Public told 'do not approach' former soldier after his daughters are found dead
Police are warning the public "do not approach" a former Army soldier with "extensive training" after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead.
Travis Decker, 32, is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping. He is believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup and may be armed, police say. It is understood he had had a planned visit with his three daughters; Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and five-year-old Olivia but did not return them to their mother on Friday.
A search was carried out and the girls were discovered dead today during a search close to a campsite west of the city of Leavenworth, Washington. Anyone who may have seen Decker, who joined the Army in 2013 aged 20, since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911. Police added: "Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker."
Karina Shagren, Washington Military Department spokesperson, said: "This is an absolute tragedy. We are mourning along with the community."
Authorities looked for the children and their father over the weekend. Decker's unoccupied truck was found Monday near the campsite in Leavenworth and the girls' bodies were discovered amid a search in the area.
Their school, Lincoln Elementary, which is in nearby Wenatchee, is offering pupils and staff counselling services. The district asked people to respect the privacy of students, staff members and families and come to the campus only for regular school business.
The girls' mother told police Decker picked the girls up around 5pm on Friday but had not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail. Captain Brian Chance, from the police force, said the mum "expressed concern because Decker reportedly had never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues."
He added: "What prompted her to call us was that ... he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary."
Four missing persons investigations were swiftly launched and, upon the gruesome discovery of the bodies, police have now identified Decker as a wanted man in the murder and kidnap probe. This remains ongoing, police said in a press briefing today, during which they also confirmed Decker and the girls' mother are divorced.
The dad transferred to the Washington National Guard eight years after joining the army. He was a full-time member of the Guard for two or three years until, in 2024, he went part time.
However, the military confirmed today Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge for him.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Manhunt for killer dad takes grave new turn as police reveal where they think he's hiding
The manhunt for suspected triple murderer Travis Decker has intensified as police reveal they think he's hiding along the Canada border. Investigators are now actively searching the Pacific Crest Trail in Okanogan County, Washington for Decker. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office has executed search warrants on properties and electronic devices believed to be linked to Decker Officers urge locals, specifically those in remote areas of Okanogan County, to lock all doors and windows while Decker remains at large. Decker, 32, is accused of killing his three young daughters, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia Decker, five. Their bodies bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth, 20 miles from their mother's Washington state home, on Monday. Their wrists had been bound with zip ties and each of them had been suffocated with a plastic bag. A massive manhunt is underway for the former Army paratrooper, who has not been seen since he picked the girls up for a scheduled visitation last Friday. Investigators, so far, have found no traces of Decker, whose truck was abandoned near about 100 yards away from where his daughter's bodies were discovered. But true crime obsessed social media users have done their own deep dives into Decker and believe a photo he shared to Facebook in April could be a clue to his whereabouts. Social media users want authorities to search Bull River Campground, which is located in western Montana, roughly 300 miles away from his daughters' home. Decker's online presence is borderline nonexistent with the picture of Bull River being 'one of the only things posted' on his account, amateur sleuth Rose pointed out in a tweet that has now been viewed more then 17,000 times. 'Maybe they should check the Bull River in Montana while searching for Travis Decker,' she added. Decker was reportedly diagnosed with complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder after leaving active military service. His ex-wife Whitney says she knew her daughters were in 'substantial danger' when Decker failed to return them after his visitation on Friday. Whitney, speaking through her lawyer Arianna Cozart on Thursday, said that she begged police to issue an Amber Alert but was told the case did not meet the requirements. But Whitney has now alleged this 'was a tragedy that could've been completely' avoided had officials intervened. She believes 'something broke inside' of Decker and that he 'would not have done what he did if he was himself', Cozart revealed in a heartbreaking statement early Thursday morning. 'He clearly had some sort of break and everything that he had been living with, everything that had been bottled up inside of him for so long as far as trauma, just won out,' Cozart told the Seattle Times. 'We may never know if it could've meant the difference between life and death for those girls … but it could've made a huge difference,' Cozart told the newspaper. Court documents state that when Decker's ex-wife Whitney Decker reported her daughters missing on Friday, she 'expressed concern' over his alleged deteriorating mental state. Whitney told police Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and believes he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents. The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there was no sign he had followed through, the documents show. Whitney stated in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters. She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times. She also said Decker - was prone to 'outbursts' and would come into her house yelling for the girls - would sometimes fail to pick up after promising to do so. In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her crying during a visit with Decker and said she could not find her father - before Evelyn came home with welts between her legs. Authorities also released photos of Decker from before he went missing, showing him with sunglasses that obscured his eyes and tattoos all down his arm 'I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship. 