Latest news with #suffocation
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘It's life and death': parents of baby killed at nursery call for for mandatory CCTV
The weekend before Genevieve Meehan died was one of the best of her short life. The nine-month-old with the beaming smile and emerald eyes was leaping through her milestones: she had taken her first tentative steps, hands clasped to her mother's, and said her first word: 'Dadda'. She tried on sunglasses and a swimsuit for their first family holiday two months later. The following morning, Genevieve's mother, Katie Wheeler, took her to Tiny Toes nursery for only her second full day. Wheeler told staff that Gigi, as she was known, had been a bit 'snotty' but was otherwise fine. And with a goodbye, she said: 'I love you, sweetie.' Just over seven hours later, Genevieve was pronounced dead. In what was supposed to be the safest place in the world, she had been strapped face down to a beanbag for an hour and 37 minutes and her cries of distress ignored. She was eventually found lifeless and blue, having died of suffocation. Kate Roughley, the deputy manager of the nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, was last year found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 14 years after a trial at Manchester crown court. But the fight for justice continues. In their first national newspaper interview, Genevieve's parents said they had been left distressed and shocked by what they had learned since – about the practices of that nursery but also wider 'systemic' safety lapses they believed risked further tragedies in early years settings across the country. John Meehan, Genevieve's father, said his daughter's killer would not have been convicted without CCTV footage, which they are now campaigning to be made mandatory in nurseries. Video played in court showed Roughley impatiently handling the baby girl before she died, muttering: 'Vile' and singing: 'Oh Genevieve. Genevieve go home, Genevieve go home, go home Genevieve,' as the she cried on the play mat. The CCTV also disproved the nursery worker's claim that she had checked on Genevieve every couple of minutes. And it later led to the conviction of one of Roughley's colleagues, Rebecca Gregory, for the 'deplorable' neglect of four other babies. An ongoing health and safety inquiry could result in further prosecutions. 'But for the CCTV, we would have had absolutely no way of knowing about the way Genevieve was placed on a beanbag, about the infrequency of the checks, or about the general conduct towards Genevieve on the day. We really only got an answer because of the CCTV,' said Meehan, 39. This week, Roksana Lecka, 22, was convicted of abusing 21 babies at a nursery in Twickenham, south-west London, after footage showed the worker pinching and scratching children and kicking one boy in the face. In that case, as Genevieve's, CCTV was essential to the prosecution. Meehan said: 'Many responsible nurseries are already using CCTV very effectively, so all we're saying is to make it so that all nurseries have it. It's good for the nursery, it's good for the parents, it's good for Ofsted.' Figures obtained by the BBC last year, and described by the couple as 'horrifying', show there were almost 20,000 reports of serious childcare incidents in England's nurseries in the five years to March 2024 – up 40% on the previous five-year period. The law firm Farleys Solicitors has said the number of legal claims involving injuries to children in nurseries had increased tenfold over the past decade. Wheeler, 40, said Ofsted should be given greater powers to undertake more frequent announced and unannounced inspections of nurseries. At present, the regulator is only obliged to inspect nurseries in England once every six years, compared with once every four academic years for schools. Tiny Toes nursery, where Genevieve was killed, was rated 'good' by Ofsted five years earlier but the trial heard evidence suggesting it was run 'shockingly'. On the day Genevieve died, Roughley was only one of two members of staff looking after 11 babies. The previous weekday there were 16 babies – far in excess of the one-to-three ratio for under-twos in England. 'I think the system definitely fails parents,' said Wheeler, who wants Ofsted to increase its number of unannounced inspections – which it only does currently when a specific concern has been raised – and review CCTV when it is available. 'You're never going to get a true snapshot of what a place is like and how safe it is unless you go out on a no-notice inspection and when you look at it regularly. A lot changes over six years. It's life and death – and it's not overstating it to say that.' Life without Genevieve is 'agonisingly painful,' Wheeler said, describing the nine-month-old who relished her world full of cuddles, singing, dancing, food, her favourite green toy tambourine and 'her everything': her big sister, who is now nine. The parents are planning to meet Labour's early education minister, Stephen Morgan, later this month to press for improved safety in nurseries, including CCTV, more Ofsted inspections and a new legal framework to ban unsafe sleep practices, supported by the Lullaby Trust. Failing to enact the changes, Meehan said, risked further tragedies: 'There could be more deaths. There is absolutely that risk.' The Department for Education said it was boosting safety in nurses with new measures from September strengthening whistleblowing and recruitment, but that it would closely monitor whether further changes were needed. It added: 'Genevieve's death was a tragedy and should never have happened. This government is committed to doing everything possible keep children safe, as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.' Ofsted said it would be inappropriate to comment during ongoing investigations but that 'our thoughts remain with Genevieve's family and we are deeply sorry for their loss'.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Minister pledges ban of strangulation and suffocation pornography
Pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation could be criminalised under changes to be introduced by the in the House of Commons, Dame Diana Johnson told MPs: "We know that the increasing prevalence of this kind of content... is fuelling violent sexual encounters."She said the government would aim to make the change by adding amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill when it is debated in the House of Lords. In February, a review commissioned by the previous government found that depictions of strangulation were "rife" online and recommended banning degrading and violent pornography. Baroness Bertin's review and recommendations were welcomed by the End Violence Against Women Coalition, but adult content creator Madelaine Thomas warned that policing people's sexual interests could be "problematic". At the time Downing Street said it would act to address gaps in the law but stopped short of committing to a Wednesday, both Labour MP Jess Asato and former Conservative minister Dame Caroline Dinenage tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill aimed at introducing a ban. Dame Caroline told MPs: "In any given month, over 10 million adults in the UK will access online porn, and the vast majority of them will be chaps."That's up to them. We don't judge. But we also know from research that online porn is so widespread that one in 10 children have seen it by the age of nine."Unfortunately, it is the guide that many young people use to learn about sex, and that is why I'm extremely worried that non-fatal strangulation has been found to be rife on porn sites."MPs rejected her amendment by 310 votes to Diana said there were "issues with the drafting" of both proposed amendments but said the government supported "their underlying aim". "Accordingly, I am pleased to say that we will bring forward amendments in the Lords to criminalise pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation." During the debate, Labour MP Rachel Taylor put forward an amendment aimed at introducing tougher sentences for those committing violent crimes motivated by hostility towards a person's sexuality, transgender identity or disability. She argued that violent crimes motivated by race and religion already carried greater punishments and that "we cannot say, as a society, that some forms of hatred are more evil than others".Responding to the proposal, Dame Diana said the government supported such a change and would "bring forward a suitable government amendment to give effect to this commitment in the Lords".
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Disturbing new details revealed in autopsy for three sisters 'killed by their on-the-run father Travis Decker'
Disturbing new details have emerged from the autopsies of three sisters allegedly to have been killed by their father. Travis Decker, 32, remains on the run a week after the bodies of his daughters, nine-year-old Paityn, eight-year-old Evelyn and five-year-old Olivia were found near the Rock Island Campground in Washington. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office revealed 'blood samples taken from the scene have come back positive for belonging to a male, and another was not human blood.' Decker abandoned his dog when he went on the run. 'The suspect's dog was recovered and turned over to the humane society for safe care,' a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said. 'Further DNA and fingerprint analyses are still being conducted.' Autopsies have now been conducted on each of the little girls to determine their cause of death. 'The cause of death was determined to be suffocation and the manner of death was determined to be homicide,' the spokesperson said. Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia were reported missing on May 30 after Decker failed to return them home from a scheduled visitation. Whitney Decker, the fugitive father's ex-wife and mom of their late daughters, never imagined he might have been on the verge of carrying out a heinous act after he arrived to pick up their girls for a scheduled three-hour visitation According to Whitney's attorney Arianna Cozart, 'she had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.' But a supervisor at his construction job told Whitney shortly after Travis vanished that he had seemed 'on the brink of something extreme' earlier that day while on the job. Whitney said through her lawyer that she initially begged police to issue an Amber Alert for them but was told the case did not meet the requirements. When the bodies of her daughters were found, their wrists had been bound with zip ties and each of them had been suffocated with a plastic bag. After finding the girls, investigators 'obtained and served multiple search warrants for records contained in Decker's Google accounts,' leading them to discover that the 32-year-old appeared to be planning how to relocate to Canada, according to an affidavit reviewed by the Independent. In the affidavit, Deputy U.S. Marshal Keegan Stanley wrote that Decker made several searches on May 26, including: 'how does a person move to Canada,' 'how to relocate to Canada' and 'jobs Canada.' The father, who remains on the run, then visited the website 'Find a job - Stanley detailed. His daughters' remains were also found 'relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly to Canada,' per the affidavit. Decker, who is wanted on three counts each of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, also 'has training in navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines needed to be able to flee,' the affidavit continued. 