Authorities in Washington state believe that the father suspected of killing his three young daughters could have scoped out a hiding place before vanishing in the wake of the murders.
Heartbreaking reports emerged yesterday detailing how the bodies of sisters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered at a campsite after they went on a trip with their father, Travis Decker.
Travis Decker, 32, is now wanted on multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, following the deaths of his three young daughters. Their bodies were discovered near the remote Rock Island campground in Wenatchee, approximately three hours east of Seattle.
The children were reported missing by their mother on May 30.
Authorities believe Decker, a U.S. Army veteran with extensive combat experience and a documented history of severe mental health issues, suffocated the girls during what was meant to be a brief, court-approved visitation.
According to recent reports, investigators suspect Decker may have prepared a hiding place in advance before disappearing.
“It sounds like there were times he would go off the grid for as long as two and a half months,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said during a press conference on June 4.
“We recognize it’s possible he had previously scoped out the area, stashed supplies, and has both the skills and knowledge to survive for an extended period.”
Sheriff Morrison also issued a direct appeal to Decker.
“Travis, if you’re out there and can hear this, we’re asking you to turn yourself in,” he said. “We want this to end peacefully. But we will not stop searching. Please do the right thing for your kids and come forward.”
Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia disappeared on the evening of May 30 after their father picked them up for a scheduled three-hour visitation a routine handoff that their mother, Whitney, initially saw no reason to worry about.suspected
But when 9:45 p.m. passed with no sign of the girls and Decker’s phone went straight to voicemail, her concern quickly turned to fear.
“I didn’t think he was dangerous,” Whitney told KIRO 7. “His mental health could be difficult at times, but he loved them.”
The discovery of the girls was devastating. Each was found with a plastic bag over her head and zip ties binding her wrists. On the tailgate of Decker’s truck, investigators found two bloody handprints. Inside were the haunting remains of what should have been an ordinary family outing: car seats, blankets, snacks and Decker’s wallet.suspected
Court documents reportedly reveal that Decker had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He was not taking his prescribed medication and had refused to sign a parenting plan that required him to attend therapy and anger management classes.
