Three young sisters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, just 5 years old, vanished during what should’ve been a routine visit with their father Travis.
Days later, they were found dead at a Washington campsite and now, police believe he’s the one who took their lives.
In a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken Washington State and drawn national attention, three young sisters Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia Decker (5) were found dead near the remote Rock Island campground in Wenatchee, about three hours east of Seattle.
According to the Wenatchee Police Department, the girls had been visiting the area with their father — a trip that ended in horror. He is now wanted in connection with their deaths.
The suspect, 32-year-old Travis Decker, remains at large. Authorities are urging the public not to approach him, describing him as potentially dangerous.
Decker, a military veteran with extensive combat training and a history of severe mental health issues, is believed to have suffocated his three daughters during what was meant to be a brief, court-approved visit.
A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
The tragedy began Friday evening, when Decker picked up Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia for a scheduled three-hour visitation. For their mother, Whitney, it was a routine exchange — one she never imagined would end in horror.
But when 9:45 p.m. came and went with no sign of the girls, and Decker’s phone went straight to voicemail, panic quickly turned into terror.
“I didn’t think he was dangerous,” Whitney told KIRO 7. “His mental health can be hard sometimes, but he loved them.”
Court records, however, suggest a far more troubling reality. Decker had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and was reportedly not taking his prescribed medication. He had also refused to sign a parenting plan requiring therapy and anger management classes.
Whitney had raised multiple red flags in custody filings, detailing troubling conditions during visits with their father. She described how the girls had slept in armories, tents, and even in Decker’s truck — often unsupervised and in the presence of strangers. In one particularly harrowing incident, young Olivia called her mother crying, unable to locate her dad. In another, Evelyn came home with unexplained welts between her legs.
“I’ve bent over backwards to support their relationship,” Whitney wrote in court documents. “But I cannot have our girls living in what is essentially a homeless shelter — or worse.”
A Grisly Discovery in the Forest
After a tense weekend of growing fear and frantic searching, authorities located Travis Decker’s truck around 3:45 p.m. Monday near the remote Rock Island Campground.
Just 75 to 100 yards from the vehicle, they made a horrifying discovery: the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker.
Each of the girls had a plastic bag over her head and zip ties around her wrists. On the tailgate of the truck, two bloody handprints hinted at the violence that had unfolded. Inside the vehicle were haunting reminders of what was meant to be a simple family visit — car seats, blankets, food, and Decker’s wallet.
Nearby, officers found evidence of recent camping activity, including a tent and cooler. But Decker himself was gone.
“We Will Not Rest”
Chelan County authorities have formally charged Decker with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. A judge has issued a warrant for his arrest and ordered that he be held without bail if apprehended.
“We have no leads specifically showing where he is at,” said Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison during a Tuesday press conference. “Nothing is off the table. We will not rest until he is found.”
A Statewide Manhunt
The search for Travis Decker has intensified into a full-scale, multi-agency manhunt. Local law enforcement is now joined by the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the Department of Homeland Security. Drones are sweeping the rugged terrain of Icicle Road — a remote area in the Cascade Mountains popular with hikers and climbers.
During a press briefing, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison addressed the fugitive directly:
“Travis, if you’re listening — this is your chance to come forward. Do the right thing. Take accountability. We will not rest.”
A Community in Mourning
As investigators combed the wilderness, more than 300 people gathered Tuesday evening at Memorial Park in Wenatchee for a vigil honoring the lives of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia.
Children blew bubbles skyward as soft music played. Handwritten notes taped to tables expressed the collective grief. One message, penned in marker by a child named Grace, read: “I am so sorry. No one deserves what happened to you.”
Pastor Mike Wilson led the community in prayer — for the girls, for their grieving family, and for the investigators still searching. He spoke of a mother now carrying an unthinkable loss.
A GoFundMe page launched to support Whitney, the girls’ mother, reads:
“These girls were true light in this world. And it is a darker place without them.”
By Tuesday night, the fundraiser had surpassed $350,000, with thousands of messages pouring in — expressions of sorrow, solidarity, and fury from across the country.
Still at Large
As of Wednesday morning, Travis Decker remains at large. He is described as 5’8″, 190 pounds, with black hair worn in a ponytail and brown eyes. He is believed to have no fixed address, often staying in campgrounds or motels. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Authorities continue to warn the public: do not approach him. Anyone with information or sightings is urged to contact law enforcement immediately.
In a nation all too familiar with the painful headlines of domestic violence, the deaths of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia stand as a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences when warning signs are overlooked — and of a mother’s tireless effort to protect her children against impossible odds.
As the final candles flickered in the Wenatchee twilight, one voice rose gently above the silence:
“Fly high, sweet girls.”
