San Francisco. They lived in an apartment upstairs in the building and they leased out the ground floor to a restaurant.
The couple had lived in their neighborhood for over a decade.
The couple purchased their home for 1.35m in 2014 and it is now valued at around $2.2m.
Neighbors described the family as private but friendly. Next-door neighbor Belinda Hanart admitted to knowing very little about the family, despite having three kids close in age to their own. “We could hear the kids in the garden,” she said. “We could hear when they have maybe dinner outside in the garden.”
The area is described by the San Francisco Standard as being ‘an affluent, low-crime neighborhood.’
Paula’s accountant of 15 years, Paul Bleeg, described her as a “very driven and accomplished entrepreneur.” She was said to be the driving force behind all the family’s business ventures.
Paul had bought an auto dismantling business before moving into the business of repairing European Cars. She rebranded her business as Zentrum Motors.
The couple ran an art gallery and event space named Tessera for a period of time before it closed down.
In 2014, Thomas launched his own design company, Ocheltree Design, which specialized in branding and packaging for wine, beer and liquor.
Other businesses that the couple owned over the years include a coffeeshop business called Orbit Coffee. Paula told the Sprudge coffee blog in 2022 that she created Orbit because ‘I never felt I could take my children to a coffee shop.’
The company also focused on sustainability and had a mission to ‘not only provide the best coffee we can, but to be the best for the climate, the crop and this planet.’
Orbit closed its three locations in May 2023, announcing on its Instagram page that ‘we’re working on something new and will be back before you know it.’ But the shops never reopened.
In 2017, Paula transferred ownership of the house to a business entity that she operated using the address of Zentrum Motors. That entity paid off the debts before taking an additional $1.8 million in financing from Cathay Bank, according to property records.
By 2019, Paula had taken out loans totalling more than $2.7m, including $500,000k in loans from private individuals. One originated from National Fleet Wholesale, a used-car wholesale dealership in Southern California. A year later, the company loaned Paula an additional $260,000.
In 2020, they also purchased a deli/convenience store near their home. They transformed the business into a high-end liquor and wine store named Starr Spirits. This turned out to be a bad business decision and it closed in 2023. California tax officials recorded over $47,000 in sales liens against the company, records showed.
The former owner of the deli, Almir Zalihic, said, “They just raised the prices and scared away all the locals. They made it look very nice inside, but it just didn’t work for the residential neighborhood.”
Around the time that they purchased the deli, the couple stopped paying their accountant’s invoices. Paul Bleeg said they ‘went radio silent.’ “She was already several years late in paying us. I got word from my superiors that I can’t do any more work for her,” he said.
In March 2022, the couple took out a $2.24 million second mortgage on their home and they defaulted on that. By late 2024, their home was being foreclosed upon. The couple tried to delay the public auction of the home but it was sold to a financial company in November 2024 for $2.05m. It is thought that the company must have been leasing the home back to the family.
In January 2025, Paula was sued by her credit card company. Superior Court records show that Discover Bank sought to recover $17,716 from Paula after a missed payment at the end of last July. In a judge’s default ruling on April 18, 2025, Paula was ordered to pay in full, adding $441 in costs, for a total of $18,157.26.
In the Spring of 2025, Paula exhibited some behavior that was called both ‘alarming and mundane’. Paula emailed a reporter from the San Francisco Standard named Garrett Leahy with a tip. Paula claimed that when Alexandra was in the fourth grade in 2023, a student in another class tried to poison a child. Paula said the school had tried to cover up the incident and keep it quiet.
The reporter went to the family’s home on May 1. Paula also claimed then that a parent had been filming children on the playground at Sunset Elementary.
When the reporter arrived, Paula was making cookies.
A teacher from Sunset Elementary was also at the home. Paula has asked the teacher to speak with the reporter because of negative interactions that Paula had with the alleged filming parent. A screenshot of a report from Sunset Elementary that Paula texted the reporter said there was “no evidence of inappropriate … videotaping of children on the schoolyard.”
The reporter was about to leave the home. Paula asked if he would like to hear about an issue that Alexandra was having with a teacher at the school. The reporter agreed and Alexandra and Thomas both came into the room. Thomas then said they weren’t interested in speaking until after the school conducted an investigation.
At 10.51pm that night, Paula messaged the reporter and claimed that the alleged filmer was armed. She expressed concern about her family’s safety. She sent the same message again 30 minutes later.
Over the following three days, Paula emailed the reporter more than 100 times. The last text she sent said “thank you !!! for shinning light for those who might not have a voice or don’t know how to.”
