A tragic case of violence and betrayal ended last week in a remote wooded area of Washington state, where the body of Travis Decker, a former soldier, was discovered. Decker, 32, had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt since June 2, when authorities discovered the bodies of his three daughters nine-year-old Paityn, eight-year-old Evelyn, and five-year-old Olivia at a campsite near Leavenworth.
The children’s bodies were found bound with zip ties and suffocated with plastic bags over their heads, leading to an outpouring of grief and shock in the community. Following their discovery, Decker became the prime suspect in their deaths, and authorities quickly issued a search for him. His truck had been located near the campsite, but he had vanished without a trace.
For three months, law enforcement officers searched relentlessly for Decker, following leads and hoping to bring some closure to the devastated family. Finally, last week, human remains believed to be those of Decker were located on a steep slope near Grindstone Mountain, not far from the campsite where the children were found. DNA tests on clothing at the scene, as well as on the remains, confirmed the identity of the deceased as Decker.
Sheriff Mike Morrison expressed relief and sorrow, apologizing to the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, for the prolonged search. He stated that although the search had taken longer than expected, he hoped the discovery of Decker’s remains would allow her to “rest easier at night.”
The tragic events unfolded when Decker failed to return his daughters to their mother’s home in Wenatchee, Washington, after a scheduled visit. Mrs. Decker became alarmed when Decker’s phone went straight to voicemail and the children were missing. A few days later, the girls’ bodies were discovered at the campsite. Authorities had been warned of Decker’s mental health struggles, with his ex-wife describing him as increasingly unstable and living out of his truck.
Decker had served in the US Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan, before transitioning to the Washington National Guard in 2021. However, by the time of the murders, Decker had stopped attending drills and was no longer part of the National Guard.
As the investigation continues, the case has highlighted the devastating effects of mental health issues, particularly in individuals with military backgrounds.
