A heartbreaking tragedy has captured national attention, and the search for the man believed to be responsible is still underway.
Three sisters — Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia Decker (5) — vanished during what should have been a routine, court-approved visit with their father, Travis Decker. Days later, their lifeless bodies were discovered at a remote campground in Rock Island, near Wenatchee, Washington — around three hours from Seattle.
Authorities now believe 32-year-old Travis Decker, a military veteran with a history of mental illness, is responsible for their deaths. He remains at large, and police are urging the public not to approach him due to concerns over his combat training and psychological state.
The girls disappeared Friday evening after Decker picked them up for a scheduled three-hour visit. When they didn’t return and his phone went unanswered, their mother, Whitney, became increasingly alarmed.
“I didn’t think he would hurt them,” she told KIRO 7. “His mental health was unpredictable, but he truly loved those girls.”
However, court records reveal a more troubling history. Decker had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, refused treatment, and declined to follow a court-mandated parenting plan. Whitney had already raised concerns in court documents about unsafe conditions during the girls’ visits, including sleeping in vehicles, tents, and among strangers. In one distressing incident, young Olivia called her mother in tears, unable to find her father. Another time, Evelyn came home with unexplained injuries.
“I’ve done everything I can to keep their bond alive,” Whitney wrote in custody filings. “But I can’t let them live like that—without safety or stability.”
The tragic discovery came Monday afternoon when police found Decker’s truck near the Rock Island campsite. Not far from the vehicle, the bodies of the three girls were found — each with a plastic bag over her head and wrists bound by zip ties. Bloodstains marked the tailgate, and inside the truck were personal items like blankets, snacks, and child car seats, haunting remnants of a trip that turned into a nightmare.
Decker is now formally charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of abduction. Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest, with no bail set. Law enforcement, aided by federal agencies including the FBI and U.S. Marshals, has launched a large-scale manhunt. Drones and search teams are scouring rugged terrain in the Cascade Mountains, especially around the Icicle Road region.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison made a public appeal:
“Travis, if you hear this, please surrender. It’s time to take responsibility. We will not stop looking.”
Meanwhile, the community of Wenatchee is mourning deeply. On Tuesday night, over 300 people gathered in Memorial Park for a candlelight vigil. Children released bubbles into the air as quiet music played. Messages and tributes lined tables, including one from a child named Grace that read: “I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve this.”
Pastor Mike Wilson led a prayer for the family and the investigators, reflecting the collective grief of a town reeling from loss.
“These girls brought light into the world,” reads a heartfelt line from a GoFundMe page set up by Whitney. “Now, that light is gone.”
As of Tuesday night, the campaign had raised more than $350,000, with condolences and messages of sorrow pouring in from across the country.
Still at Large
Decker is described as 5’8”, 190 pounds, with brown eyes and long black hair tied in a ponytail. He is known to live out of parks or motels and was last seen in a light-colored shirt and black shorts. Authorities stress that anyone who sees him should not approach but immediately contact law enforcement.
In a world where tragic domestic incidents occur far too often, the deaths of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia stand as a devastating reminder of what can happen when warning signs are ignored — and of one mother’s heartbreaking effort to protect her children.
As the sun set in Wenatchee, a voice quietly rang out in tribute:
“Fly high, sweet girls.”