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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Terrifying Google search 'killer dad' Travis Decker made before allegedly murdering his three daughters
The dad accused of murdering his three daughters in Washington State searched how to move to Canada just days before they were found dead. Authorities started searching for Travis Decker's children, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, after they failed to return home from a scheduled visit with him on May 30. On Monday, the sisters' lifeless bodies were discovered at a campsite in Leavenworth - about 20 miles from their home. 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.' Decker is also facing an additional federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The charges against him 'are all very serious violent felonies which all carry significant prison sentences if convicted,' the affidavit stated. The legal statement also noted that 'those facing significant prison sentences have a propensity' to run. There is currently a 'very public national campaign to locate Decker' and 'it is publicly known there is a warrant for his arrest,' the affidavit stated. He is considered very dangerous given his extensive military training and propensity for violence. 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 last week. To Whitney, it was a routine handoff. But those around Decker expressed to the grieving mother after her daughters did not return home that they had seen the warning signs. According to Whitney's attorney Arianna Cozart, 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. Even her ever-reliable neighbor, who Whitney trusted with the messy details of their divorce, recalled that Travis appeared 'very sad' during a brief exchange outside the house just before he abducted them. Yet, as Whitney's lawyer told Daily Mail in an exclusive interview on Thursday, there was nothing in Travis's behavior at the time of the 5pm pickup that raised any red flags. 'She had no reason to suspect anything was wrong,' the attorney said. Whitney did know, however, that he was having a hard week, having crashed his uninsured vehicle days earlier. Travis, who was living in his truck at the time, spent about 15 minutes talking with her, mostly about what to do with his pet dog for the hot summer, wondering if she'd take care of the animal, as she had in the past, or whether he should just give it to the Humane Society. It was only after Travis failed to return with the kids that night did she learn that he'd had some sort of mental health breakdown at his construction job earlier in the day. 'The supervisor told her he was acting like he was on the brink of something extreme on Friday,' Whitney's lawyer said, but said Whitney still doesn't know the specifics Decker did to raise such alarm in his higher-ups. After her daughters were found, 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. The grieving mother alleged it 'was a tragedy that could've been completely' avoided had officials intervened. She believes 'something broke inside' of her ex-husband 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. Following their tragic deaths, a GoFundMe campaign, created by Whitney's friend, has gone on to raise more than $1 million. 'Their light touched so many, and the pain of this loss is immeasurable,' Amy Edwards wrote. Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker's arrest. Police believe he is hiding out in the woods along the Canadian border. Officers have urged locals, specifically those in remote areas of Okanogan County, to lock all doors and windows while he remains at large.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
National Guard deployed in manhunt for survivalist accused of killing his three young daughters
The search has intensified for a Washington state survivalist who has been on the run from authorities for more than a week after he allegedly killed his three young daughters. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson activated the state's National Guard late Friday to assist in the manhunt for Travis Caleb Decker, 32, who disappeared after he failed to return his children following a scheduled visitation. Separately, police said that more than 100 officers are now searching for Decker, with more than 500 tips coming in from the public as police said their focus on the fugitive has narrowed. "At the request of the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, we will be providing helicopter transportation for law enforcement as they search in remote areas," Ferguson wrote on X. Authorities Release New Doorbell Camera Video Of Suspect Who Allegedly Kidnapped, Murdered Three Daughters "As a parent, my heart goes out to Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's mom, Whitney, and all those who love them. The brutal murder of these young children has shocked our state. I'm committed to supporting law enforcement as they seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia." Read On The Fox News App The girls were discovered on Monday with plastic bags over their heads and bound wrists at a campground in Chelan County, approximately 75 to 100 yards from Decker's abandoned truck. They are believed to have died from asphyxiation. Authorities said that new surveillance video, photos and tips from the public are continuously surfacing, which aid in decision-making to find Decker. Decker spent time in the military and is an avid outdoorsman, according to authorities. He did not have legal custody of the girls at the time. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub "Despite the many challenges faced and the complex ongoing murder investigation, morale and effort remains extremely high within staff at the Command Post," the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have been given notice to, and are working in conjunction with our surrounding counties in the event Mr. Decker moves through the forest into their jurisdiction. Additionally, the more agencies we can get involved, and the more the public remains vigilant, the better opportunity for success in the capture of Mr. Decker." Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison released a new photo on Thursday showing Decker's tattoos and said that search warrants had generated leads. He urged homeowners and people with mountain cabins to lock their doors – including to sheds and outbuildings, leave their blinds open and turn on outdoor lighting. The children were ages 5, 8 and 9. Decker's ex-wife, Whitney Decker, 35, told police Monday that he had failed to bring the girls back to her after a Friday visit under the terms of their court-ordered parenting plan, according to court documents. Morrison said authorities had not identified a motive. "Clearly, it's not the decision of a sound mind," he said. Travis Decker was limited to visiting the girls every other weekend – and not overnight – according to a court-ordered parenting plan that he did not sign. When he did not bring the girls back by an 8 p.m. curfew Friday, his ex tried calling him – but her attempts went straight to voicemail, according to a Chelan County police affidavit. Washington State Father Wanted For Murder After 3 Daughters Found Dead She told investigators that he had never missed the deadline to return their children before, but warned that he has mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder. He is homeless and splits his time between motels and campgrounds, according to the affidavit. WATCH: New footage released by authorities shows murder suspect Travis Decker Decker drives a 2017 white GMC Sierra with the Washington license plate D20165C, according to authorities. License plate scanners picked up the vehicle heading north over the Wenatchee Bridge on Friday at around 5:40 p.m. He did not show up for work Monday, according to the affidavit. A Chelan County sheriff's deputy found the truck around 4 p.m. on Monday at the Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth, Washington. They found all three girls' bodies between 75 and 100 yards away, down an embankment, according to court documents. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Each one had a plastic bag over her head, and "their wrists were also zip-tied or showed signs of being zip-tied," according to the affidavit. Deputies found two bloody handprints on the pickup's tailgate. Decker's whereabouts remain unknown, and he is charged with three counts each of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. He is described as standing about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on both arms and was recently photographed with a goatee and mustache. Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter It is unknown whether he is armed, but authorities say he should be considered dangerous. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office is advising anyone who sees Decker to avoid approaching him and call 911 immediately. He faces a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to his arrest. Fox News' Christina Shaw contributed to this article source: National Guard deployed in manhunt for survivalist accused of killing his three young daughters
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
Manhunt expands for Washington dad accused of killing his three daughters
Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson has ordered National Guard resources to assist in the manhunt for a father suspected of killing his three young daughters and leaving their bodies near a campsite in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Authorities have been searching for 32-year-old Travis Caleb Decker since discovering the bodies of his daughters — 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn and 9-year-old Paityn — near his abandoned pickup truck on Monday. Ferguson said late Friday that the state is providing helicopter transportation for law enforcement officers as they comb through remote areas in their search for Decker. 'As a parent, my heart goes out to Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's mom, Whitney, and all those who love them,' Ferguson posted on social media. 'The brutal murder of these young children has shocked our state. I'm committed to supporting law enforcement as they seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia.' More than 100 officers, agents and deputies are engaged in the search, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said Friday, with more than 500 tips from the public. Whitney Decker had reported the girls missing May 30 after they did not return from a planned visitation with their father. She told police in Wenatchee, where she lived with the girls, that she and Travis Decker had divorced after about seven years of marriage and had an amicable co-parenting relationship following a court-issued custodial parenting plan that allowed him visitations every other weekend, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Washington Post. Whitney Decker told police that she and the girls' father had never had problems with their shared parenting plan but that he was no longer allowed overnight visits after he became homeless and struggled to find stable housing, the affidavit states. Travis Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder toward the end of their marriage, Whitney Decker told investigators, but she believed he was not taking medication. He had also been ordered to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of the parenting plan, which he had refused to sign, according to the affidavit. Travis Decker had also been struggling financially following two traffic collisions for which he had received a citation, as well as because his wages were being garnished for back child support, the affidavit states. On Monday, a deputy found his white pickup truck in a remote area in Chelan County, the affidavit states, with what appeared to be two bloody handprints on the tailgate. About a hundred yards away were the bodies of the three girls, according to the affidavit, who had plastic bags over their heads and appeared to have had their wrists zip-tied. Family friend Amy Edwards, who organized a GoFundMe that has raised more than $1 million for Whitney Decker, described Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia as 'the kind of children that everyone rooted for, looked forward to seeing and held close in their hearts.' They were well-known and cherished within the community, where they participated in sports, dance and theater and attended the local elementary school, Edwards said in a news conference Thursday. 