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Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Three sisters found suffocated, zip tied after visit with father, manhunt underway
SHAH ALAM – A routine custody visit turned into a horrifying tragedy in Washington, United States (US), when three young sisters were found dead on June 2, just days after going missing during a scheduled visit with their father, Travis Decker. The victims – Paityn Decker (9), Evelyn Decker (8) and Olivia Decker (5) – had been in their father's care at the time of their disappearance. As authorities continue a nationwide search for the 32-year-old fugitive, troubling details have emerged about Decker's mental health, military background and the final moments of his daughters' lives. A Scheduled Visitation That Ended in Horror The Decker sisters were last seen alive on Friday, May 30, when their father Travis picked them up at 5pm for a planned custody visitation. Their mother, Whitney Decker, expected them home by 8pm, but they never returned. Concerned and sensing something was wrong, she reported them missing at 9.45pm. According to police, Travis had gone "outside the parameters" of the agreed parenting plan, which was considered "not normal and cause for alarm." The Wenatchee Police Department said at the time that the case did not initially meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, but an Endangered Missing Person Alert (Empa) was issued the following day. A Mother's Fears and Pleas In the time leading up to the tragedy, Whitney raised concerns about her children's safety due to Decker's worsening mental health. Court filings reviewed by The Seattle Times reveal that Whitney described Travis as having emotional and mental health struggles, which she said were the main reason their marriage ended and had significantly impacted their daughters. Despite these issues, she never intended to limit his time with the girls and wanted him to remain involved in their lives with at least a minimum level of contact. "He was in the Army for many years. Upon separation, his borderline personality disorder and narcissism became rampant. Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable. 'But he has got to get better for our girls,' she wrote in legal documents. Travis (left), his ex-wife Whitney (right) and their daughters. Photo: Edited via Canva The Shocking Discovery On June 2 at around 3.45pm, authorities found Decker's car near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington; about 112 kilometres east of Seattle. Not far from the vehicle, officers discovered the lifeless bodies of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia. Court documents revealed the girls had plastic bags over their heads and their wrists were also zip tied or showed signs of being zip tied. The scene was strewn with zip ties, plastic bags, and other personal belongings, including car seats, blankets, food and a wallet on the truck's console. Bloodied handprints were found on the tailgate of the vehicle. The cause of death, according to a preliminary report cited by Fox 13 Seattle, is believed to be asphyxiation, a form of suffocation where the body is deprived of oxygen. A Father on the Run Travis remains missing as of June 5. Law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels have joined in an intensified manhunt. Authorities have warned the public not to approach him. The FBI, US Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol are now involved in the case. On June 4, drones were deployed by federal agents in the search. A $20,000 reward has been announced for information leading to Decker's arrest. Decker is described as 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, with black hair, a mustache and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark shorts. Military Past and Mental Decline According to multiple reports, Travis is a military veteran with extensive training in survival and wilderness tactics. He reportedly earned the elite Army 'Ranger' tab and served as an instructor at the Warrior Training Center in Fort Benning, Georgia, US. Since 2021, he was affiliated with the Washington National Guard but had stopped showing up to his monthly drills and disciplinary discharge proceedings had begun. The last drill he attended was roughly a year ago, Fox 13 reported. His ex-wife had disclosed that Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and she believed he was not on medication. Olivia (left), Paityn (centre) and Evelyn. Photo: X Charges Filed Against Decker Authorities have charged Travis with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping, in addition to earlier charges of custodial interference. As the manhunt continues, investigators say Decker's cell phone data shows he had visited the Rock Island Campground the day before picking up his daughters. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, though investigators are combing through court documents, digital records and witness statements for answers. Community in Mourning The girls' mother, Whitney, has received support from friends and the wider community. A GoFundMe campaign was launched by Amy Edwards, who described the tragedy as heartbreaking. 'We are heartbroken to share that the girls have since passed. Their light touched so many and the pain of this loss is immeasurable. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' Amy said. The deaths of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia have shaken Washington's community and beyond. As the search continues for Travis, authorities are asking for public vigilance and continued tips to help bring closure to a deeply tragic case.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- USA Today
Search intensifies for Travis Decker, accused in slaying of 3 daughters
