May 31 — The First Alarms
When Travis failed to return the girls, Whitney immediately contacted local authorities. At first, police treated it as a possible misunderstanding, but concern grew quickly. Travis’s phone remained off, and his credit card activity stopped that same evening. When the family missed a planned community 5K the next morning, investigators officially classified the case as missing persons.
Although it didn’t meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, an Endangered Missing Person Advisory was issued, and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office mobilized search teams. Officers began canvassing nearby parks, gas stations, and rest areas.
June 2 — The Discovery at Rock Island
Three days later, at around 3 p.m., a hiker stumbled upon a white 2017 GMC pickup abandoned near Rock Island Campground, deep in Chelan County’s rugged terrain. Deputies responding to the call found the vehicle unlocked, keys still inside. Travis’s wallet, cellphone, and several personal items — including a family photo — were left behind.
A short distance away, searchers made the devastating discovery: the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. The girls had been bound with zip ties, plastic bags placed over their heads. Autopsies later confirmed death by suffocation.
Sheriff Brian Burnett called the crime scene “the most heartbreaking and disturbing” of his career. “These were innocent children,” he said. “We will not rest until their father is found.”
June 6 — The Autopsy and Aftermath
By June 6, medical examiners formally ruled the deaths as homicides by suffocation. DNA evidence from the scene — including male blood on the truck’s tailgate — was confirmed to match Travis Decker. Blood from an animal, believed to be his dog’s, was also found inside the vehicle. The dog was later recovered alive near the crash site and turned over to a local humane society.
Authorities concluded that Travis fled on foot, likely into the vast wilderness surrounding the Columbia River Basin.
The Manhunt
Within days, the search expanded into one of the largest coordinated efforts in state history. Teams from the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Washington State Patrol, and National Guard joined local agencies. Drones and helicopters were deployed to scour forested terrain, while tracking dogs followed faint trails believed to belong to Travis.
Investigators described him as armed, dangerous, and highly skilled in survival tactics. Having served in the U.S. Army and Washington National Guard, Travis was familiar with remote living and had previously camped in similar wilderness areas for weeks at a time.
Officials believe he may be attempting to evade capture by living off the grid or crossing into Canada — a theory supported by his online searches days before the murders. Court documents revealed that Travis had recently looked up “how to cross the Canadian border undetected” and “starting over in the Yukon.”
As of early June, law enforcement offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Who Was Travis Decker?
At 32 years old, Travis was described by friends as intelligent and caring — a man “broken by the system he served.” Raised in Wisconsin, he enlisted in the military at 18 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2014. After his return, he struggled with PTSD, depression, and instability.
Over time, his marriage to Whitney began to deteriorate. Custody battles followed, with courts requiring counseling and periodic evaluations before granting supervised visits. Despite these measures, those who knew the family say no one imagined Travis capable of violence.
“He adored those girls,” said a longtime family friend. “He was proud of being a dad. That’s why this is so hard to believe — that love could twist into something like this.”
Yet police reports in the months leading up to the murders hinted at escalating instability. Travis had been living out of his truck, occasionally staying in motels and campgrounds. He lost his job earlier that spring and began missing therapy sessions.
“His behavior became unpredictable,” said an officer involved in the case. “He oscillated between remorse and rage.”
The Mother’s Grief
Whitney Decker, devastated by the loss of her daughters, has spoken sparingly to the media. In a brief statement, she described them as “the light of my life” and called on Travis to surrender peacefully.
“I don’t have words for what’s been taken from me,” she said. “All I want now is for justice — for Paityn, for Evelyn, for Olivia.”
Community members have held vigils across Wenatchee and Chelan County. Thousands gathered in candlelight to honor the three sisters, their photographs framed by stuffed animals and flowers. Local schools held moments of silence, and counselors were made available for classmates and teachers grappling with the tragedy.
What Comes Next
As the manhunt continues, investigators are following every possible lead. There have been unconfirmed sightings of Travis near Lake Chelan, and thermal imaging from drones picked up heat signatures believed to be from a makeshift campsite — but as of now, he remains at large.
Experts in criminal behavior suggest Travis’s military background may make him more difficult to locate, though not impossible. “He’s likely in survival mode,” said retired FBI profiler Janet Ellison. “If he’s alive, he’s relying on instinct and training — but that can only last so long.”
Meanwhile, public outcry has prompted renewed scrutiny of family court oversight in custody cases involving mental illness or prior instability. Lawmakers in Olympia have already proposed a review of visitation laws to prevent similar tragedies.
A Family’s Unimaginable Loss
As weeks pass, the pain remains raw. At the Decker home, neighbors have left teddy bears and letters on the porch. A single sign reads: “Three angels, forever loved.”
Whitney, surrounded by friends and relatives, has avoided cameras but continues to cooperate with investigators. “She’s surviving minute by minute,” said her attorney. “Her world ended that weekend.”
The tragedy has rippled across the nation — not only for its horror but for what it reveals about how unnoticed suffering can turn catastrophic. Travis Decker’s descent into violence has become a grim reminder of how fragile the line can be between help and heartbreak.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. “This man took three innocent lives,” said Sheriff Burnett. “We won’t stop until he’s found.”
As the search stretches from Washington’s wilderness to the Canadian border, one truth stands unshaken: the lives of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker will not be forgotten. Their story — and the justice still owed to them — has united a community determined to see their memory honored and their killer brought to account.