'Their laughter, curiosity and spirit left a mark on all of us,' Edwards said. Authorities have expanded their search for Travis Decker across multiple counties in central Washington, issuing closure notices for camping areas as well as for a large swath to the north that includes trails and campgrounds along the Pacific Crest Trail. They warned that Decker — who was described as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes — was former military and had extensive training and should be considered dangerous. He is also 'well versed in wilderness survival and capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment,' said the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, which asked that any cabin owners in the remote areas of Chelan, Kittitas, King, Snohomish and Okanogan counties be on alert and lock their doors, including to sheds and outbuildings. Federal authorities including the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service are aiding in the search, according to the sheriff's office.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Mom of three murdered girls' share bizarre Father's Day tribute to killer ex who suffocated them
The mother of the three young girls who were allegedly killed by her now-missing ex-husband shared a bizarre Father's Day tribute to him before their tragic deaths. Whitney Decker made a 20-second video featuring a slideshow of photos of her daughters, Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, Olivia Decker, 5, and their father, Travis Decker. The video was made as a Father's Day tribute to her veteran ex-husband who is now wanted on suspicion of murdering their three daughters. Her attorney, Arianna Cozart, provided the video to People. It's unclear when the video, which features Pharrell Williams ' song Happy, was posted. Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth on Monday, after Travis failed to return them after his visitation on Friday. The girls were found 20 miles from their Washington home with their wrists bound with zip ties and each having been suffocated with a plastic bag. Travis reportedly suffers from 'complex PTSD' and 'other mental issues,' and has since been on the run after vanishing into the woods. Yet, the girls' mother spoke out through Cozart and alleged that their murder '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. The attorney, speaking on behalf of Whitney, also noted that it was uncharacteristic of Decker not to return his daughters after a scheduled visitation. His 'declining mental health' and 'out-of-character behavior' should have prompted 'enough concern' for an Amber Alert, Cozart argued. She believes authorities should have acknowledged the sisters were 'missing' and in 'substantial danger', even though Decker 'didn't issue an overt threat'. Court documents state that when Whitney reported her daughters missing on Friday, she 'expressed concern' over his out-of-character actions and 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. '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.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Travis Decker: Search continues for man who allegedly killed his 3 daughters
Police are still looking for a Washington man they believed murdered his three young daughters one week Decker, 32, is wanted on kidnapping and first-degree murder charges for killing his daughters aged nine, eight and five, according to the Wenatchee Police Department in Washington state. Officials believe Mr Decker, who they say is an outdoorsman and may have gone to mountain survival school as part of his military training, is hiding in a remote part of the mountainous and wooded state, making the search for him difficult. He has been said to "pose a significant risk, if approached". Police have not provided a possible motive. The girls, Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia, died from apparent suffocation in a remote campground, earlier this week, according to police. Their mother reported them missing on 30 May after Mr Decker failed to return his daughters to her following a visit. He also did not take her phone calls. A few days later, on 2 June, police found the girls' bodies near a campground. Police also found Mr Decker's cell phone at the campground but he was no longer there. His truck, which he was believed to have been living in, was also found nearby."I don't think any motive would be acceptable. And clearly it's not the decision of a sound mind," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said at a press conference on Wednesday, where he made a public plea to Mr Decker to turn himself Decker's outdoor survival skills may be helping him evade the authorities searching for him, which includes the FBI, Sheriff Morrison said. "It sounds like at times he would go out and would be off-grid for sometimes up to two and a half months," Sheriff Morrison said after speaking with Mr Decker's Decker may have scoped out the area and hidden supplies there before allegedly killing his children, and he has "the knowledge to survive for a long period of time," the sheriff added."We want a peaceful resolution to this, but we're not going to relinquish our efforts," Sheriff Morrison said in asking Mr Decker to come forward. "Let's wrap this up and do what's right for your kids."The US Marshals Service on Wednesday announced a $20,000 (£14,780) reward for information leading to Mr Decker's capture.
