CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — Three young girls reported missing after a visitation with their father were found dead on Monday. Their father, who is suspected of their murders, has not been found, the Wenatchee Police Department (WPD) said Tuesday.
On Friday at 9:45 p.m., the mother of three girls told police her daughters — ages 5, 8, and 9 years old — had not returned after a planned visit with their father, identified as 32-year-old Travis Decker of the Wenatchee area.
Officers immediately began looking for Decker and the children. Decker was believed to be living out of a white, 2017 GMC Sierra pickup that had traveled westbound on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on Friday.
On Friday, Wenatchee police requested the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to issue an Amber Alert, but the case did not meet the stringent requirements needed for one.
The case has to involve a child who is 17 years old or younger, police must be involved, there must be information to share with the public that would be helpful in the child’s recovery, and the child has to have been abducted or in imminent danger.
As an alternative, WSP issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) on Saturday for the girls: 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia.
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Over the weekend, Wenatchee police detectives continued to investigate with the help of other law enforcement agencies to check areas throughout Chelan County for the girls.
With information from the FBI, WPD and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), detectives believed Decker and his daughters were still in Chelan County.
On Monday, the search was narrowed to somewhere between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth. A warrant for Decker’s arrest was obtained by Wenatchee police detectives for three counts of first-degree custodial interference.
Around 3:45 p.m. Monday, a CCSO Forest Service deputy patrolling on a motorcycle found Decker’s truck about 17 miles up the road, and eventually found the three dead children, but Decker was not found.
Detectives, supervisors, and deputies launched a thorough investigation at the scene and began coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies to process the crime scene and conduct a large-scale search for Decker, who is now wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
While operations continued throughout the night, the East Cascade Regional SWAT Team, U.S Border Patrol Tactical and Search Trauma Rescue teams, and the Department of Homeland Security are searching for Decker.
Travis Caleb Decker, 32, is described as white, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Decker has extensive training from his time in the military. It is not known if he is armed, but police said the public should not approach him if seen. Anyone who has seen Decker since Friday, May 30, or knows where he might be is asked to call 911 immediately.
Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia all attended Lincoln Elementary School, according to a statement from Wenatchee School District Superintendent Kory Kalahar posted on the district’s website.
“I understand how distressing this news is, and the questions many of you undoubtedly have,” Kalahar wrote. “Our immediate and utmost priority is the well-being of the Lincoln Elementary community. We are focusing all our efforts on providing comprehensive support to their students, staff, and families during this unimaginable time.”
Kalahar said counseling services are available on the Lincoln elementary campus for children and staff needing support. The school district also shared a guide – available in English and Spanish – “for families to talk to children about the loss of someone they care about.”
“We are deeply grateful for our community’s compassion,” Kalahar continued. “To allow our students, staff, and families the space and privacy they need to mourn and begin healing, we respectfully ask that you do not come to the school campus except for regular school business.”
Meanwhile, the WSP Crime Scene Response Team is processing the crime scene, including the search of Decker’s truck. Their work is expected to conclude sometime on Tuesday. During the investigation, the upper portion of Icicle Creek Road and the Ida Creek Campground are closed. See a map at this link.
