It’s a really sad story that has everyone in the country paying attention — and the search for answers is still going on.
Three little sisters, Paityn, who is 9, Evelyn, who is 8, and Olivia Decker, who is just 5 years old, disappeared while they were supposed to be having a normal visit with their dad, Travis.
Days later, they were found dead at a campsite in Washington — and now, the police think he might be the one responsible for their deaths.
In a heartbreaking event that has shaken Washington State and caught the attention of the whole nation, three young sisters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5 — were discovered dead near the quiet Rock Island campground in Wenatchee, which is about three hours east of Seattle.
The Wenatchee Police Department says that the girls were visiting the area with their father — a visit that turned into a terrible nightmare, as he is now wanted for questioning about their murders.
The father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, remains at large, with law enforcement warning the public not to approach him.
Authorities believe Decker, a military veteran with extensive combat training and serious mental health struggles, suffocated his daughters during what was supposed to be a brief, court-approved visit.
A mother’s worst nightmare
The girls disappeared on Friday night after Decker picked them up for a three-hour visit — something their mom, Whitney, didn’t think was a big deal at first.
But when it was 9:45 p.m. and they still hadn’t come back, and Decker’s phone went straight to voicemail, she started to panic.
“I didn’t think he was dangerous,” Whitney told local station KIRO 7. “His mental health can be tough sometimes, but he really loved them.”
However, court documents showed a more concerning story. Decker had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, wasn’t taking his medication, and had refused to agree to a parenting plan that included therapy and anger management.
Whitney had already shared serious worries in custody papers, saying that the girls had slept in armories, tents, and even in Decker’s truck during visits — sometimes without supervision and around strangers. In one really upsetting situation, their daughter Olivia called her crying because she couldn’t find her dad. Another time, Evelyn came home with strange welts between her legs.
“I’ve done everything I can to support their relationship,” Whitney wrote in court documents. “But I can’t let our girls live in what is basically a homeless shelter, or worse.”]} }}]}
A grisly discovery in the forest
After a weekend filled with worry and frantic searches, authorities discovered Decker’s truck at around 3:45 p.m. on Monday close to Rock Island Campground.
Not far from the truck, just 75 to 100 yards away, police made a shocking find: the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia.
Each girl had a plastic bag over her head and zip ties on their wrists. The tailgate of Decker’s truck had two bloody handprints on it. Inside, there were eerie reminders of what should have been a fun family trip: car seats, blankets, food, and Decker’s wallet.
There was also proof of recent camping — a tent and cooler nearby — but no sign of Decker himself.
“We will not rest”
Chelan County officials have now charged Decker with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. A judge has issued a warrant for his arrest and ordered he be held without bail.
“We have no leads specifically showing where he is at,” said Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison in a press conference Tuesday. “Nothing is off the table.”
The search for Decker has become a multi-agency manhunt involving local law enforcement, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security. Drones are now scouring the rugged wilderness of Icicle Road — a popular hiking and climbing area in the Cascade Mountains.
“Travis, if you’re listening,” Morrison said directly to the fugitive during the briefing, “this is your opportunity to turn yourself in. Do the right thing. Take accountability for your actions. We’re not going to rest.”
A community in mourning
On Tuesday evening, over 300 people came together in Memorial Park in Wenatchee for a vigil to remember the three girls. Kids blew bubbles into the air while soft music played in the background. As reported by Seattle Times, notes written with markers were stuck to folding tables — one note from a child named Grace said: “I am so sorry. No one deserves what happened to you.”
Pastor Mike Wilson said prayers for the family, the investigators, and a mother who now has a huge emptiness where three bright lights used to be.
“These girls were true light in this world,” a GoFundMe for Whitney states. “And it is a darker place without them.”
By Tuesday night, the fundraiser had already reached over $350,000, with thousands of messages filled with love, sadness, and anger coming in from all over the country.
Still on the run
As of Wednesday morning, Travis Decker — who is 5’8”, weighs 190 pounds, has black hair tied in a ponytail, and brown eyes — is still missing. Authorities report that he does not have a permanent home and usually stays in campgrounds or motels. The last time he was seen, he was wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Law enforcement is still asking the public: do not try to approach him — instead, please contact the police right away if you see him or have any information.
In a world that is now all too familiar with stories of domestic tragedy, the tale of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia serves as a harsh reminder of what can occur when warning signs are ignored — and of a mother’s relentless struggle to protect her children.
As candles flickered in the Wenatchee twilight, a voice rang out softly:
“Fly high, sweet girls.”
This is heartbreaking. How could their own father hurt these beautiful angels?
Sometimes it’s hard to grasp just how cruel and unfair the world can be. There are no words that can truly capture the heartbreak of a tragedy like this. Rest in peace, sweet little souls. 💔