The quiet community of Wenatchee, Washington, a city nestled in the heart of the state’s orchard country, is reeling from an unimaginable tragedy. Three young sisters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were found dead on Monday, June 2, 2025, their small bodies discovered in a wooded area near the Rock Island Campground, roughly 20 miles northwest of their hometown. The girls, students at Lincoln Elementary School, were reported missing by their mother on Friday, May 30, after their father, Travis Caleb Decker, failed to return them following a scheduled custodial visit. Now, a manhunt is underway for Decker, a 32-year-old former Army soldier and Washington National Guard member, who is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. The case has gripped the region, leaving a community in mourning and law enforcement racing to bring a suspect to justice.
The heartbreaking sequence of events began on Friday evening when the girls’ mother contacted the Wenatchee Police Department at around 9:45 p.m. She reported that Decker had picked up Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia at 5 p.m. for a court-approved visitation, part of a parenting plan established after the couple’s divorce several years earlier. The mother expected their return by 8 p.m., but when the girls did not come home and Decker’s phone went straight to voicemail, alarm bells sounded. She told authorities that this behavior was out of character for Decker, who typically communicated if he was running late. She also expressed concern about his mental health, noting that he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and was not believed to be taking medication or following court-ordered mental health treatment and anger management counseling.
Law enforcement moved swiftly. On Friday night, the Wenatchee Police Department requested an AMBER Alert through the Washington State Patrol, but the case did not meet the stringent criteria, as there was initially no clear evidence of abduction or imminent danger. By Saturday, additional information provided by detectives led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert. Over the weekend, authorities, with assistance from the FBI, scoured Chelan County, focusing on areas where Decker was known to stay. A former military member with extensive training, Decker had been living a transient lifestyle, often residing in his white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck or at local motels and campgrounds. License plate readers captured his vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on Friday, providing a critical clue.
By Monday, the search narrowed to a remote area between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth. At approximately 3:45 p.m., a Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputy patrolling on a motorcycle spotted Decker’s unoccupied truck near the Rock Island Campground. A subsequent search of the surrounding woods revealed a devastating scene: the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were found 75 to 100 yards from the vehicle. Court documents indicate the girls died by asphyxiation, their wrists bound with zip ties, a detail that has deepened the horror of the case. A nearby abandoned campsite, containing a tent, cooler, and personal items like blankets and car seats, showed signs of recent activity, with two bloody handprints found on the truck.
Travis Decker, described as 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, with black hair often worn in a ponytail, brown eyes, a mustache, and a beard, remains at large. Authorities warn that he may pose a significant risk due to his military background, which includes service in the Army from 2013 and a transfer to the Washington National Guard in 2021. Decker left full-time Guard service in 2023 or 2024 and stopped attending mandatory drills over a year ago, prompting a disciplinary discharge process. It is unknown whether he is armed, but the public has been urged not to approach him and to call 911 with any information about his whereabouts. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest, and the search, involving the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, U.S. Marshals, and other agencies, continues with urgency in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and beyond.
The tragedy has left an indelible mark on Wenatchee. The Wenatchee School District, where the girls attended Lincoln Elementary, issued a statement expressing profound grief and offering counseling services to students and staff. Superintendent Kory Kalahar called it “an absolutely heartbreaking day,” emphasizing the district’s focus on supporting the school community through this loss. The girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, had previously raised concerns about Travis Decker’s stability, noting in 2024 court filings that he was transient, neglected parental duties, and needed evaluation for anger management and domestic violence issues. Despite these red flags, the visitation proceeded, a decision now under scrutiny as the community grapples with questions about parental visitation safety and mental health oversight.
As the manhunt intensifies, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison addressed Decker directly in a press conference: “Travis, if you’re listening, this is your opportunity to turn yourself in. We’re not going to go away, and we will make sure you are brought to justice.” For now, Wenatchee mourns the loss of three young lives, their memory cherished by a community united in grief and resolve. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities immediately, as the search for answers—and for Travis Decker—continues.
