Authorities in Washington state have launched an intense manhunt for a former soldier suspected of abducting and murdering his three young daughters. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Travis Decker, is believed to have extensive military training, prompting police to warn the public that he may pose a significant risk. However, it remains unclear whether he is armed.
The operation has mobilized multiple law enforcement agencies, including local police, the FBI, and U.S. Marshals. Aerial surveillance involving drones and aircraft has been deployed to comb through rugged and remote forested terrain in search of Decker, who is thought to be evading capture in the wilderness.
The search began after a missing persons report was filed by the children’s mother on Friday evening. She had allowed the girls Evelyn, 9; Paityn, 8; and Olivia, 5 to visit their father for what was supposed to be a three-hour supervised outing. When they failed to return by the agreed-upon time of 8:00 p.m., she grew concerned and alerted authorities. Attempts to contact Decker were unsuccessful, as his phone had been turned off or set to voicemail.
Initial efforts to locate the children intensified over the weekend. Investigators quickly began tracking the suspect’s known whereabouts and looking for his white pickup truck, which he was reportedly living out of. That search led to a grim discovery on Monday when officers located the truck abandoned near a campground west of Leavenworth roughly 70 miles east of Seattle. Tragically, the bodies of the three girls were found in close proximity to the vehicle.
The devastating news has rocked the Wenatchee community, where the girls attended Lincoln Elementary School. Teachers and classmates were left in shock as the school district confirmed the loss of the three young students.
The girls’ mother reportedly told detectives that Decker had never acted in such a way before, but noted he had been struggling with mental health issues. Authorities believe his recent behavior may have been impacted by these challenges, though no formal diagnosis or motive has been disclosed.
Travis Decker’s military background adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing search. He joined the U.S. Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. Although he became a part-time member in recent years, he had not attended mandatory drills for the past year, according to officials.
The case has sparked scrutiny over how quickly authorities escalated their response once the girls were reported missing. Initially, the state patrol declined to issue an Amber Alert, stating the case did not meet the criteria. It was only after local detectives provided additional context and evidence the following day that an endangered missing person alert was finally issued.
Law enforcement representatives defended the timeline, explaining that many custodial disputes involve delays and do not immediately indicate abduction. Nonetheless, the failure to act sooner has raised serious questions about the systems in place for protecting children in potentially dangerous situations.
Authorities have urged the public not to approach Decker if spotted, emphasizing that he is potentially dangerous and should be considered a threat. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately as the search continues.
