Three young sisters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5—were found dead on Monday afternoon in Chelan County, Washington, following an intensive search over the weekend.
Disappearance Sparks Search
The girls vanished on Friday after failing to return from a planned visitation with their father, Travis Decker, 32. Law enforcement quickly mobilized, deploying local detectives, federal officers, and even a Homeland Security helicopter to help locate them.
Bodies Discovered Near Father’s Vehicle
Authorities located the children’s bodies near Rock Island State Park around 3:45 p.m. on Monday, close to Decker’s car. According to the Wenatchee Police Department, Decker is now wanted on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Likely Cause of Death
Police determined the likely cause of death was asphyxiation. The New York Times reported that the girls were found with plastic bags over their heads and their hands zip-tied.
Public Safety Concerns
Authorities warned the public not to approach Decker, who has extensive military training and may be armed. He was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen in a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Troubling History
Decker, a former U.S. Army infantryman who served from 2013 to 2021, is a member of the Army National Guard. In 2024, the children’s mother, Whitney Decker, raised concerns in court about his emotional instability and outbursts that frightened the girls.
“Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable. He has made huge sacrifices to serve our country and loves his girls very much but he has got to get better for our girls. I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,” she wrote.
Under their custody agreement, Decker had visitation rights every other weekend but was not allowed overnight visits.
Search Efforts and Alert Denied
Whitney Decker first contacted police on Friday evening. Officers swept local motels and requested an Amber Alert, but it was denied by Washington State Patrol because it didn’t meet the criteria of imminent danger of death or serious injury.
“We just didn’t have that,” Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis told The New York Times. “Everyone wishes we could turn back the clock.”
Warrant Issued and Arrest Sought
On Saturday, police issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert. Detectives determined Decker was still in the area and obtained a warrant for his arrest on Monday. A deputy later located his vehicle, and the sisters’ bodies were found shortly afterward.
Community Support and Condolences
A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with funeral expenses. The organizer wrote, “Their light touched so many, and the pain of this loss is immeasurable.”
Wenatchee School District Superintendent Kory Kalahar also expressed condolences to the Lincoln Elementary community: “Our thoughts are with the family, the entire Lincoln Elementary community, and everyone touched by this situation.”
For more on this tragic story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.