The reporter was not able to corroborate any of Paula’s stories so did not pursue a story.
In September 2025, the city’s public health department issued a notice last month indicating that the Ocheltree’s address was delinquent in its garbage collection fees.
In October 2025, Alexandra was a student at A.P. Giannini Middle School, and Mackenzie was attending Sunset Elementary.
On October 6, 2025, Thomas’ brother Robert Ocheltree became worried after he could not get in touch with the family. He went to their home in San Francisco. He said the blinds were closed and Paula came to the door.
Paula did not invite Robert in, which he thought was strange. She said that Thomas was traveling back from a golf tournament in Monterey and that he had lost his phone.
The following day, Robert received a text from Paula which read “please help me with Thomas today? He is not himself, and the girls and I are scared.”
On Wednesday October 8, Robert called police and asked for a welfare check. Nobody came to the door when officers arrived at the house.
By this point, Robert was beside himself with worry. He broke into the home by shattering a glass door pane with pliers at around 1.30pm on Wednesday.
Robert found the bodies of the children in their beds. They had been partially covered up. One of the girls reportedly had a pink foam-like substance coming out of her mouth. Thomas was also found in bed. He was said to have a swollen face and a ‘blood-like’ substance around his head.
Paula was found deceased, hanging in the garage.
Neighbors noted that the garbage and recycling bins belonging to the home were brought out to the curb but never brought back in, as they typically would have been on Monday. It has been suggested that this means Thomas and the girls could have been dead in the house for days before Paula took her own life.
‘We are devastated. Thomas Ocheltree and his beautiful daughters are the real victims here. They played no part in this tragedy,’ a family member told KGO-TV.
No public obituary has been published for Paula. Thomas and his daughters have a joint obituary.
Thomas (T.R.), Alexandra and MacKenzie Ocheltree
09/19/1968 – 10/05/2025
Thomas Russell Ocheltree, Alexandra Grace Ocheltree and MacKenzie Louann Ocheltree left this earth in early October, 2025. They departed way too soon and will be forever in our hearts.
Thomas Russell (T.R.) Ocheltree was born in Napa, CA September 19th, 1968. He grew up in Napa the youngest of six children. He was a very beloved member of our family who had many life long friends. Above all he was a wonderful, kind and attentive father to his beloved daughters, Alex and MacKenzie.
Alexandra Grace Ocheltree was born June 3, 2013 in San Francisco. She was a kind, sweet young lady who loved school, arts and crafts and crochet. She attended A. P. Giannini Middle School in San Francisco.
MacKenzie Louann Ochetree was born on March 8, 2016 in San Francisco. She loved playing with friends and her beloved puppy, Mango. She attended Sunset Elementary School in San Francisco.
They are survived by T.R.’s mother and Alex and MacKenzie’s grandmother, Lou Ann Ocheltree. Additional survivors include brother Bob Ocheltree (Charise Ocheltree), sister Ann Kading (Kent Kading), sister Sue Sarka (Greg Sarka), sister Patty Finney (Gary Finney), nine nieces and nephews and three great nephews and one great neice. T. R. is preceded in death by his sister, Kathy Ocheltree and father, James (Jim) Ocheltree.
T. R.’s family wishes to thank the SFPD and coroner’s office for their difficult work and support of our family. We also wish to thank the family members and wonderful circle of friends who have come to our aid. Thank you to Graham-Hitch Memorial Center.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held on a date, time and place to be determined.
In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family wishes that donations be made to the girls school’s or your local domestic violence prevention organization.
THE CASE OF ONINDA ROMELUS
Oninda allegedly shot her four children while they sat in a car – two of them sustained fatal injuries.
The ages of Oninda’s children are 13, 9, 8 and 3. The two children who passed away are O’Karreo Covington (13) and Amourra Chapell (3).
Oninda was living in Porter, Texas at the time of the shootings. She had previously appeared on Paternity Court, a court TV series that focused on all-things family, ranging from questions about paternity to stories involving DNA.
Oninda’s episode aired almost 12 years ago. She said at the time that she had been involved with two men at the time she fell pregnant with O’Karreo. This info about the episode is from People:
Her partner Dewayne Seymore claimed she engaged sexually with another man, Jeremy Covington, the same time she conceived O’Karreo, which Romelus admitted.
Neither of the men proved to be the father of then 18-month-old O’Karreo.
In April 2022, Oninda was arrested in Georgia and was charged with misdemeanor DUI of Drugs, Failure to Maintain Lane and Possession of Marijuana less than 1 ounce.
