The tragic killing of three young sisters in Washington has ignited public outrage and fueled a growing movement to reform the state’s Amber Alert system.
Their father, Travis Decker, 32, remains at large and is accused of murdering his daughters, aged between six and 12, after failing to return them following a scheduled three-hour custody visit on May 30.
The girls' bodies were later discovered at a remote campsite near Rock Island, a chilling end to what should have been a routine handoff.
Despite their mother, Whitney Decker, immediately reporting the girls missing, authorities did not issue an Amber Alert, as previously reported.
Instead, a less urgent Endangered Missing Persons Advisory was activated. Police said the case didn’t meet the Amber Alert criteria, as Decker had legal custody rights and no documented history of violence toward the children.
Under current Washington state guidelines, Amber Alerts are only triggered when there is evidence of abduction, imminent danger, and enough identifying information – factors authorities said were not clearly present in this case.
However, critics argue the criteria are too narrow and outdated, especially when warning signs are apparent.
An online petition demanding legislative change has already gathered more than 6,000 signatures. It proposes “Whitney’s Law,” named in honor of the victims' mother, which would expand the criteria for issuing Amber Alerts to include all at-risk children, regardless of whether the suspected abductor is a parent or guardian.
“Right now, the Amber Alert system fails too many kids,” the petition reads. “We cannot let another parent suffer the loss Whitney has endured simply because outdated policies don’t reflect modern threats.”
Family attorney Arianna Cozart said Whitney believes her daughters might still be alive if a text alert had gone out. “People could’ve been looking for that white pickup truck. The alert would’ve mobilized the entire state,” Cozart told local media, per The Sun.
Activists and lawmakers are also stepping in. Tamara Emerson, who led a rally at Seattle City Hall, emphasized the urgency: “We shouldn't wait for tragedy to strike before putting safeguards in place. If there are warning signs, we must act.”
State Representative Brian Burnett has voiced support for Whitney’s Law, though he has not publicly commented on the legislation’s next steps.
Meanwhile, the search for Travis Decker continues into its tenth week. Authorities have recently scaled back resources due to dwindling leads, though, some experts believe this may be a tactical move to draw the fugitive out of hiding.
As the community grieves, one thing is clear: many believe this was a tragedy that could, and should, have been prevented.