The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has been looking for Decker since the evening of May 30.
That’s when his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, alerted police that their three daughters — Olivia, 5; Evelyn, 8; and Paityn, 9 — had not returned from a planned visitation with him.
Bob Ferguson announced he was “tapping emergency funds” and ordering Washington National Guard resources to support the search, including by providing helicopter transportation for law enforcement.
What we know about Decker Decker was an infantryman in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021, Army spokesperson Maj. Travis Shaw confirmed to NPR.
Whitney Decker said the two have followed a court-ordered parenting plan, the most recent of which allows him visitation every other weekend.
Travis Decker is the father who is suspected of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters at a campsite in Washington state. The search for Decker has been taken over by federal authorities.
Since the night of May 30, Decker has been sought by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. When his ex-wife Whitney Decker informed the police that their three daughters, Olivia, age five, Evelyn, age eight, and Paityn, age nine, had not returned from a scheduled visitation with him, that was when it happened.
Law enforcement found Decker’s empty car and the bodies of his daughters close to a campground in central Washington state on June 1 following a weekend of searching. Decker, 32, was not present.
State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies are now involved in the extensive search for Decker. This Saturday, Gov. Bob Ferguson declared that he was “tapping emergency funds” and directing the Washington National Guard to assist with the search, including by giving law enforcement helicopter transportation.
As a parent, Ferguson posted on Facebook, “My thoughts and prayers are with Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia’s mother, Whitney, and everyone who cares for them.”. “Our state has been shocked by the heinous murder of these young children. “.
The U. S. If you have information that leads to Decker’s arrest, Marshals is offering a reward of up to $20,000. They talk about Decker, who lives in Wenatchee, Washington. — in the capacity of a “former military member with extensive tactical training.”. “..”.
“Mrdot Decker is proficient in wilderness survival and can spend days or weeks in the wilderness alone with minimal equipment, according to new information,” the sheriff’s office said on Wednesday.
Although it’s unclear if Decker is armed, authorities say he should be regarded as dangerous. If someone sees him, they are cautioning people not to approach and to dial 911 right away.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office is requesting that residents and owners of cabins in isolated parts of Okanagan, Kittitas King, Chelan, and Snohomish counties lock their doors, leave their window blinds open, and keep their outdoor lights on. It is asking people to check their security cameras and doorbells for any indications of Decker.
Authorities issued a warning Monday evening that Decker might be in the Chelan County area between Ingalls Creek and Valley High.
According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, as of Monday, it had received over 500 public tips, collected fresh electronic leads, and conducted searches across “hundreds of square miles … by land, water, and air.”. After stating, “We had reached a point where we need to rest our local resources,” it turned over search operations to federal authorities. “.
Our understanding of Decker.
From March 2013 until July 2021, Decker served as an infantryman in the Army, according to Army spokesperson Maj. Travis Shaw told NPR that he did. After serving as a staff sergeant in Afghanistan from March to July 2014, he retired from active duty.
In an affidavit submitted to Chelan County Superior Court last week, Whitney Decker informed police that she and her ex-husband had three children together prior to their divorce a number of years ago, following roughly seven years of marriage.
According to Whitney Decker, the two have complied with a court-mandated parenting plan, the most recent of which permits him to visit every other weekend. According to her, Decker and their children got along well, and there were no recent communication or visitation problems.
“Whitney expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and further noted he is currently experiencing some mental health issues,” according to the affidavit.
Near the end of their marriage, Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and she said she didn’t think he was taking any medication for it.
Decker has stayed at hotels, motels, and campgrounds and is regarded as homeless, she added. She clarified that after he lost housing, their parenting plan was revised to forbid overnight stays.
When Whitney Decker last spoke with Decker on May 30, she told police that everything went smoothly, but that he was “quieter than usual which was out of character.”. “,”.
According to her, he had recently discussed selling his dog because of housing and money issues, including wage garnishment for unpaid child support.
“Whitney stated his children and his dog are the two big positives in his life,” according to the affidavit.
Our understanding of the purported killings.
The bodies of Decker’s daughters and his abandoned car were discovered in a secluded campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, close to Leavenworth.
In addition to “what appears to be two hand prints of blood” on the tailgate, the affidavit stated that Decker’s pickup truck contained food, blankets, car seats, a wallet, and other items. An abandoned camp “with signs of recent activity” was discovered close by by authorities.
The bodies of the three children were found by law enforcement on a small embankment about 100 yards past the truck. Zip ties and plastic bags were scattered throughout the area. According to the affidavit, the girls’ “wrists were zip tied or showed signs of being zip tied,” and each of them had a plastic bag wrapped over their head.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday, over a week after the gruesome discovery, that one of the blood samples recovered from the scene “was not human blood,” while another tested positive for being that of a male. It claimed that it had found some of Decker’s personal items, including his dog, which it gave to the humane society to be cared for safely.
Additionally on Monday, the sheriff’s office announced that an autopsy had found that the girls died from suffocation and that homicide was the cause of death.
What is known about the manhunt.
In addition to releasing images and videos of Decker taken in the days preceding May 30, authorities have also spoken with his known associates, visited local locations he was known to visit, and acknowledged the possibility that he may have left the area.
“As a precaution, we have been notified by and are coordinating with our neighboring counties in case Mr. Dot Decker passes through the forest into their jurisdiction,” the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office stated on Friday.
Decker was thought to be 10 miles south of Leavenworth, near the intersection of Ingalls Creek and Valley High, the sheriff’s office said late Monday. As a precaution, it stated that law enforcement would be visibly increased.