Search intensifies for Travis Decker, accused in slaying of 3 daughters Show Caption Hide Caption Manhunt for Travis Decker intensifies Authorities warn that Travis Decker, who is accused of kidnapping and killing his daughters, may be capable of surviving off the grid for months. Fox - Seattle Authorities in Washington have intensified the search for Travis Decker, who is wanted in the killing of his three young daughters. The state's governor on June 6 said he would tap into emergency funds and Washington National Guard resources to aid in the search. The bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were found on June 2 at a remote campground. The girls' mother, Whitney Decker, reported to police that her ex-husband failed to return them after a scheduled custody visit on May 30, police said. The girls were found near Travis Decker's white truck having been suffocated, with Decker nowhere in sight, court records say. Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more Decker is wanted on charges of murder, kidnapping and custodial interference. Gov. Bob Ferguson said on June 6 he was "tapping emergency funds and ordering Washington National Guard resources" to help in the search for Decker. Ferguson said he would also provide helicopters to law enforcement combing through remote areas of the state. "As a parent, my heart goes out to Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's mom, Whitney, and all those who love them. The brutal murder of these young children has shocked our state. I'm committed to supporting law enforcement as they seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia," Ferguson said. He reiterated a warning from local authorities to keep windows and doors locked. Chelan County Undersheriff Dan Ozment previously told residents in remote areas of Chelan, Kittitas King, Snohomish, and Okanagan counties to remain on alert. What happened to the 3 sisters? The Decker sisters went with their father for a regularly scheduled custody visit on May 30 in central Washington but never returned. The parents were divorced, and Travis Decker was homeless and staying primarily in his truck. Whitney Decker reported them missing that day. Washington State Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) alert for the girls on May 31 after authorities found criteria wasn't met for an Amber Alert. Wenatchee police tracked Travis Decker's truck, a white 2017 GMC Sierra, and found it June 2 near Rock Island Campground, about 40 miles northwest of Wenatchee. Travis Decker was not there, but the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia were about 75 to 100 yards away from the truck. The girls likely died of asphyxiation, according to a probable cause affidavit. Each girl was found with a plastic bag over her head, and also showed signs of being zip-tied. Decker could be hiding in wilderness, authorities say Authorities said Travis Decker could be using his outdoor survival skills to be staying off law enforcement's radar. Decker went to mountain survival school and served in the U.S. Army, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said on June 4. "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 told reporters. "He could have scoped out this area before (he) put supplies out there and has the ability and the knowledge to survive for a long period of time." Police have said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached." Chelan County Sheriff's Office said on June 5 it was narrowing its search for Decker after gathering "new information" in the case. "Our teams have written and executed several search warrants around the area and on electronic devices that belonged to Travis Decker," Ozment said, adding that officials had "gathered new information which in turn has given us more leads to follow up on." Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
USA Today
06-06-2025
- USA Today
Why wasn't an Amber Alert sent for the 3 sisters found dead in Washington?
Why wasn't an Amber Alert sent for the 3 sisters found dead in Washington? Show Caption Hide Caption New footage of Travis Decker released amid manhunt Travis Decker is wanted on first-degree murder charges in connection with deaths of his three daughters. The deaths of three girls in Washington state whose mother reported them missing after their father didn't return them from a custodial visit, has prompted cries for reform because an Amber Alert was never sent for the sisters. The bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered on June 2 – just days after they were reported missing by their mother, Whitney Decker. The three girls did not return home from a planned visitation with their father, Travis Decker, a former military member who is homeless and was living out of a pickup. Authorities found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 yards away from their father's unoccupied vehicle near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, about 148 miles east of Seattle. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, and U.S. Border Patrol have joined the search for Travis Decker, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Now, Whitney Decker is calling for changes to Washington state's Amber Alert system and improvements in mental health care for veterans as the search for the man stretched into its sixth day on June 6, according to reports. Washington State Patrol was originally contacted on May 30 to request an Amber Alert, but the situation "did not meet the required criteria" at the time, Wenatchee police said. The agency instead issued a statewide Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) for the girls on May 31. As authorities intensify the search for Travis Decker, 32, a family attorney told local media outlets that Whitney Decker believes her daughters might still be alive had an Amber Alert been issued in the hours after they were reported missing. "She really feels that the system let her children down," Attorney Arianna Cozart said in an interview with KING 5. "It was the inadequacies in the services for our veterans that killed those children." Court filings revealed that Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths. Cozart told The Seattle Times that Travis Decker had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving active service. "They did not see him as an immediate physical danger to his children, despite the fact that he had a well established history of mental health issues," Cozart added. "And had they had seen it that way, those children might still be alive. And that's the thing that is so brutal, and the one thing she's really hoping can be changed in this tragedy." Cozart did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on June 5. 