Brief
Brother claims fashion CEO’s debt spiral led to murder‑suicide of wealthy couple
Paul Min says his brother-in‑law’s risky loans and gambling drove the couple to a fatal showdown on their Oakland terrace.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Paul Min, 58, told The California Post that his sister‑in‑law Michelle Min’s husband, fashion executive Bryan Walker, killed her and then himself after a series of risky financial moves left him in debt of more than $100 million.
What happened
Oakland police discovered the bodies of Michelle Min and Bryan Walker on a turf terrace attached to their hillside home near the University of California, Berkeley, on Friday. The couple, described by the brother as “extremely wealthy,” were found dead in broad daylight.
What the report adds
According to Paul Min, Walker took out loans against family properties without the family’s knowledge, then gambled on risky options and leveraged positions. He allegedly stopped working for a period while still accessing the family’s wealth, eventually believing he had lost “well over $100 million.” The brother says this loss pushed Walker into a mental breakdown, describing him as “curled up into a ball, sobbing like a baby for weeks.”
What was said
Paul Min recounted, “He just curled up into a ball, and he was just sobbing like a baby for weeks on end. He was just completely useless.” He added, “Imagine that happening to you? You would collapse. Your spouse lied to you and lost over $100 million and you might be out on the streets.” He said Michelle tried to help, feeding and caring for Walker, and hired a “hotshot” accountant in Chicago who told them the situation was not as dire as they believed, but it was too late.
How it came about
The family says Walker’s financial decisions began months before the deaths, with the brother noting that by mid‑September Walker believed the debt had reached the six‑figure‑million level. Michelle Min reportedly attempted to salvage the situation, but Walker’s mental state deteriorated, leading to the fatal incident.
Key facts
- Bryan Walker allegedly lost over $100 million through risky loans and gambling (nypost.com)
- Police found the couple dead on a terrace near UC Berkeley on Friday (nypost.com)
- Paul Min said Walker’s mental state collapsed, describing him as “sobbing like a baby” (nypost.com)
- Michelle Min hired a Chicago accountant who said the situation was not as bad as believed (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Exclusive | Family says financial ruin and mental trouble triggered broad daylight slaying of ‘extremely wealthy’ fashion couple”
