Three young girls were discovered deceased on June 2 while authorities initiated a search for their father, Travis Decker, following the family’s sudden disappearance. Paityn, aged 9, Evelyn, aged 8, and Olivia, aged 5, went missing on May 30 during a planned visit with their father, only to be tragically found deceased three days later. A memorial was held on June 6 in Wenatchee Valley, Washington, where friends and community members gathered to pay tribute to the girls.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery of human remains in a remote wooded area near Leavenworth, where the search for Travis Decker, 32, had been ongoing. A family friend, Amy Edwards, expressed heartfelt sentiments at the girls’ memorial, describing them as beloved members of the community.
Travis, facing charges related to his daughters’ deaths, was urged to surrender by Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison during a press briefing on June 3. The sheriff emphasized the importance of accountability and justice for the tragic loss, asserting that efforts to locate Travis would persist.
In a statement to PEOPLE on June 6, attorney Arianna Cozart shed light on the relationship between Travis and Whitney, his ex-wife and the girls’ mother. The couple parted ways in 2022 due to Travis’s mental health challenges, including Borderline Personality Disorder and feelings of isolation. Despite seeking mental health assistance, Travis encountered obstacles in accessing care.
Concerns regarding Travis’s parental responsibilities arose in September 2024 when Whitney sought limitations on his interactions with their daughters. Allegations of neglect and emotional impediments to parenting were raised, prompting supervised visitations. Additionally, requests for anger management and psychiatric evaluations were made to ensure the safety of the children.
Prior to the girls’ disappearance, Travis exhibited behaviors hinting at relocation, including online searches about moving to Canada. The incident unfolded when the girls failed to return home after the visitation, prompting a missing persons alert and a subsequent search operation.
Travis was later charged with multiple counts of murder and kidnapping in connection with the girls’ deaths. Police cautioned the public about the potential risks associated with Travis, highlighting his military background. The tragic demise of the girls was determined to be suffocation, classified as homicide in the official autopsy report released on June 9.
In a somber turn of events, human remains believed to be Travis’s were discovered in a secluded wooded area on September 18. While awaiting formal identification, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
