WENATCHEE, Wash. — The search for Travis Decker is ongoing, as he is wanted on probable cause for murder following the tragic deaths of his three daughters, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia, whose bodies were found west of Leavenworth earlier this week.
The siblings, aged 9, 8, and 5, were reported missing last weekend after their father, Travis Decker, failed to return them from a scheduled visitation.
Here’s a timeline of events and updates on the police investigation into the deaths of the girls and the subsequent search for Decker.
On the evening of Friday, May 30, around 5 p.m., Travis Decker picked up his daughters from their home in Wenatchee for a visitation that was expected to last for three hours.
At approximately 5:40 p.m., he was seen driving north out of Wenatchee in a white GMC pickup truck, continuing westbound on U.S. 2.
As the hours passed, concerns grew when Decker did not return by the agreed time. The girls’ mother contacted the police at 9:45 p.m. that same evening to report them missing.
In her report, she informed police that Decker was homeless and frequently stayed at various campsites or motels.
Authorities checked nearby hotels in the Wenatchee area and contacted the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to request an AMBER Alert to be activated. However, WSP determined that the situation did not meet the necessary criteria for such an alert at that time.
Following the unsuccessful AMBER Alert request, police activated an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) on May 31, asking the public to keep an eye out for Decker’s 2017 white GMC truck.
The following Monday, June 2, law enforcement discovered Decker’s abandoned truck near the Rock Island campground, west of Leavenworth.
As deputies searched the area, they sadly found the bodies of the three girls in proximity to where the truck was located.
That evening, the Endangered Missing Persons alert was canceled, but the authorities did not provide an explanation for this decision.
The police later announced the girls’ deaths and indicated they were actively searching for Travis Decker, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping.
Questions arose regarding why an AMBER Alert was not issued for the children at the time of their disappearance.
According to a probable cause document filed in court, Wenatchee police stated that there was no current evidence to suggest the children were at imminent risk of serious bodily injury or death when the request was made, which is why it did not qualify for an AMBER Alert.
Since Travis Decker had partial custody of the girls, WSP also noted that law enforcement does not automatically presume danger when custodial parents are late returning their children.
After further information was provided by Wenatchee detectives regarding the situation, an Endangered Missing Person Alert was put in place on Saturday.
The EMPA allows law enforcement to post vehicle information on highway signs and to widely disseminate details through state broadcasters, serving a similar purpose to an AMBER alert.
Police reports indicated that concerns were raised about Travis Decker’s mental state prior to the girls being reported missing.
During her conversation with detectives, the girls’ mother expressed that Decker had been experiencing significant mental health issues. According to her, he was unusually quiet when picking up the children for visitation, a change in behavior that alarmed her.
She recounted that he was dealing with various stressors, including financial pressures stemming from recent legal troubles, and noted that he had been talking about the possibility of getting rid of his dog because of his housing and financial struggles.
Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder near the end of his marriage, a condition that his ex-wife believed he was not adequately treating or managing with medication.
Additionally, the couple’s parenting plan was revised in 2024 due to his living conditions and mental health status, which included stipulations for him to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling that he had not fulfilled.
Police documentation outlined that at the time of the initial report about the girls’ disappearance, Decker did not have stable housing and was frequently moving between hotels, motels, or local campgrounds.
His supervisor reported that Decker did not show up for work on June 2, mentioning that Decker had been struggling with mental health issues.
Following the heartbreaking discovery of the girls’ deaths, tributes began pouring in from the Wenatchee community as residents struggled to comprehend the tragedy.
Members of the community expressed their sorrow for the three sisters, who, despite their young age, had made a significant impact on their surroundings.
The Music Theatre of Wenatchee shared a message on social media mourning the loss of the girls, who were involved in a children’s drama program.
They described the girls as “three of our shining stars” whose joy and creativity lit up the stage.
“We carry them with us — always,” the theater stated in remembrance of the sisters.
The Wenatchee School District also released a statement confirming that the three girls were students at Lincoln Elementary School, articulating their heartbreak over the loss.
“This is an absolutely heartbreaking day for the Wenatchee School District,” said Superintendent Kory Kalahar. “Our hearts are shattered by the confirmed loss of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker.”
In response to the tragedy, counseling services will be offered to support students and staff at Lincoln School throughout the week.
A vigil in honor of the three sisters took place on Tuesday night, drawing over 300 attendees, including many of their friends and community members who gathered to pay tribute to the girls.
Eight-year-old Lilly Jones, who danced with Evelyn on a team, shared her memories, saying, “She was really nice. She was a really good dancer. I think she was a really good friend. I really miss her and I think it was just too early.”
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