Latest news with #EndangeredMissingPersonAlert
USA Today
8 hours ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Travis Decker Missing Update: Police Hunt Father After Daughters Found Dead
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and local police are searching for the father of three girls who were found dead after spending time with their father, Travis Decker. The three girls, Evelyn, Paityn, and Olivia Decker, were reported missing on June 1 after Decker failed to return them home from their regular visitation hours with him. They were found deceased on June 3 near their father's white truck, but their father remains missing. Wenatchee Police Department (WPD) is urging the public to assist in locating Decker but has also warned he "may pose a significant risk, if approached," given his military background. WPD has been contacted via Facebook, and the Wenatchee Mayor's Office has been contacted via email for comment. Images of Travis Decker released by Wenatchee Police Department Images of Travis Decker released by Wenatchee Police Department Wenatchee Police Department via AP Why It Matters WPD did not issue an Amber Alert for the children when they went missing initially as although they had always come home on time in the past, failing to return from visitation hours is not an atypical occurrence for children and does not qualify as an Amber Alert issue. Some people are now questioning if issuing an Amber Alert could have saved the children. Their deaths also raise concerns about the safety of his custody agreement and the mental health issues faced by veterans. What To Know The Decker girls, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, lived with their mother in central Washington and saw their father under his visitation rights. Their mother, Whitney Decker, called the police on Friday, May 30, when they failed to return home after seeing Travis Decker. Whitney said this had never happened before, and she knew Travis, who is homeless, had been suffering from mental health issues. Although the WPD was unable to issue an Amber Alert on Friday, they created an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) on Saturday, May 31, and notified the public via social media about the missing girls on June 1. The search for the girls ended when police found Decker's white 017 GMC Sierra pickup near Rock Island Campground in Chelan Count. They then searched the area, uncovering the girls' bodies nearby. According to court documents obtained by KIRO, the girls likely died from asphyxiation. WPD has issued a warrant for Decker's arrest for multiple counts of murder in the 1st degree and kidnapping in the 1st degree. Crime scene data has been taken from his pickup and from the area where the girls were found dead, which police said would be processed by June 3. Police have described Decker as a man with "extensive military training" who, prior to the deaths of his daughters, was homeless and living in a combination of his vehicle, motels, and campgrounds in the area. From left: Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker. From left: Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker. Wenatchee Police Department via AP What People Are Saying Wenatchee Police Department posted to Facebook: "We want to express our sincere and deep heartfelt condolences to the family at this time." Washington State Patrol public affairs director Chris Loftis told Sky News: "We're people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is... devastating." What Happens Next The search continues for Travis Decker at this time.
USA Today
2 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Who is Travis Decker? Police search for father suspected of killing his 3 daughters
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, who were found dead on June 2. 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. Their father was nowhere to be found and police confirmed to USA TODAY that Decker remained at large, as of Wednesday morning, June 4. 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 Who is Travis Decker? 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 News 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. Travis Decker description 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. What happened to the three sisters? 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 Forest Service 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, police said, adding that their father was nowhere to be found. Investigators traced Travis Decker's cell phone, which revealed he had visited the same campground a day prior to the girls' kidnapping, multiple outlets including the Spokesman-Review and Fox 13 reported. Reports identify Decker sisters' likely cause of death The three girls likely died of asphyxiation, Washington media outlets including Fox 13 and Seattle Times reported, citing court documents. Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths, local media reported, citing court filings. Who is Whitney Decker? Whitney Decker is the mother of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia and Travis Decker's ex-wife, according to online court records obtained by USA TODAY. The pair has been divorced for several years. A 7-year-old boy died crossing a street: His parents are being charged. What is Travis Decker wanted for? 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, according to police. 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. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