'Prior to the above alleged crimes, Decker frequently recreated in outdoor, woodland and mountainous areas throughout the Eastern District of Washington and surrounding states,' it read. 'Amongst other outdoorsman activities, Decker frequently engaged in hiking, camping, survival skill practice, hunting and even lived off the grid in the backwoods for approximately 2.5 months on one occasion.' On June 8, local authorities handed search efforts for Decker over to federal authorities to 'rest local resources.' 'We had reached a point where we need to rest our local resources,' the spokesperson said. 'Our command staff continues to be engaged with the search command while we give our teams time off to rest and recuperate and be ready to rejoin the search for, and capture of, the suspect.' Decker is 5'8'' with black hair and brown eyes. An updated wanted poster showed Decker wearing a tan shirt with the number 59 on the sleeve, dark shorts, flip flops with his hair tied back, carrying pizza boxes. The poster also included close up photos of Decker's tattoos on his arms and ankle, and stated that Decker was 'last seen wearing tan or green t-shirt, dark shorts.' He is considered very dangerous given his extensive military training and propensity for violence.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
A missed drop-off and tragedy at a campground. How a manhunt for a father accused of killing his 3 daughters is unfolding
The last time Whitney Decker saw her three daughters, she gave them each a hug and kiss goodbye, not realizing it would be the last time she saw them alive. The sisters, 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn and 9-year-old Paityn Decker, were found suffocated to death at an abandoned campsite in Washington state on Monday, police said, sparking an intense manhunt for their father, Travis Decker. Whitney had handed the girls over to Decker, 32, for their regularly scheduled custody visit on May 30, the Friday before the devastating discovery. Though the couple had been divorced for several years, they maintained communication as co-parents and friends, her attorney Arianna Cozart told CNN. 'We'll see you at eight,' he last told Whitney, Cozart said. Whitney noticed he was quieter than usual, but the exchange took place without any problems, and she didn't think much of it – until the sun slipped behind the hills, dusk spilling across the sky, and the girls still weren't home. Decker wasn't supposed to keep his daughters out after 8 p.m. and their custody plan specified no overnight visits, Whitney told the Wenatchee police when she reported the girls missing. His phone was going straight to voicemail, she told police. The mother appeared to have been crying when she arrived at the police station, police said, telling them Decker 'has never failed to return the kids' and typically lets her know when he is running late, according to a police affidavit filed in the Chelan County Superior Court. Whitney told police that while he had a 'good relationship' with his daughters and they enjoyed their time together, she believed he was experiencing mental health issues, according to the affidavit. 'But he never displayed any sort of 'red flags' to Whitney,' Cozart said. After speaking with Whitney, police checked the hotels and motels in Wenatchee as well as the camping roster at the state park, and then the wider area. Decker's name was not listed anywhere. The Wenatchee Police Department requested the Washington State Patrol issue an Amber Alert the day the girls went missing, but because 'there was no current evidence' the girls were at risk of serious injury or death, an alert was not issued, according to the police affidavit. The following day, when Decker and the girls did not show up to a running event scheduled at the park, police provided more information to the Washington State Patrol, which then issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert, seeking the community's help in locating Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn. Their disappearance kicked off an intensive search that grew as friends, family and volunteers came out to look for the girls. Then, on Monday the father's pickup truck was found unoccupied at a Chelan County campground with two bloody handprints on the tailgate, according to the affidavit. The girls' bodies were about 75 yards away, down a small embankment. Authorities are now searching by land and air for Travis Decker – wanted for three counts each of murder and kidnapping – across the county, sweeping through local forests and wilderness areas, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's office. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday announced he's tapping emergency funds and ordering Washington National Guard resources to support the multi-agency search for Travis Decker, warning area residents to keep their doors and windows locked and to avoid restricted areas. Meanwhile, a portrait of Travis Decker is emerging: an Army veteran and National Guardsman experiencing homelessness, skilled in wilderness survival, an involved father and, according to his ex-wife, a man struggling with mental health issues. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, Wenatchee lies between Seattle and Spokane, where rugged peaks give way to rolling orchards and breathtaking views of the Columbia River as it winds through the valley – a scenic view now punctured by tragedy. The sisters were found about 30 minutes northwest, in the Wenatchee River Ranger district, a remote, mountainous region of Washington that encompasses approximately 696,000 acres. The girls had plastic bags over their heads, and their wrists were zip-tied, according to police. The discovery of their bodies triggered a closure of the Enchantments, an area popular for backcountry hiking and camping, as law enforcement combs the forest for any signs of the tattooed Army veteran. Authorities have released photos and a video clip of Travis Decker from the days before his custody visit with the girls. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts and had his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Decker is 'well versed in wilderness survival and capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment' which will likely make the search more difficult, the sheriff's office said in a news release on Wednesday. The former military member also has 'extensive tactical training,' according to the US Marshals, which is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker's arrest. Travis Decker is a former US Army infantryman and staff sergeant with eight years of service, including five months in Afghanistan, according to a US Army spokesperson. He is currently a member of the Washington National Guard but is in the midst of a disciplinary process of being discharged because of missed drills, the National Guard confirmed to CNN. As the manhunt continues, the sheriff's office has advised residents in neighboring counties to lock their doors, including on outbuildings and sheds, and leave their outdoor lights on and their blinds open. Travis Decker was experiencing homelessness, living in his car, motels or camping locally, his ex-wife told police. His dog and daughters 'are the two big positives in his life,' she said, according to the affidavit. 'He was very active with their extracurricular activities, their dance, their soccer games, all of those things. He was very involved,' Cozart said. But there were concerns. Whitney told police that near the end of their marriage, her ex-husband was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and she did not think he was taking his medication, according to the police affidavit. In September 2024, a judge granted Whitney and Decker a parenting plan with limitations after an incident in which Decker kept the girls overnight at a homeless shelter and allowed them to go to a corner store unsupervised, according to Cozart. The new parenting plan included a psychiatric evaluation for Travis Decker, mandatory mental health counseling, and a domestic violence evaluation, according to court documents. He was permitted to see the children every other weekend. Travis Decker had 'displayed some volatile behaviors that seemed concerning towards Whitney, never towards the girls,' Cozart said. His ex-wife believes the tragedy may have been prevented if Travis Decker had better access to mental health support as a veteran, Cozart said, pointing to well-documented barriers to accessing adequate resources for veterans struggling with issues including post-traumatic disorder. Central WA Veterans Counseling, a local agency serving veterans, believes that if Travis Decker had sought their help, he would have been redirected elsewhere or placed on a waitlist due to a lack of funding and a shortage of alternative resources to adequately support veterans in the region. 'This isn't a hidden crisis—we've been vocal about it in the media and with local, state, and federal officials,' the group said in a statement. It's unclear whether Travis Decker was seeking help for the mental health issues outlined in the police report. CNN has reached out to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for information. The flag at the Chelan County Courthouse now flies at half-staff in memory of Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn. The killings of the three sisters – remembered by loved ones and in their community as beacons of light and joy – have deeply impacted Wenatchee and touched the hearts of parents across the country. 'Whitney is living every mother's worst nightmare. The hole in her heart is immeasurable. There are no words that can capture the weight of this loss. Right now, she is surrounded by friends, family, and neighbors doing everything they can to hold her up,' Amy Edwards, a friend of Whitney's, said in part in a statement released through Cozart. She remembered Olivia, Paityn and Evelyn as performers and dancers and said, 'their laughter, curiosity, and spirit left a mark on all of us.' 'They were the kind of children everyone rooted for, looked forward to seeing, and held close in their hearts. They are cherished - not just by their family, but by an entire community who watched them grow, perform, learn, and love. We ache with the love we still carry for them - and always will.' A GoFundMe launched by Edwards has raised more than $1.1 million as of Sunday to support Whitney through the loss. 'We are heartbroken by the loss of three of our shining stars from the Short Shakespeareans family,' the Music Theatre of Wenatchee said in a statement. 'Their joy, creativity, and spirit lit up our stage and our hearts. Though their time with us was far too short, their impact will forever be part of our story. May their light continue to shine in every performance we give. We carry them with us—always.' The three sisters attended Lincoln Elementary School in the Wenatchee School District. 'My heart, and the hearts of the entire Wenatchee School District leadership, remain with the Decker family, the Lincoln Elementary community, and all who knew and loved these precious girls,' district superintendent Kory Kalahar said in a statement. 'Every school, every classroom, and every family within our district may be touched by this tragedy in some way. As the community grieves, no sorrow runs deeper than Whitney's – a mother devastated by unimaginable loss yet determined to ensure that her daughters are known for the light, laughter, and love they brought into the world. 'The girls were amazing little humans,' Cozart said. 'I know Whitney wants the world to remember them that way.'