'But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.' But still Whitney reiterated to authorities how she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters. She said the girls had a, 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit. She said when Decker went to pick up the girls Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him. He had also allegedly been talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles. On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail. Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after finding Decker's truck. Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents state. Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console, police said. The campground also showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a short distance away, but Decker was nowhere to be found. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Final message ‘killer' dad Travis Decker sent ex-wife before ‘murdering 3 girls' as she insists ‘something broke' in him
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE final message a fugitive gave to his ex-wife just before he allegedly murdered their three daughters has been revealed. The manhunt for Travis Decker, 32, has entered its fourth day as his ex-wife confessed "something broke" inside of him after they were last together with their children on Friday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Travis Decker is on the run after allegedly murdering his three daughters Credit: Chelan County Sheriff's Office 6 Whitney Decker with her daughters, who disappeared after being picked up for a visit with their dad Credit: Facebook/Whitney Decker 6 From left to right: Olivia, Evelyn, and Paityn Decker were found dead on Monday Credit: Facebook Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground on Monday after they left for a planned custody visit with Decker three days earlier. Cops found the girls down an embankment at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, with their dad's truck abandoned nearby. But Decker was nowhere to be found, sparking a forest manhunt for the suspect as cops warn mountain residents to lock their doors and not approach the former soldier, who has extensive military skills and can survive in the wilderness. Whitney reported her daughters missing on Friday after Decker didn't return them from the planned three-hour custody visit. READ MORE ON THE CASE CHURCH HORROR Pastor dies in middle of livestreamed service after dropping to knees She said he picked them up at 5 pm and the former couple spoke for about 20 minutes before he left, making her believe nothing was out of the ordinary with his final message. "He said, 'Hey, I will see you at 8' and he left, and he never came back," Arianna Cozart, Whitney's attorney who she has allowed to speak on her behalf, told ABC News. The mom said through her lawyer that there were never any visitation issues before Friday. "Something came out of this man and he broke, that's it," Cozart said. "When that man picked up those girls, his babies, he did not have a plan to kill them; there's nothing that indicates that he did." Decker hasn't been seen since he picked his daughters up on Friday. Three missing children found dead after vanishing on visit with homeless dad as cops slammed for not issuing Amber Alert Cops have released multiple recent pictures and a home surveillance video of Decker in hopes that members of the public will keep an eye out for him. The new pictures of the alleged killer show multiple tattoos on his arms, while the video showed he recently wore his hair in a ponytail. On Thursday, officials said Decker may be traveling along the Pacific Crest Trail. Cops urged residents to keep their windows and doors locked and to leave lights on at night, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office said. Timeline of the missing Decker girls Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground after they were last seen on a custody visit to their dad. Below is a timeline of events: Friday, May 30 5 pm - Travis Decker picks the three girls up from their mom, Whitney Decker. 8 pm - Travis Decker is supposed to return the girls but doesn't. Whitney Decker calls him and it goes to voicemail. 9:45 pm - Whitney Decker calls the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing. Travis Decker's truck is seen driving westbound on Highway 2. Washington State Patrol is contacted for an Amber Alert but said the situation didn't match their criteria. Saturday, May 31 WPD issues an Endangered Missing Persons Alert. Monday, June 2 3:45 pm - Travis Decker's truck is found empty at Rock Island Campground with two bloody handprints and items inside. 5 pm - Cops search the area and find the bodies of the three girls. Tuesday, June 3 9:30 am - Cops notify the public that they are still searching for Decker. 2 pm - WPD tells the public that the three girls were found dead and that Travis Decker is still on the loose. Wednesday, June 4 Cops release recent video and images of Travis Decker and tell the public that he has extensive survival skills and could survive in the wilderness for weeks. Hiking trails and parks have been closed as the search continues. Cops warned that Decker is dangerous and potentially armed. 6 Decker, 32, was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts Credit: Chelan County Sheriff's Office 6 Surveillance footage of Decker shows him before he picked up his daughters for a custody visit and allegedly killed them Credit: Chelan County Sheriff's Office 6 Decker, right, served in the US Army and the Washington National Guard Credit: U.S. Army/Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach Cozart told ABC News that Whitney believes Decker's PTSD from his years in the Army and Washington National Guard caused him to snap. She said the trauma from his service was something he "always carried with him" throughout their marriage before they divorced in 2022. Throughout their marriage, Cozart said Decker would wake up screaming in the middle of the night and rarely sleep. Decker began to "spiral" when he got out of the active reserves in 2023, Cozart said. He became homeless and started to struggle financially. 