According to Fayette County court records, it appears Oninda entered a guilty plea on the DUI charge and the other two charges were not prosecuted under “nolle prosequi”.
On October 4, 2025, Oninda drove to the Oasis gas station in Angleton, Texas. She called 911 at around 4.45am . She would later tell authorities that she didn’t call 911, and that she ‘called the devil.’
Despite this, Oninda told authorities to come to the gas station.
Surveillance video and a receipt from the gas station show that Oninda bought $56 worth of gas while on the phone, according to court documents.
When authorities arrived, they found the four children had been shot. The 8 and 9 year-old children were airlifted to a hospital in Houston, and they have been recovering.
This info about the scene is from KHOU – we have redacted the names of the surviving children for their privacy.
Brazoria County deputies rushed to the scene and found four children who’d been shot inside a vehicle. O’Karreo Covington, a 13-year-old boy, died from a gunshot to the head in the front passenger seat. Three-year-old Amourra Chapell died in the backseat. Nine-year-old Kylee Romelius was shot in the side and arm and 8-year-old Traviel Downer was shot in the arm. They were flown by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Both children have been talking with BCSO investigators.
One note from that excerpt is that all of the children have different last names.
In Rangercast audio from the shooting scene, a deputy told investigators, “We need multiple, MULTIPLE ambulances.”
They began performing emergency aid to the victims while waiting for Life Flight.
“We’re doing first aid, we’re doing everything we can.”
A woman could be heard screaming in the background as the deputy described the scene to the dispatcher.
“Brazoria County deputies responded to an unthinkable, unimaginable tragedy,” Sheriff Bo Stallman said later at a news conference.
“It is impossible to make sense of a senseless tragedy like this. But we will do everything we can to seek justice for these children,” the sheriff said.
Oninda was taken for questioning. When she was asked about why she had called 911, she said “Instead of them doing it to me, I’m gonna do it to them.”
When the investigator asked, “do what?,” she stated, “kill them all,” according to court documents.
This info about the questioning is from Fox26 Houston:
She also reportedly said that she was ready to work, which the investigator said did not make sense.
The investigator asked Oninda if she had any children, and she reportedly said, “Uhm.” When the investigator asked her how many kids she had, court documents state that she named her four children and their ages.
The investigator asked where the children were. According to court documents, Oninda stated that they were with the “devil.”
The investigator asked what she meant by that, and Oninda said, “they’re dead,” court documents state.
When the investigator asked what she meant by that, she said, “cause you can’t take me without me taking you,” court documents state.
According to court documents, she also stated that her children were dead to her.
Police went to search Oninda’s home as they knew she has another child – a 17 y/o son. They broke down the door of the home, but the teenager was not there at the time. According to Click2Houston, as of October 7, ‘it remains unclear where he is right now.’
During the search, electronics and ammunition were seized. Detectives also noticed a large amount of social security cards and other documents that raised suspicion of criminal activity. These documents were outside the scope of the search warrant.
Another warrant was issued and police then seized 33 social security cards, 48 identification cards and 16 credit cards, along with other items.
The search warrant says detectives saw the social security and identification cards had the identification of numerous different individuals. Some of the identification cards had Oninda’s photo on them, but the names were of different people.
Many of the social security cards and treasury checks had been issued to her address, but had other people’s names on them.
Multiple shipping labels, phones, computers, laptops, printers and other devices used “in the course of creating fraudulent pieces of identifying information,” were also found in the office of the home, according to the warrant.
Melissa Lanford, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Spokesperson, said, “Child Protective Services is investigating this case and making sure that the safety and well-being of the surviving children is our first priority. Ms. Romelus has had contact with CPS on one other occasion. Details of that interaction are confidential but will be included in a public Child Fatality Report when our investigation is complete.”
Oninda has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the sheriff’s office said in their statement. She is being held on a $14 million bond.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, later spoke to the media about the family. She said some of Oninda’s children would walk past the neighbor’s house.
“He always waves, and we tell him hi, and they come back by, and I have a little Yorkie, and sometimes she’ll stop and ask if she can pet the puppy, and so she’ll come up and pet the puppy and stuff,” the neighbor said. “Seeing them Friday, they were happy, and on their way telling us hi and bye, and figuring I would see them again Monday afternoon.”
The neighbor said she never saw any red flags.
“They looked like just happy kiddos. Nothing out of the ordinary at all,” she said. “Just heartbreaking to think that anything could be so bad that you have to take your children’s life. I don’t understand.”
