Curtis 'Curt' Mitchell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

A local musician in Wichita has been accused of murdering a celebrity chef who he identified as his girlfriend. On the night of June 4, police in Wichita were called to the home of renowned chef Tanya Tandoc by a man claiming to be her boyfriend. That man was Curtis “Curt” Mitchell, 47. He allegedly told a 911 operator that he had just killed his girlfriend. Mitchell has been booked on charges of first-degree murder.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Tandoc Was Dead for Some Time Before She Was Found

(Facebook)

Mitchell was taken into custody at Tandoc’s home, along the 200 block of South Minneapolis in Wichita, reports the Eagle newspaper. It was at the home where Tandoc was found dead of blunt-force trauma. KSN reports that it was Mitchell who made the 911 call. When he spoke to an operator Mitchell said that he just killed his girlfriend, according to police. The station also reports that officers believe that Tandoc had been dead for some time. She didn’t show-up for work on June 4 and friends were worried for her safety.

2. Mitchell Calls Songwriting a ‘Spiritual Endeavor’

(Band Camp)

According to his Facebook page, Mitchell is from Cow Town, Kansas. He’s a regionally famous singer-songwriter who lists his influences as Emmylou Harris and the Rolling Stones. A profile on Mitchell from 2014 on KMUW says that Mitchell grew up with music, both his father and uncles were Hank Williams-style singers. He told the station:

Songwriting, for me, is a deeply personal, spiritual endeavor. When what you do resonates with others? Well, that’s just gravy.

He has appeared on the PBS show Wichita Sessions. On one online profile, he describes his style as alternative country and Americana.

3. Tandoc Just Got Divorced, Days Before the Murder

Tandoc and Mitchell were a couple. (Facebook)

Tandoc was married to prominent Wichita musician Wayne Gottstine, a mandolin player. He’s in the Kansas-based band Split Lip Rayfield. According to a 2011 article in The Wichita Eagle, Gottstine oversaw the renovations at his wife’s restaurant. He called that work far less than stressful than being on the road with his band for their “rabid fan base.” A friend of Tandoc told Heavy.com that the couple quietly divorced on June 2, just days before the murder.

4. Tandoc Last Appeared in Public on May 29

(Facebook)

Tandoc did her last segment on KMUW on May 29 where she told people about the finer points of buying a good pot. Tandoc says “The heaviness of the bottom will keep food from scorching, especially if you’re going to be simmering for a long time.” Her last update on the social media for Tanya’s Soup Kitchen came on June 3 and announced the return of Summer Sammies. On the restaurant’s Facebook page, Tanya’s is described as:

Tanya uses as many fresh, local ingredients as possible with a menu that is flexible and seasonal. The core menu will feature dishes that diners will remember from the original Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, as well as daily specials to add variety to take advantage of the availability of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

The restaurant is vegan and gluten-free friendly.