Latest news with #MissingPerson
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Timeline: Events that led up to the murders of three Wenatchee sisters
There's a nationwide search happening for the father of three Wenatchee girls who were found dead. His name is Travis Decker. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office says their mother reported the children missing after Decker didn't drop them off at the agreed-upon time. KIRO 7 has compiled a timeline of events leading up to the grisly discovery of their bodies. Thursday, May 29 Court documents obtained by KIRO 7 News state that Decker's cellphone data shows he traveled to the Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth Thursday evening, the day before his scheduled visitation. Friday, May 30 The sheriff's office says Decker returned to Wenatchee Friday morning. At 5 p.m., Decker picked up the girls, 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia, for his planned visitation. According to court documents, the girls were expected to return home by 8 p.m. The sheriff's office says the girls' mother, Whitney Decker, tried to call Travis several times, but his cellphone goes to voicemail. At 10 p.m., Whitney went to the Wenatchee Police Department to report the girls missing. According to court documents, law enforcement checked all the hotels and motels within city limits as well as Confluence Park, but could not find Decker or the girls. According to the documents, law enforcement believes Decker drove the girls to the Rock Island Campground, where he'd visited the night prior, and shut off his phone. Saturday, May 31 Wenatchee Police send out an Endangered Missing Person Alert for Decker and the girls. Police said that the investigation did not meet AMBER Alert criteria. Monday, June 1 Court documents obtained by KIRO 7 state that Decker failed to show up to work on Monday, and his boss noted some 'recent mental health concerns.' Around 9 p.m., Chelan County Emergency Management posted that Icicle Road in Leavenworth was closed at milepost 4 due to police activity. Around 10 p.m., law enforcement canceled the Endangered Missing Person Alert but did not explain why. They did not provide information about whether the girls or Decker had been found dead or alive. Law enforcement did not say whether the two incidents were connected at that time. Tuesday, June 2 A warrant was issued for Decker's arrest for custodial interference and granted by a judge. Law enforcement began using a variety of resources, including cellphone records and license plate readers, to try and find Decker. Documents state that just before 5 p.m., law enforcement found his 2017 GMC truck near the Rock Island Campground; it was empty. As they continued their search, the documents state they found zip ties and bags scattered around the area. As they kept looking in the area, the documents state that law enforcement eventually found the bodies of all three girls. The documents state that it's believed they died of asphyxiation. Law enforcement stated there was now probable cause to arrest Decker for kidnapping and murder. At 6 p.m., a vigil was held for the young girls at Memorial Park in Wenatchee. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office held a news conference at about 7 p.m., demanding that Decker turn himself in. What's happening now? There's now a nationwide search for Decker. A tipline was set up for people to call in any possible sightings or information about where he may be. People can call 509-667-6845 or submit information here. Anyone who sees him shouldn't approach him. He's considered dangerous. Instead, call 911 right away. Police say Decker is former military with extensive training. A $20,000 reward is being offered for a tip that leads to Decker's arrest.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police searching for father of 3 girls found dead in Washington state
A man in central Washington state is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle. Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with 'extensive training,' was armed. On Friday, the mother of the girls, ages 9, 8 and 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said. Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates. Police said Decker's unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee. According to an affidavit, Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 yards away from the truck, The Seattle Times reported. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said. Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911. 'Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' police said. The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary and that counseling services were available. The mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said. The detective said she 'expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues.' '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,' Capt. Brian Chance said. Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee police said. The following day Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert. The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol. 'In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction,' he said, adding that there was no indication Decker, a custodial parent who had the children for a visit, would harm them. 'We're people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is … devastating,' Loftis said. 'Everybody always looks to how we can improve.' The alert systems are constantly evolving and this could prompt further change, Loftis said: 'Obviously it didn't work this time. Obviously, we have three children that are dead.' Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. 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, Shagren said. 'This is an absolute tragedy,' Shagren said. 'We are mourning along with the community.' The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on 'potential credible information and tips' regarding Decker's location, the agency said in a statement. The agency was working with US Marshals to locate and apprehend Decker and the search continued Tuesday evening. A reward of up to $20,000 was available for information leading directly to his arrest.
