Three young sisters in Washington state, aged 9, 8, and 5, were likely asphyxiated, according to a preliminary report filed with the Chelan County Superior Court. The girls, identified as Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker, were found deceased near their father’s vehicle at the Rock Island Campground in Wenatchee, approximately three hours east of Seattle.
The girls’ father, Travis Decker, is currently being sought by law enforcement on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. The AMBER alerts for the sisters were canceled late Monday, and the tragic confirmation of their deaths was made on Tuesday morning.
The girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, reported that after their father, a 32-year-old homeless man, picked them up from their home on Friday, subsequent calls to his phone went unanswered. She immediately contacted the Wenatchee Police Department, expressing concern for their safety. Decker’s truck was later spotted in the west end of Leavenworth, prompting a police search in the surrounding wooded areas.
A warrant for Decker’s arrest on three counts of first-degree custodial interference was issued hours before the discovery of the bodies. The charges were later updated to include murder and kidnapping. Decker, a military veteran with extensive training, is known to frequent campgrounds and hotels in the local area with his dog.
Investigation into Decker’s cellphone activity revealed that he had visited and left the campground a day before allegedly kidnapping his daughters. His truck was found with two bloody handprints and contained blankets, food, car seats, and a wallet. The campsite near the truck showed signs of recent use.
Following the discovery of the girls’ bodies, SWAT teams and federal agencies, including Homeland Security and the US Forest Service, joined the search for Decker. He is described as 5 feet 8, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. Authorities have warned that Decker may pose a significant threat if approached and have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 911.
Whitney Decker, who had sole custody of the children, had arranged a parenting plan with her ex-husband after their divorce. Decker was allowed to see his children during specific hours every other weekend in the Wenatchee Valley area. However, Whitney Decker noted that he was unusually quiet when he picked up the girls on Friday, which she described as out of character. She also claimed that Decker, who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, had not been taking his prescribed medication.