Three Washington sisters found dead; police launch manhunt for their father, wanted for murder and kidnapping.
Three young sisters were found dead in Wenatchee; their father is wanted
for murder and kidnapping.
Wenatchee, Washington, USA – The bodies of three young sisters, aged 9,
8, and 5, were discovered at a remote campground near Wenatchee on Monday, and
their father, Travis Caleb Decker, is now the subject of a statewide manhunt.
Authorities say Decker, a 32-year-old military veteran, is wanted on charges of
first-degree murder and kidnapping.
The victims — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — were found near a
white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck at Rock Island Campground, roughly three
hours east of Seattle. Their deaths, confirmed in a preliminary report filed
with Chelan County Superior Court, have devastated the Wenatchee Valley
community and sent federal and local law enforcement into high alert.
Police say the girls were last seen alive Friday after Decker picked
them up for a scheduled visitation. When he failed to return them as planned
and calls to his phone went unanswered, their mother, Whitney Decker, contacted
police. AMBER Alerts were issued, then canceled late Monday night just hours
before the children's bodies were found.
Travis Decker, who is homeless and known to frequent local campgrounds
and hotels with his dog, has been divorced from the children’s mother for several
years. Whitney held sole custody of the girls, with Decker granted supervised
weekend visitation under a court-approved parenting plan.
“This is an unimaginable situation,” Whitney Decker wrote in a statement
issued hours before the tragic discovery. “I am concerned about the safety and
wellbeing of my girls and their dad.”
Court documents reveal Decker’s truck was spotted in Leavenworth over
the weekend. When officers found it, two bloody handprints were visible, along
with blankets, food items, car seats, and his wallet. The campsite nearby
showed signs of recent use. According to Fox 13, cellphone data indicates that
Decker visited the campground a day before allegedly kidnapping the girls.
An arrest warrant was initially issued for custodial interference before
murder and kidnapping charges were added following the discovery of the bodies.
The preliminary cause of death has not yet been made public, but the case is
being treated as a triple homicide.
Law enforcement officials say Decker has military training and may be
capable of surviving undetected in wooded terrain. The FBI, DHS, SWAT teams,
and the U.S. Forest Service have all joined the search, focusing on wilderness
zones and abandoned sites across central Washington.
Decker is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with
black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and
dark shorts. Authorities warn the public not to approach him if spotted, noting
he may pose a serious threat.
Although it's unclear if Decker is armed, his background and the nature
of the crime have led authorities to consider him dangerous. The community
remains on edge as schools, churches, and public officials call for support and
caution.
Neighbors told reporters Decker had previously struggled with financial
instability and mental health. According to court filings, he was diagnosed
with borderline personality disorder and was required to undergo treatment and
anger management counseling as part of his custody agreement. Whitney Decker
reportedly feared he had stopped taking his prescribed medication.
In the days leading up to the tragedy, Decker had allegedly discussed
giving up his dog due to mounting personal struggles, hinting at emotional
distress.
"This case is heartbreaking and horrifying," said a
spokesperson for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. "We’re committed to
finding him and ensuring justice is served for these innocent children."
Vigils have begun forming in Wenatchee and surrounding communities as
residents grieve the loss of the Decker sisters. Counselors have been made
available at local schools, and nonprofits have launched fundraisers in support
of the family.
As the search for Decker intensifies, police are urging the public to
call 911 immediately with any sightings or tips. The FBI has asked campers,
hikers, and travelers to remain vigilant, particularly in the Wenatchee
National Forest region.
This tragedy has ignited fresh conversations around mental health
access, supervised visitation enforcement, and child welfare. With a suspect
still at large and a community in mourning, the Decker case underscores the
tragic intersections of family breakdown, untreated mental illness, and system
failures.
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