THE MURDER-SUICIDE OF DR TIFFANY WILKES AND HER DAUGHTER CLEMENTINE
Dr Tiffany Wilkes (54) and her daughter Clementine (8) were found dead in a multi-million dollar property in Brisbane, Queensland on September 29, 2025. Their deaths have been ruled a murder-suicide.
Tiffany was a prominent anaesthetist who worked at several hospitals across Brisbane, including the Princess Alexandra.
Little is known about Clementine’s father.
Tiffany finished her medical degree with the University of Queensland in 2000 but also had a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts.
Tiffany worked for more than a year at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in the UK. She then joined Queensland Health in January 2012.
Tiffany was one of 20 Australians who mentored five young indigenous people on a trip to Antarctica in 2014.
Jane Ewing was a mentor on the same trip and said while she’d lost contact with her in recent years, she was shocked by the news.
“I couldn’t have imagined anything like this happening at all.”
Another participant on the trip, Nicholas Kotrotsos, recalled receiving helpful advice from the doctor.
“They did polar plunge dives on the trip, and she advised me against it because of my medical history,” he said.
Around 22, Tiffany bought a townhouse in Norman Park in Queensland for $1.27m. The mother and daughter never lived in the property.
In January 2023, Tiffany wrote on social media about Clementine’s 6th birthday.
She said that her daughter was a “girl wonder, mini genius, star performer and future leader of the world”.
“It’s hard to believe you are 6 my beautiful girl!!” she wrote.
2023 was when things seemed to go downhill for Tiffany. She was sectioned (involuntarily detained) under the Mental Health Act that year.
One of Tiffany’s friends said in late 2025 that her mother passed “two or three years ago”.
“As far as I know, she had no family support,” her colleague said.
Clementine was said to be a smart child. The ABC were told that Clementine had an “exceptional academic record”
Clementine was said to have missed a lot of school days from 2024 onwards. Tiffany always had believable excuses – such as Clementine being sick, that they were going on holiday or just wanted a day at home. Tiffany would eventually take her out of the mainstream school system altogether.
Under the Queensland Education Department’s homeschooling requirements, participating parents must provide an education program summary every year and report annually on their child’s progress.
The department does not undertake home visits for children registered to be homeschooled.
As of September 2025, Tiffany had not been able to work for the prior 18 months due to her mental health. She was still employed part-time with Queensland Health as a staff specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
At some point in late September 2025, Tiffany and Clementine checked into the Airbnb in Kenmore Hills. The property is listed at around $1,000 per night, with a minimum of a five night stay required.
On September 28, 2025, Tiffany was seen on CCTV taking the bins out at the property.
On September 29, it is believed that Tiffany scheduled an email to be sent to a colleague. The contents of that email have not been made public, but the colleague was concerned enough to request a welfare check.
When police went to the Airbnb, they found Tiffany and Clementine deceased.
Queensland Police would not comment on whether she was known to police for mental health reasons.
Many people have questioned how Clementine was able to fall through the cracks, with Tiffany’s documented mental health struggles.
“Clemmie should have been known to the Department of Child Services because Tiffany was extremely mentally unwell,”
a colleague said. “Any child of someone who has had the Mental Health Act invoked should have been on the radar of child services.”
“ But Tiffany was incredibly smart and despite her illness, managed to convince a lot of people that she was coping very well. She wasn’t.”
“People may have given her the benefit of the doubt because she was a medical professional.”
Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy told the media that red flags should have been raised after Clementine missed so much school.
“At the very least the school should’ve established that there was a justification for the child not being at school in terms of attendance,” he said.
Tiffany was listed as an anaesthetist on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s website of registered doctors, but her name was removed following her death.
Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said their “hearts go out to family and friends affected by this tragic event”.
“We know doctors and health professionals experience mental health challenges just like everyone else,” he said.
“The death of fellow practitioners can trigger distress for those working in our health system.
“We urge any clinicians struggling to reach out for support via internal processes at work, their GP or psychologist, or even in the first instance to a trusted friend or family member.”
No cause of death has been released for either Tiffany or Clementine.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sfgate/name/thomas-ocheltree-obituary?id=59820073
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/grim-discovery-f-family-came-214402176.html
https://www.ktvu.com/news/identities-san-francisco-family-found-dead-westwood-highlands
https://www.yelp.com/biz/starr-spirits-san-francisco
https://sfstandard.com/2025/10/31/seeking-closure-shocking-murder-suicide-family
https://people.com/paternity-court-contestant-accused-shooting-4-kids-killing-2-11825582
https://au.linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-wilkes-999152266
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