2 days ago
- General
Authorities are searching for a Washington state father of 3 dead girls
A man in central Washington state is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle. Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with 'extensive training,' was armed. On Friday the mother of the girls, ages 9, 8 and 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said. Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates. Police said Decker's unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Wenatchee. Officers found the girls' bodies during a search. Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911. 'Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' police said. The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary. Counseling services were available, and 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 mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., and his phone went straight to voicemail, according to a probable cause affidavit written by a Wenatchee police detective, The Seattle Times reported. The detective said she 'expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues.' '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,' Capt. Brian Chance said. Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee police said. The following day Wanatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert. The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol. 'In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction,' he said, adding that there was no indication Decker, a custodial parent who had the children for a visit, would harm them. "We're people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is ... devastating," Loftis said. 'Everybody always looks to how we can improve.' The alert systems are constantly evolving and this could prompt further change, Loftis said: 'Obviously it didn't work this time. Obviously we have three children that are dead.' Decker and the girls' mother are divorced, Chance said. He did not have details on how the girls were killed or on Decker's employment. Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. 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, Shagren said. 'This is an absolute tragedy,' Shagren said. 'We are mourning along with the community.' The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on 'potential credible information and tips' regarding Decker's location, the agency said in a statement. The agency was working with U.S. Marshals to locate and apprehend Decker. A reward of up to $20,000 was available for information leading directly to his arrest.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 sisters found dead after planned visitation with dad; He's still missing
WENATCHEE, Wash. (WJW) – Three young sisters from Washington who didn't return home after a planned visitation with their father were found dead at a campground on Monday. The father is still missing at this time. According to a press release from the Wenatchee Police Department, the 5, 8 and 9-year-olds were last seen around 5 p.m. on May 30 when they left their home with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker. I-TEAM: Senate leaders introduce new funding plan for Browns dome According to the Monday press release from police, Decker is homeless and lives in his vehicle or at various hotels, motels and campgrounds. It was not normal for Decker to go outside of the parameters of the parenting plan and it is a cause for alarm, they added. The Washington State Patrol eventually issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert. In an updated press release on Tuesday, the police department said it is 'saddened to report the three missing girls have been found deceased. We want to express our sincere and deep heartfelt condolences to the family at this time.' According to the release, the search was narrowed down to an area in Chelan County on Monday, and a warrant for Decker's arrest was obtained by Wenatchee Police for three counts of custodial interference. Ohioans can soon buy over twice as much nonmedical marijuana At around 3:45 p.m., a Chelan County deputy located Decker's vehicle near the Rock Island Campground, but it was unoccupied. While searching the area, the bodies of the three missing girls were found, but Decker was not located, the release said. At this time, the search for Decker is still ongoing, and Police are asking that anyone who believes they may have seen Decker since Friday, or knows his current whereabouts, is asked to call 911. He is now wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping. According to the release, Decker is a former military and has extensive training. 'Due to safety concerns, do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' the release said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
Bernard Trottet: Body found in search for Swiss hiker missing in Scottish Highlands
A body has been found in the search for a Swiss hiker missing in the Scottish Highlands. Bernard Trottet, 65, disappeared while walking the Cape Wrath Trail. He was last known to be at Corryhully Bothy in Glenfinnan on Tuesday 27 May. Police Scotland said he was planning to walk north to Kinloch Hourn and then on to a campsite in the Morvich area but failed to arrive. The force said a body was found in the water in the Kinlock Hourn area around 12.55pm on Monday. It said: "Formal identification has yet to take place, however, the family of Bernard Trottet, who was reported missing in the area, has been informed." There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, police added. The Cape Wrath Trail is a hiking route that runs around 200 miles through the Scottish Highlands and the west coast of Scotland. It is considered one of the most challenging long-distance walks in the UK. Police have been searching for Mr Trottet, with assistance from air support and mountain rescue teams.