CNN
08-06-2025
- CNN
A missed drop-off and tragedy at a campground. How a manhunt for a father accused of killing his 3 daughters is unfolding
The last time Whitney Decker saw her three daughters, she gave them each a hug and kiss goodbye, not realizing it would be the last time she saw them alive. The sisters, 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn and 9-year-old Paityn Decker, were found suffocated to death at an abandoned campsite in Washington state on Monday, police said, sparking an intense manhunt for their father, Travis Decker. Whitney had handed the girls over to Decker, 32, for their regularly scheduled custody visit on May 30, the Friday before the devastating discovery. Though the couple had been divorced for several years, they maintained communication as co-parents and friends, her attorney Arianna Cozart told CNN. 'We'll see you at eight,' he last told Whitney, Cozart said. Whitney noticed he was quieter than usual, but the exchange took place without any problems, and she didn't think much of it – until the sun slipped behind the hills, dusk spilling across the sky, and the girls still weren't home. Decker wasn't supposed to keep his daughters out after 8 p.m. and their custody plan specified no overnight visits, Whitney told the Wenatchee police when she reported the girls missing. His phone was going straight to voicemail, she told police. The mother appeared to have been crying when she arrived at the police station, police said, telling them Decker 'has never failed to return the kids' and typically lets her know when he is running late, according to a police affidavit filed in the Chelan County Superior Court. Whitney told police that while he had a 'good relationship' with his daughters and they enjoyed their time together, she believed he was experiencing mental health issues, according to the affidavit. 'But he never displayed any sort of 'red flags' to Whitney,' Cozart said. After speaking with Whitney, police checked the hotels and motels in Wenatchee as well as the camping roster at the state park, and then the wider area. Decker's name was not listed anywhere. The Wenatchee Police Department requested the Washington State Patrol issue an Amber Alert the day the girls went missing, but because 'there was no current evidence' the girls were at risk of serious injury or death, an alert was not issued, according to the police affidavit. The following day, when Decker and the girls did not show up to a running event scheduled at the park, police provided more information to the Washington State Patrol, which then issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert, seeking the community's help in locating Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn. Their disappearance kicked off an intensive search that grew as friends, family and volunteers came out to look for the girls. Then, on Monday the father's pickup truck was found unoccupied at a Chelan County campground with two bloody handprints on the tailgate, according to the affidavit. The girls' bodies were about 75 yards away, down a small embankment. Authorities are now searching by land and air for Travis Decker – wanted for three counts each of murder and kidnapping – across the county, sweeping through local forests and wilderness areas, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's office. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday announced he's tapping emergency funds and ordering Washington National Guard resources to support the multi-agency search for Travis Decker, warning area residents to keep their doors and windows locked and to avoid restricted areas. Meanwhile, a portrait of Travis Decker is emerging: an Army veteran and National Guardsman experiencing homelessness, skilled in wilderness survival, an involved father and, according to his ex-wife, a man struggling with mental health issues. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, Wenatchee lies between Seattle and Spokane, where rugged peaks give way to rolling orchards and breathtaking views of the Columbia River as it winds through the valley – a scenic view now punctured by tragedy. The sisters were found about 30 minutes northwest, in the Wenatchee River Ranger district, a remote, mountainous region of Washington that encompasses approximately 696,000 acres. The girls had plastic bags over their heads, and their wrists were zip-tied, according to police. The discovery of their bodies triggered a closure of the Enchantments, an area popular for backcountry hiking and camping, as law enforcement combs the forest for any signs of the tattooed Army veteran. Authorities have released photos and a video clip of Travis Decker from the days before his custody visit with the girls. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts and had his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Decker is 'well versed in wilderness survival and capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment' which will likely make the search more difficult, the sheriff's office said in a news release on Wednesday. The former military member also has 'extensive tactical training,' according to the US Marshals, which is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker's arrest. Travis Decker is a former US Army infantryman and staff sergeant with eight years of service, including five months in Afghanistan, according to a US Army spokesperson. He is currently a member of the Washington National Guard but is in the midst of a disciplinary process of being discharged because of missed drills, the National Guard confirmed to CNN. As the manhunt continues, the sheriff's office has advised residents in neighboring counties to lock their doors, including on outbuildings and sheds, and leave their outdoor lights on and their blinds open. Travis Decker was experiencing homelessness, living in his car, motels or camping locally, his ex-wife told police. His dog and daughters 'are the two big positives in his life,' she said, according to the affidavit. 'He was very active with their extracurricular activities, their dance, their soccer games, all of those things. He was very involved,' Cozart said. But there were concerns. Whitney told police that near the end of their marriage, her ex-husband was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and she did not think he was taking his medication, according to the police affidavit. In September 2024, a judge granted Whitney and Decker a parenting plan with limitations after an incident in which Decker kept the girls overnight at a homeless shelter and allowed them to go to a corner store unsupervised, according to Cozart. The new parenting plan included a psychiatric evaluation for Travis Decker, mandatory mental health counseling, and a domestic violence evaluation, according to court documents. He was permitted to see the children every other weekend. Travis Decker had 'displayed some volatile behaviors that seemed concerning towards Whitney, never towards the girls,' Cozart said. His ex-wife believes the tragedy may have been prevented if Travis Decker had better access to mental health support as a veteran, Cozart said, pointing to well-documented barriers to accessing adequate resources for veterans struggling with issues including post-traumatic disorder. Central WA Veterans Counseling, a local agency serving veterans, believes that if Travis Decker had sought their help, he would have been redirected elsewhere or placed on a waitlist due to a lack of funding and a shortage of alternative resources to adequately support veterans in the region. 'This isn't a hidden crisis—we've been vocal about it in the media and with local, state, and federal officials,' the group said in a statement. It's unclear whether Travis Decker was seeking help for the mental health issues outlined in the police report. CNN has reached out to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for information. The flag at the Chelan County Courthouse now flies at half-staff in memory of Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn. The killings of the three sisters – remembered by loved ones and in their community as beacons of light and joy – have deeply impacted Wenatchee and touched the hearts of parents across the country. 'Whitney is living every mother's worst nightmare. The hole in her heart is immeasurable. There are no words that can capture the weight of this loss. Right now, she is surrounded by friends, family, and neighbors doing everything they can to hold her up,' Amy Edwards, a friend of Whitney's, said in part in a statement released through Cozart. She remembered Olivia, Paityn and Evelyn as performers and dancers and said, 'their laughter, curiosity, and spirit left a mark on all of us.' 'They were the kind of children everyone rooted for, looked forward to seeing, and held close in their hearts. They are cherished - not just by their family, but by an entire community who watched them grow, perform, learn, and love. We ache with the love we still carry for them - and always will.' A GoFundMe launched by Edwards has raised more than $1.1 million as of Sunday to support Whitney through the loss. 'We are heartbroken by the loss of three of our shining stars from the Short Shakespeareans family,' the Music Theatre of Wenatchee said in a statement. 'Their joy, creativity, and spirit lit up our stage and our hearts. Though their time with us was far too short, their impact will forever be part of our story. May their light continue to shine in every performance we give. We carry them with us—always.' The three sisters attended Lincoln Elementary School in the Wenatchee School District. 'My heart, and the hearts of the entire Wenatchee School District leadership, remain with the Decker family, the Lincoln Elementary community, and all who knew and loved these precious girls,' district superintendent Kory Kalahar said in a statement. 'Every school, every classroom, and every family within our district may be touched by this tragedy in some way. As the community grieves, no sorrow runs deeper than Whitney's – a mother devastated by unimaginable loss yet determined to ensure that her daughters are known for the light, laughter, and love they brought into the world. 'The girls were amazing little humans,' Cozart said. 'I know Whitney wants the world to remember them that way.'