'SOMETHING BROKE' His instability led to Whitney filing for a new parental plan in September 2024. She asked the court to not allow the girls to stay overnight with Decker because they would stay on mattresses at an armory during their visits with him. "Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable," Whitney wrote in the filing. "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." An audio recording from court obtained by reporter Dominick Bonny revealed Decker refusing to sign the updated parenting plan, but Whitney's wishes were still put into place. Whitney insisted through her lawyer on Thursday that Decker was an active dad who loved his daughters and that he had never been violent before the killings. "He was a loving man, but something broke and whatever monster came out of him, it's something that he was trained to do in the military," Cozart said. A GoFundMe for Whitney in the aftermath of the tragedy has raised over $1 million as of Friday morning. Officials have asked anyone with information on Decker or his whereabouts to call 911 immediately. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Final message ‘killer' dad Travis Decker sent ex-wife before ‘murdering 3 girls' as she insists ‘something broke' in him
THE final message a fugitive gave to his ex-wife just before he allegedly murdered their three daughters has been revealed. The manhunt for Travis Decker, 32, has entered its fourth day as his ex-wife confessed "something broke" inside of him after they were last together with their children on Friday. 6 6 Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground on Monday after they left for a planned custody visit with Decker three days earlier. Cops found the girls down an embankment at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, with their dad's truck abandoned nearby. But Decker was nowhere to be found, sparking a forest manhunt for the suspect as cops warn mountain residents to lock their doors and not approach the former soldier, who has extensive military skills and can survive in the wilderness. Whitney reported her daughters missing on Friday after Decker didn't return them from the planned three-hour custody visit. She said he picked them up at 5 pm and the former couple spoke for about 20 minutes before he left, making her believe nothing was out of the ordinary with his final message. "He said, 'Hey, I will see you at 8' and he left, and he never came back," Arianna Cozart, Whitney's attorney who she has allowed to speak on her behalf, told ABC News. The mom said through her lawyer that there were never any visitation issues before Friday. "Something came out of this man and he broke, that's it," Cozart said. "When that man picked up those girls, his babies, he did not have a plan to kill them; there's nothing that indicates that he did." Decker hasn't been seen since he picked his daughters up on Friday. Three missing children found dead after vanishing on visit with homeless dad as cops slammed for not issuing Amber Alert Cops have released multiple recent pictures and a home surveillance video of Decker in hopes that members of the public will keep an eye out for him. The new pictures of the alleged killer show multiple tattoos on his arms, while the video showed he recently wore his hair in a ponytail. On Thursday, officials said Decker may be traveling along the Pacific Crest Trail. Cops urged residents to keep their windows and doors locked and to leave lights on at night, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office said. Timeline of the missing Decker girls Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground after they were last seen on a custody visit to their dad. Below is a timeline of events: Friday, May 30 5 pm - Travis Decker picks the three girls up from their mom, Whitney Decker. 8 pm - Travis Decker is supposed to return the girls but doesn't. Whitney Decker calls him and it goes to voicemail. 9:45 pm - Whitney Decker calls the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing. Travis Decker's truck is seen driving westbound on Highway 2. Washington State Patrol is contacted for an Amber Alert but said the situation didn't match their criteria. Saturday, May 31 WPD issues an Endangered Missing Persons Alert. Monday, June 2 3:45 pm - Travis Decker's truck is found empty at Rock Island Campground with two bloody handprints and items inside. 5 pm - Cops search the area and find the bodies of the three girls. Tuesday, June 3 9:30 am - Cops notify the public that they are still searching for Decker. 2 pm - WPD tells the public that the three girls were found dead and that Travis Decker is still on the loose. Wednesday, June 4 Cops release recent video and images of Travis Decker and tell the public that he has extensive survival skills and could survive in the wilderness for weeks. Hiking trails and parks have been closed as the search continues. Cops warned that Decker is dangerous and potentially armed. 6 6 6 Cozart told ABC News that Whitney believes Decker's PTSD from his years in the Army and Washington National Guard caused him to snap. She said the trauma from his service was something he "always carried with him" throughout their marriage before they divorced in 2022. Throughout their marriage, Cozart said Decker would wake up screaming in the middle of the night and rarely sleep. Decker began to "spiral" when he got out of the active reserves in 2023, Cozart said. He became homeless and started to struggle financially. 'SOMETHING BROKE' His instability led to Whitney filing for a new parental plan in September 2024. She asked the court to not allow the girls to stay overnight with Decker because they would stay on mattresses at an armory during their visits with him. "Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable," Whitney wrote in the filing. "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." An audio recording from court obtained by reporter Dominick Bonny revealed Decker refusing to sign the updated parenting plan, but Whitney's wishes were still put into place. Whitney insisted through her lawyer on Thursday that Decker was an active dad who loved his daughters and that he had never been violent before the killings. "He was a loving man, but something broke and whatever monster came out of him, it's something that he was trained to do in the military," Cozart said. A GoFundMe for Whitney in the aftermath of the tragedy has raised over $1 million as of Friday morning. Officials have asked anyone with information on Decker or his whereabouts to call 911 immediately.
