Father accused of killing three daughters may be hiding in wilderness, say police
Authorities fear Travis Decker, a military veteran with survival skills, may be off the grid after allegedly murdering his children during a court-approved visit.
Police believe Travis Decker, the father suspected of killing his three young daughters during a weekend trip, may have escaped into the Washington wilderness and prepared for it in advance.
The bodies of 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were found at a remote campsite near Rock Island, Washington, days after their mother reported them missing on May 30. The three girls had gone on a short, court-approved visit with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker.
Decker is now wanted for three counts of first-degree murder. Authorities say he is likely hiding in rugged terrain east of Seattle and may have planned his escape ahead of time.
“Travis, if you’re out there seeing us, we’d like you to turn yourself in,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said during a press conference. “We want a peaceful resolution to this… So please turn yourself in. Let’s wrap this up and do what’s right for your kids.”
A troubled past
Decker is a U.S. Army veteran with combat experience and survival training. Officials say he has a history of severe mental health challenges, including a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. He was reportedly not taking his prescribed medications and had resisted a court order that required therapy and anger management.
Sheriff Morrison noted that Decker was known to disappear into the wilderness for weeks at a time and may have left supplies in the woods ahead of the incident.
“It sounds like at times he would go out and would be living off-grid for sometimes up to two and a half months,” Morrison said. “He has the ability and the knowledge to survive for a long period of time.”
A mother’s heartbreak
The girls’ mother, Whitney, initially had no concerns when Decker picked them up for a routine three-hour visit. But when they didn’t return by 9:45 p.m. and Decker stopped answering his phone, she knew something was wrong.
“I didn’t think he was dangerous,” Whitney told KIRO 7. “His mental health can be hard sometimes, but he loved them.”
The scene investigators found was chilling. The girls had plastic bags over their heads and zip ties on their wrists. Decker’s truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate. Inside were car seats, food, blankets, and Decker’s wallet—haunting reminders of what should have been a simple family outing.
Community shaken, search continues
As the manhunt continues, law enforcement is asking the public to stay alert but not to approach Decker if spotted. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
The deaths of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia have left the Wenatchee community in deep mourning. Local residents have shared their grief online, with many expressing anger, heartbreak, and disbelief.
As authorities continue their search, the community holds its breath, hoping justice will be served and no more lives will be harmed.
Rest in peace, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia.