'One too many': Death of 3 girls in Travis Decker's custody is a familiar tragedy Why wasn't an Amber Alert issued? Chris Loftis, spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol, reiterated to USA TODAY that the request for an Amber Alert did not meet the system's guidelines, which are set by the U.S. Department of Justice. He said that, similar to other states, Washington's system has "specific criteria" to ensure that features of the program are only used in instances where the standards have been met. According to Loftis, the criteria include: "The person(s) must be 17 or younger." "The incident must be investigated by a law enforcement agency, and the subject must be entered into the National Crime Information Center." "There must be enough descriptive information that activating the alert will assist in the recovery." "There must be reason to believe the person has been abducted." "The missing person(s) must be known to be in danger of imminent serious bodily injury or death." While the first three criteria were met, Loftis said Travis Decker had limited custodial rights, and there was not immediate legal presumption that the girls were abducted when the Amber Alert requests were submitted on May 30 and May 31. He added that law enforcement does not "automatically have clear indication that the children are in danger" in situations where a custodial parent is late returning children to another parent. Loftis noted that discussions with local law enforcement did not mention danger as a concern. Citing notes from the intake specialist for Washington State Patrol's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, Loftis said initial and follow-up reports from local police stated there was no threat of great bodily harm or death to the children at the time. The notes also showed that Travis Decker had previously "never diverted from the parenting plan in the past" and "no alarming mental health status" had been mentioned in the reports, other than "he may be 'going through a lot' after leaving the military and weathering housing and employment issues." 'No set of standards can protect us from all evils and horrors' Though the case did not meet the Amber Alert threshold, Loftis said there was "ample concern" and State Patrol had enough information to issue the EMPA. Unlike an Amber Alert, the EMPA does not send a push notification or text message to all cell phones in the targeted area about missing children. According to Loftis, issuing an EMPA allows law enforcement to post electronic fliers, send text messages and emails to listservs of people who have requested notification on all alerts, post vehicle information on highway reader boards, and promote coverage by state broadcasters. "The State of Washington handled this incident no differently than any other state with the information they had available. But all of that said, nothing, no process, and no set of standards can protect us from all evils and horrors," Loftis said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We learn from every tragedy, and I'm sure we will review and learn from this set of tragedies, but the depth of this sorrow is beyond a learning opportunity right now, it is a tragedy first and forever." Community mourns amid manhunt: Who were Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn Decker? What happened to the three sisters? The three girls were found dead by apparent suffocation in a remote campground, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. Whitney Decker had reported the children missing on May 30 after they left their central Washington home to visit their father. On June 2, a Chelan County deputy found an unoccupied truck at about 3:45 p.m. local time near the Rock Island Campground. Officers found the bodies of the missing girls soon after, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. While Travis Decker was nowhere to be found, investigators traced his cell phone, which revealed that he visited the same campground the day before the kidnapping, the court documents show. Travis Decker is wanted on charges of kidnapping, first-degree murder, and custodial interference in connection with the deaths, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. In an update on June 4, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said Travis Decker may have scoped out a hiding location before going off the grid using his extensive military and outdoor survival training. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Anthony Robledo, and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Who is Travis Decker? Police search for father suspected of killing his 3 daughters
Authorities in Washington state continue to search for Travis Decker, a father suspected killing of his three daughters, found slain by apparent suffocation in a remote campground. Decker, 32, is wanted on charges including three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. The sisters' mother reported the children missing May 30, police said, after the siblings left their central Washington home for a planned visit for their father. Wenatchee is in Chelan County, about 148 miles east of Seattle. Washington State Patrol issued statewide alert for the girls on May 31 and following a search, a Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputy found their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck near Rock Island Campground, about 40 miles northwest of Wenatchee. Police said no one was inside, but they found the girls bodies during a search near the truck June 2. As of Wednesday, June 4, police confirmed to USA TODAY, Decker remained at on the run. Undersheriff Dan Ozment said the Chelan County Sheriff's Office is set to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. PST on June 4 to discuss any updates in the case. Here's what to know about the case and Travis Decker. The hunt for Maddie McCann: Search relaunched for the 3-year-old British girl who vanished in 2007 Travis Decker is a 32-year-old from the Wenatchee area who was homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup at the time the girls vanished, according to police. Police said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached." Police could not say whether he was armed while on the run. He is a native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Pewaukee High School in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, according to an online records search by USA TODAY. One of Decker's previous addresses included an Army P.O. box. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Army for comment. He was a member of a standout 2010 Pewaukee wrestling team, wrestling in the state finals that year, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. The suspect's brother, TJ Decker, said his brother graduated from the school in 2010, Fox 6 reported. Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'', and weighing 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. State officials issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) for the sisters on May 31. Washington State Patrol was originally contacted on May 30 to request an Amber Alert but the situation "did not meet the required criteria" at the time, Wenatchee police said. The next day, Wenatchee police detectives recontacted state patrol with additional information and the EMPA was issued, police reported. "Officers immediately began working to determine the whereabouts of the children and their father," police wrote in a news release issued June 3. Based on information provided to patrol officers, all Wenatchee motels were searched "with no results," police wrote. Police also tracked Decker's truck and learned the vehicle had traveled west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30. The search for the three girls continued until June 2, when a a Chelan County deputy found the truck unoccupied about 3:45 p.m. near the Rock Island Campground. Officers searched the area immediately surrounding the vehicle and found the bodies of the three missing girls about 75-100 yards past the vehicle, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. Their father was nowhere to be found, but investigators traced Travis Decker's cell phone, which revealed he had visited the same campground a day prior to the girls' kidnapping, the court papers show. The three girls likely died of asphyxiation, court filings reveal. "Their wrists were also zipped tied or showed signs of being zip tied," according to the affidavit, and each sister was found with a plastic bag over her head. Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths, the court filings show. Whitney Decker is the mother of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia and Travis Decker's ex-wife, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY. The pair has been divorced for multiple years. A 7-year-old boy died crossing a street: His parents are being charged. Travis Decker is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping and three counts of first-degree custodial interference, police said. Authorities are asking for the community's assistance in locating him. As of June 4, a reward of up to $20,000 was being offered for information leading to his arrest, according to the sheriff's office. Wenatchee Police Captain Brian Chance, in a phone interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, said the suspect has not been formally charged with murder or kidnapping. But according to online court filings, a court-issued warrant indicates there is probable cause on the charges for his arrest. In addition to local and state law enforcement, U.S. Marshals are assisting in the search lead by the sheriff's office. Police said he should not be approached. Anyone who sees the suspect or with informatoin about his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Tipsters can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit your information online at Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Decker: Police search for suspect in deaths of Washington girls
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Manhunt underway for father accused of murdering his three daughters; former Wisconsin resident
Editor's Note: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. WENATCHEE, Wash. (WFRV) – Three sisters under the age of 10 were found dead in Washington on Monday, and a manhunt is underway for their father, a Wisconsin native. According to the Wenatchee Police Department, officers responded to a civil complaint at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, May 30. The mother of three young girls reported that her daughters were not returned following a scheduled visitation with their father. 'Essentially became a missile': 19-year-old De Pere woman faces 25 charges, $500,000 cash bond for allegedly going 80mph in downtown Fond du Lac The girls—ages 9, 8, and 5—were last seen with their father, identified as 32-year-old Travis Decker of the Wenatchee area. According to WFRV's CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, Decker previously lived in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Officers began searching for Decker and the children immediately. Decker was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck with Washington license plate D20165C. Local motels in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee were checked without success. The vehicle's information was entered into the local Flock camera database, which showed the truck had traveled west on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30. An AMBER Alert request was initially denied by the Washington State Patrol, but an Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued the next day after police provided additional information. Over the weekend, Wenatchee Police worked with local law enforcement and the FBI to investigate possible locations in Chelan County. By June 2, the search had narrowed to an area between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth. That same day, an arrest warrant was issued for Decker on three counts of first-degree custodial interference. At approximately 3:45 p.m. Monday, a Chelan County deputy located Decker's vehicle near the Rock Island Campground off Icicle Road. The truck was unoccupied. While searching the area, authorities found the bodies of the three missing girls. According to the criminal complaint, each was found with a plastic bag over their head, and their wrists were zip-tied. Decker was not located. Authorities say that the preliminary examination suggests the likely cause of death for the three children was affixation. A SWAT team and Washington State Patrol's Crime Scene Response Team responded to assist in processing the scene and searching for Decker. As of now, Decker remains at large. He is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Meth supplier, 2 suspected Wisconsin dealers arrested after traffic stop prompts larger investigation, seizure of 350+ grams Police say Decker is a former military member with extensive training. It is unknown whether he is currently armed, but authorities warn he may pose a significant threat if approached. Anyone who has seen Decker since May 30 or knows his whereabouts is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
