What should have been a peaceful summer in the rural Cascades near Leavenworth, Washington, has turned into a painful waiting game. For four weeks, law enforcement, locals, and a grieving mother have waited for answers as the manhunt for Travis Decker continues.
Decker is accused of murdering his three young daughters, Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5, after what was meant to be a three-hour joint custody visit on May 30.
The girls' bodies were found on June 2 near Decker’s white GMC Sierra truck at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, each with plastic bags over their heads and wrists zip-tied, according to court documents.
Their mother, Whitney Decker, spoke at a memorial service on June 20 and paid tribute to her daughters. “I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives in everyone’s hearts forever," she said. "They were incredible.”
What Happened Leading Up to the Killings?
On May 30, Decker picked up his daughters and told Whitney he would see her at 8:00PM. But he never returned.
Whitney contacted police that evening, reporting Travis Decker’s failure to return the girls home. The next day, the family failed to show up to a 5K running event they had planned to attend, prompting concerns. Despite Whitney’s warnings, the Washington State Patrol initially declined to issue an Amber Alert, later opting for an Endangered Missing Persons Alert instead, which did not notify the public with a push alert, CNN reports.
On June 2, law enforcement discovered the girls’ bodies near Decker’s truck. Around the area, deputies found zip ties, plastic bags, and two bloody handprints on the vehicle’s tailgate. The bloody handprints have been confirmed to belong to Decker, per KTVB.
An autopsy later confirmed the young girls were suffocated.
Travis Decker’s Military Background and Survival Skills
Travis Decker, an Army veteran with a tour in Afghanistan, is described by those who knew him as a man with advanced survival training. According to a deputy US Marshal’s affidavit, Decker was experienced in “navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines.”
Authorities noted that Decker had previously lived off the grid in the backwoods for up to 2.5 months. His campsite was found less than a dozen miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, which leads directly to Canada, and his Google searches included “how does a person move to Canada” just days before the murders, ABC News reports.
“We worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said, noting leads were followed up in Canada.
Despite his familiarity with disappearing into rugged terrain, law enforcement insists the search will continue.
“We can’t and won’t quit this search. Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice,” Kittitas County Sheriff Clay Myers said.
How the Search Has Unfolded
Initially, the manhunt for Decker was aggressive, with helicopters, drones, and ground teams combing the vast Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Nearly 90% of Chelan County is publicly owned wilderness, making the search complex.
While early leads were promising, they have since “given way to less convincing proofs,” and some resources have been scaled back, with the US Marshals Service now leading the manhunt while local agencies focus on evidence processing.
“At this time, there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said on June 24.
Former Massachusetts State Trooper Todd McGhee told ABC News he believes Decker is likely still alive due to the lack of cadaver scent detections by search canines and his survival skills.
“He’ll eventually have to surface through seeking shelter, seeking food, nutrition — those types of things will require him to come out of hiding,” McGhee said.
A Grieving Mother’s Plea for Justice
For Whitney Decker, the lack of closure is unbearable. Her attorney, Arianna Cozart, shared that Whitney wants Travis Decker found “dead or alive” so she can begin to rebuild her life.
“That’s a huge, a huge thing that she wants,” Cozart told NewsNation. “It’s very, very important to her so that she can have peace.”
Whitney also expressed frustration with how the system failed to protect her children, noting Travis’s struggles with PTSD and mental health, and how a lack of resources may have contributed to this tragedy.
“The courts didn’t fail these girls. It wasn’t the judge and it wasn’t Whitney; it was our system,” Cozart said. “[Whitney] feels like the system really let Travis down.”
At the memorial, attendees wore the girls’ favorite colors — purple, pink, and green — honoring their bright lives.
“I’m so thankful for the time I had with the girls,” Whitney said. “It really gave me an inside look into their day. I believe doing this with them allowed them to come into the world with open hearts and kindness.”
A Search in Challenging Terrain
The dense forests of Washington State have hidden fugitives before. In past cases, suspects have evaded capture for weeks or even years, including Eric Robert Rudolph, who survived for five years in North Carolina wilderness.
The manhunt for Travis Decker shares some of these challenges, with law enforcement hoping for a chance encounter — a hiker, a hunter, or a local resident — to break the case open.
“We’ll continue to follow up on every lead that we’re getting regarding travels,” Morrison said.
What Happens Next?
Travis Decker is described as 5’8”, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts. He is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping.
Authorities continue to urge the public not to approach Decker if seen, calling him a “significant risk” due to his military background and the severity of his alleged crimes. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 immediately.
Once again, our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.