Authorities have shut down a significant portion of popular campgrounds and backpacking routes along the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington as they intensify the search for Travis Caleb Decker, a former Army soldier wanted in connection with the deaths of his three young daughters. On Friday, an increased number of law enforcement personnel from various agencies joined the investigation for Decker, 32, just four days after the bodies of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were discovered at a remote campsite near Leavenworth.
Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of Decker. They advised individuals with remote homes, cabins, or outbuildings to secure their properties, keep blinds open for visibility, and leave outdoor lights on. Although it remains unclear whether Decker is armed, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has classified him as dangerous. A reward of up to $20,000 has been offered for information leading to his capture.
The girls’ mother reported them missing on the evening of May 30 after Decker failed to return them to her home in Wenatchee, approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle, following a scheduled visit. In response to the situation, Governor Bob Ferguson announced on Friday that he would deploy the state’s National Guard to assist with the search efforts. “We will be providing helicopter support for law enforcement as they conduct searches in remote areas,” he stated. “The brutal murder of these young children has shocked our state. I am committed to supporting law enforcement as they pursue justice for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia.”
According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, over 100 officers are involved in the search operation, which spans the rugged terrain of the Cascade Mountains in central Washington. The investigation has received more than 500 tips from the public. Decker, who served as an infantryman in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021 and was deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014, was an automatic rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington from 2014 to 2016.
In a petition filed last September, Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney Decker, expressed concerns about his deteriorating mental health and increasing instability, stating that he often lived out of his truck. She sought to limit his overnight visits with their daughters until he secured stable housing.
