One week after the bodies of three girls were found at a Washington state campsite, police are still searching for their father, who is suspected of being involved in their deaths and believed to be hiding out in the wilderness.
Travis Decker is wanted by authorities for charges that include three counts of first-degree murder after his three daughters — Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5 — were found dead on Tuesday, apparently suffocated, at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Wash. The case is being investigated by the Wenatchee Police Department and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
Now, as the National Guard joins the search, the sheriff’s office has released new photos of Decker that show his distinctive tattoos and hair in a ponytail, as well as the clothes he was last seen wearing.
A wanted poster for Travis Decker. (Chelan County Sheriff’s Office)
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told reporters last week that Decker — who previously served in the U.S. Army — would sometimes go “off the grid” for more than two months at a time. Authorities are exploring the possibility that Decker may have prepared to hide out in the wilderness, including stashing supplies for his later use, which would make it more difficult to find him.
“Travis, if you’re out there seeing us, we’d like you to turn yourself in,” Morrison said at the press conference on Thursday. “We want a peaceful resolution to this, but we’re not going to relinquish our efforts. So please turn yourself in. Let’s wrap this up and do what’s right for your kids.”
Travis Decker is wanted by authorities in connection with the deaths of his three daughters. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Wanatchee Police Department via Facebook)
Why authorities suspect Travis Decker
Decker’s three daughters were reported missing by their mother on the night of May 30 after they failed to return home from a scheduled visit with Decker. On Monday, a Chelan County deputy discovered the bodies of the girls, which were about 75 to 100 yards past their father’s unoccupied truck near the campground.
Court filings said that the girls appeared to have died from asphyxiation, with the probable cause affidavit stating that their wrists were zip-tied or “showed signs” of being zip-tied. Each of Decker’s daughters were found with a plastic bag over their head.
Investigators discovered that Decker had driven to the same campground the day before the abduction, according to court documents. His unoccupied vehicle, found near the scene, had two bloody handprints on the exterior and personal items like blankets, food, car seats and his wallet on the center console, authorities said.
Decker is an Army vet with wilderness survival skills
Decker is a military veteran who earned badges in the army for expertise in infantry and had experience in parachuting. Social media posts from members of the armed forces, which were reviewed by Fox 13, also appear to show that he earned his “Ranger” tab, which means he had advanced wilderness survival skills — something authorities believe will make him more elusive.
Fox 13 Seattle confirmed with a spokesperson from the Washington National Guard that Decker was a member of the organization, and that he had been awaiting disciplinary discharge due to failure to attend his required monthly drills.
Per Fox 13, the girls’ mother told investigators that Decker’s mental health had appeared to worsen in the time leading up to their daughters’ deaths, and that he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder but did not take medication to manage the condition.
Decker, who had been divorced from his ex-wife for several years, was living in temporary housing like motels and campgrounds after becoming unhoused, according to multiple news reports. He was reportedly only allowed to have day visit access to his children via a court-approved visitation schedule, explaining why his ex-wife was concerned when he failed to return the children home.
Decker should be considered dangerous, according to police
Authorities continue to search for Decker, who they consider dangerous and say may be armed. On Friday, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called in the National Guard to help aid the search and pledged emergency funding. He also said he will provide helicopter transportation for law enforcement as they search in remote areas.
In response to the ongoing search, authorities have closed numerous trails, campgrounds and forest service roads across parts of the North Cascades and surrounding areas. Parts of the Pacific Crest Trail have also been shut down as efforts continue.
Decker is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Authorities urge anyone with information to call 911 without attempting to approach him.
The Wenatchee community held a vigil last week to honor Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia. Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support their mother. As of Thursday, the campaign has raised over $840,000.
