Three sisters vanish during planned visitation with homeless dad

Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker 8, and their younger sibling Olivia Decker vanished after they met their homeless dad Travis on Friday, May 30, with their mum urging people to alert police if they are seen
Three young sisters vanished during a planned visitation with their homeless dad, sparking an urgent police search to find them. Police in Washington state have launched a massive search for Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker 8, and their younger sibling Olivia Decker after they disappeared during a visit with their dad, Travis Decker, 32.
The three children were last seen at about 5:30pm on May 30, according to the Wenatchee Police Department (WPD), who operate in the city about 150 miles east of Seattle. The girls' mum, Whitney Decker has since called on the public to help find her daughters.
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In a Facebook post shared on May 31, Mrs Decker said: "Last night at 8pm Travis was supposed to drop the girls back off with me and never showed. The cops have him going north out of Wenatchee at 5:41. If you could please all keep an eye out for him, his phone is off and every hotel in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee have been checked."
FAMILIES OF THE MISSING
Missing people: Facts and Myths
Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal.
For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals.
How the Missing People charity Supports Families
Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left.
The Role of Public Appeals
Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map.
When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld.
By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found.
The WPD said Travis is homeless and that his visitation had been agreed upon by both parents. As a result, an alarm was sent in a bid to find the girls.
"The father, Travis Decker, is homeless and living in his vehicle or at various hotels/motels or at campgrounds in the area," a WPD spokesperson said in a June 1 Facebook post. "The visitation was part of a parenting plan, but he has since gone outside the parameters of it which is not normal and cause for the alarm.
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"The current investigation has not met AMBER Alert criteria, but the situation being monitored closely. However, an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) has been issues through the Washington State Patrol."
Paityn is described as being 4ft 8ins, with brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing a blue shirt, purple shorts and pink Nikes. Her sister Evelyn is described as 4ft 4ins, with blonde hair, brown eyes and it is not known what clothes she was last wearing.
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Their sibling Olivia is described as 4ft 2ins with blonde hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a coral/ pink shirt at the time she disappeared. Their dad is described as 5ft 8ins with black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark shots.
His pickup truck has plates with the number DC0165C, a wanted posted released by police. Anyone who recognises Decker or his daughters is advised to call 911.
The Mirror has contacted the WPD for comment via its Facebook page. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems, there are 912 open missing persons cases in Wasington state with 1,005 being listed as resolved.
• The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone's loved one. And they are always Missed.

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