The grieving mother of three young girls allegedly murdered by their father has spoken publicly for the first time since their tragic deaths.
As widely reported, Travis Decker, 32, disappeared after the bodies of his daughters - nine-year-old Paityn, eight-year-old Evelyn, and five-year-old Olivia - were discovered on June 2 at a remote Washington campsite near Leavenworth.
The girls were with their father for a court-ordered visitation when he allegedly bound them with zip ties and placed plastic bags over their heads. Autopsies confirmed they died from suffocation.
Their bodies were found 75 to 100 yards down an embankment near the former soldier's abandoned 2017 GMC Sierra, which contained food, blankets, car seats, his wallet, and two bloody handprints.
Nearby, authorities also found male DNA and a second sample of blood not believed to be human. His dog was recovered and handed over to the Humane Society.
On June 20, a memorial service was held in honor of the three young girls. The heartbroken mother addressed mourners through tears, remembering her daughters for their kindness, empathy, and vibrant personalities.
“You all look beautiful,” she began, in a video published by King 5 Seattle. “I know Evelyn would have loved to ooh and aah over all your outfits,” she said, visibly emotional.
She described how her oldest daughter, Paityn, never missed a chance to compliment others, whether at the grocery store, school, or at home. “She was always telling me, ‘You look beautiful, Mom,’” Whitney recalled.
The girls had been in therapy and learning to express their emotions openly as their parents navigated a divorce. Whitney shared how those heartfelt bedtime conversations became a cherished ritual.
“I'm so thankful for that time I had with the girls,” she continued. “When the world slowed down, it gave me an inside look at their day.”
She added that these open discussions allowed them to "connect" on a deeper level. “I believe doing this with them allowed them to come into the world with open hearts and kindness.”
She closed her remarks by thanking the community for its overwhelming support: “I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives on in everyone’s heart forever. They were incredible.”
Law enforcement charged Decker with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, adding to existing charges of custodial interference. Despite an extensive manhunt, he remains missing.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on June 13, Whitney’s attorney Arianna Cozart revealed that the couple had separated in 2022 due to Decker's alleged mental health struggles, including his feelings of isolation, paranoia, and Borderline Personality Disorder.
The suspect, who was a military veteran, had reportedly been seeking mental health care but was unable to obtain it. Cozart added that she believes he likely took his own life after the killings. “[Travis] probably killed himself up there somewhere,” she said, per the outlet.
On June 8, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office officially transferred search efforts for Decker to federal authorities, citing resource limitations. “We have reached a point where we need to rest our local resources,” the CCSO wrote in a statement.
Our thoughts continue to be with Whitney at this heartbreaking time.