Washington Father Accused of Killing His Three Daughters May Have Gone Off-Grid, Authorities Say
Authorities in Washington state continue their urgent search for Travis Decker, a 32-year-old Army veteran accused of killing his three young daughters during what was meant to be a short, supervised visitation. The heartbreaking case has left a community in mourning and a mother shattered.
“Travis, if you’re out there seeing this, please turn yourself in,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison pleaded during a press conference. “Let’s wrap this up and do what’s right for your kids.”
Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were reported missing on May 30, 2025, when their father failed to return them to their mother, Whitney, after a planned three-hour visit. At first, nothing seemed unusual—Whitney had trusted that their father would bring them home as agreed.
But as the clock neared 10 p.m. with no word from Travis and his phone going straight to voicemail, that trust turned into dread. By Monday, June 2, the worst was confirmed: the three girls had been found dead near the Rock Island campground in a remote part of Wenatchee, nearly three hours from Seattle.
Their lifeless bodies, discovered near Decker’s abandoned truck, bore horrifying signs of premeditated violence. Each child had a plastic bag over her head and zip ties around her wrists. Two bloody handprints were found on the tailgate of the vehicle. Inside were car seats, snacks, and a wallet—chilling remnants of a trip that was supposed to be routine.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Decker is now wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Investigators believe he may have planned his disappearance in advance.
“It sounds like at times he would go out and be living off-grid for up to two and a half months,” Sheriff Morrison said. “We believe he could have scoped out a hiding place before this happened—he may have stashed supplies and has the survival training to remain hidden for a long time.”
Decker, a military veteran with extensive combat and survival training, reportedly struggled with untreated mental health issues. Court documents show he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder but had stopped taking his prescribed medications. He had previously refused to sign a parenting plan that required him to undergo therapy and anger management.
Despite the red flags, his ex-partner Whitney never imagined something this horrific.
“I didn’t think he was dangerous,” she told KIRO 7. “His mental health can be hard sometimes, but he loved them.”
Now, Whitney faces the unimaginable grief of burying her three daughters while the man believed responsible remains at large.
The search for Decker is active and ongoing. Authorities have released his last known description: he was seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts. Police caution that he may be armed and is considered extremely dangerous. He has no fixed address and was known to alternate between campsites, motels, and sleeping in his truck.
As the investigation unfolds, the community has rallied around Whitney. A GoFundMe campaign set up in her name has raised over $330,000 to assist with legal costs, burial expenses, and time away from work as she grieves.
At the heart of the story are three young sisters—Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia—whose lives were stolen far too soon.
Rest in peace, little ones. Your memory will not fade.
