A Washington daddy thought of fatally suffocating his 3 little girls has an extensive military
background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has discovered - as police cautioned the general public not to approach him during their
ongoing manhunt.
Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his children, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were found at a campground in Leavenworth, after he
stopped working to return them to their mother in Wenatchee following a scheduled three-hour visit.
As authorities search for Decker, who is believed to be psychologically unsteady, they alerted residents that he could be harmful due to his military background.
Decker joined the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before moving to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Karina Shagren, communications director for the the Washington Military Department, confirmed to the Daily Mail.
He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he changed to part-time.
Decker stopped attending compulsory regular monthly drills a little over a year back, and the Guard was in the procedure of a disciplinary discharge.
He likely has actually advanced combat training and was an
airborne paratrooper who made the elite rank of 'Ranger,' showing he would have outstanding wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, mentioning social media posts.
It is unidentified if the veteran is currently armed, but local law enforcement warned people from approaching him.
Travis Decker, 32, is
accused of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he failed to return them back to their mom following a set up three-hour go to in Washington on Friday
Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the ladies' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from Decker's truck at a campsite. Police think the
ladies passed away from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents stated
'Due to security concerns do not try to contact or approach Decker,' authorities said.
'This is an outright tragedy,' the military spokesperson informed AP. 'We are grieving along with the community.'
Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after discovering Decker's truck.
Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the women' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police think the girls passed away from
asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents stated.
Decker's truck likewise had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal products including blankets, food, cars and truck seats and a wallet on the center console.
The camping area also showed signs of recent activity, with a camping tent and a cooler situated a short range away, but Decker was nowhere to be discovered.
The women' mother, Whitney Decker, who is separated from the veteran, informed authorities that he had actually
selected the women up around 5pm but had not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went directly to voicemail, court documents stated.
Detectives stated she 'expressed issue since Decker reportedly has never ever done this before and ... is currently experiencing some psychological health problems.'
The ladies' bodies were found approximately 38 miles from their mom's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities warn locals that he could be unsafe due to his military training
Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were individual products consisting of blankets, food, safety seat and a wallet on the center console
She also told law enforcement authorities that Decker was identified with borderline personality disorder and thinks he did not take medication for the condition, according to court files.
The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a
parenting strategy, but there was no sign he has actually followed through with the strategy - which he refused to sign, the court documents show.
Still, Whitney informed cops she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he enjoyed his children.
She said the ladies had a 'great relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had never stopped working to return the girls before, according to a cops affidavit.
She stated when Decker went to get the women for an arranged three-hour see on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him.
He had actually likewise supposedly been talking about eliminating his dog due to housing and monetary struggles.
When Decker failed to return with the women that night, Whitney reported them missing out on.
'What triggered her to call us was that ... he was late returning the ladies and had actually not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his common style and so this ran out the normal,' Captain Brian Chance said.
Decker joined the Army in 2013 and
transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard up until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. Decker stopped attending compulsory regular monthly drills a little over a year back, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge
Washington State Patrol was gotten in touch with Friday night to ask for an Amber Alert, but it did not fulfill the required criteria, Wenatchee Police stated.
The doing not have requirements was thought abduction and imminent hazard of death or severe injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.
'In this case, it was a moms and dad with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather typical incident and not something where you simply immediately presume kidnapping,' he stated.
He included that there was no
indicator Decker would hurt them.
'We're people too, you understand, so the loss of a child, the loss of two kids, the loss of 3 kids is ... devastating,' Loftis said. 'Everybody always wants to how we can improve.'
The following day,
Wenatchee detectives got in touch with the patrol with extra information that caused the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).
State authorities later dropped the EMPA on Monday night without releasing a public reason. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department revealed the ladies' deaths.
Whitney also specified in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' because they separated and it was starting to impact their daughters.
The girls' mother stated that sometimes he would have the ladies sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, in spite of her objections
The women' mom stated they had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had actually never failed to return the ladies before
Whitney stated when Decker went to choose up the girls for a set up three-hour see on Friday, he was 'quieter than typical' which was 'out of
character' for him
When Decker stopped working to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing
She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, regardless of her objections, according to the Seattle Times.
She likewise said Decker was susceptible to
'outbursts' and would enter into her home shouting for the women, whom he would often stop working to get after assuring to do so.
In one circumstances, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her sobbing during a go to with Decker and said she might not discover her father - before Evelyn came home with welts in between her legs.
'I do not wish to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over in reverse to help with that relationship.
'But I can not have our girls remaining in what is basically a homeless shelter, sometimes without supervision, with dozens of unusual males or remaining in a camping tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unidentified locations for their safety.'
The ladies' maternal grandmother similarly composed that Decker would drop off the women at inconsistent times and they would in some cases be upset or weeping when they returned home.
'They are all delighted, wise, well-adjusted ladies with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she composed, according to the Seattle Times.
On Tuesday, a judge provided a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.
Whitney also stated in September divorce proceedings that he had actually been 'having a hard time to maintain stability' since they were separated and it was beginning to impact their daughters
Whitney told cops she did not believe her ex was unsafe and said he loved his children
Police is asking the general public for assistance to find the father-of-three, but recommended residents not to approach him
Decker is explained as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair used in a ponytail and brown eyes.
He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe set up for Whitney had raised nearly $366,000 since Wednesday early morning.
'These girls held true light in this world and it is a darker location without them. I will miss out on seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.
'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and assistance. Take some time to today to tell someone you like them.'
Afghanistan
