Urgent police statement after campsite tragedy exposed.
Three girls—aged just 6, 8, and 10—vanished during a routine visit with their father before being found dead in a secluded forest area near Leavenworth.
Tragic discovery confirmed.
The girls—aged just 6, 8, and 10—vanished during a routine visit with their father before being found dead in a secluded forest area near Leavenworth.
Their mother alerted authorities on May 30, after Decker failed to return them home on time—a deviation from his usual patterns.
“He hadn’t said he’d be late, which wasn’t like him,” Captain Brian Chance told NBC4 Washington. “That’s what made her pick up the phone.”
Officers tracked Decker’s vehicle to a remote trail. About 100 yards from the truck, they made a horrifying discovery—his three daughters, lifeless.
Chilling new court records reveal the girls were found with their wrists bound.
The father was nowhere to be found, and authorities now believe he fled the scene sometime after the killings.
Travis Decker, 32, is now officially wanted on three counts each of first-degree m***** and first-degree kidnapping.
Father’s background clarified.
Born in 1992, Decker enlisted in the Army in 2013 and completed two tours overseas before transferring to the Washington National Guard in 2021.
Decker is a former U.S. Army soldier who later joined the Washington National Guard, raising serious concerns over his ability to evade capture.
“He has military survival training,” a sheriff’s rep confirmed. “That makes him harder to find and more dangerous.”
The Washington Military Department noted Decker stopped showing up to mandatory drills over a year ago.
“He was transitioning out,” said Karina Shagren of the Washington National Guard. “He hadn’t been attending required duties for some time.”
Father’s struggles highlighted.
The mother of the girls told police Decker had been “experiencing mental health issues” in the weeks leading up to the visit.
Investigators say there were no prior warning signs pointing to violence, but acknowledge recent red flags.
Friends say he struggled to adapt after military service, cycling through jobs, relationships, and homes.
Sources close to the family said Decker and the girls’ mother had clashed over custody before—though no violence had been reported.
On Facebook, Decker posted about nature, camping, and his daughters. But recent posts hinted at paranoia and isolation.
“He had been pulling back,” said a law enforcement source. “Living rough. Not engaging with anyone much.”
“We just don’t understand it,” one neighbor said. “He loved those girls. It’s like he snapped.”
Public warning unveiled.
Police across Washington are urgently hunting Travis Decker after his three young daughters were discovered dead at a remote campsite.
Authorities are now pleading with the public to stay away from Decker, describing him as potentially dangerous and likely armed.
Authorities say Decker is currently homeless, often living out of a vehicle or moving between hotels, motels, and campgrounds.
His unpredictable movements and survival skills have made him difficult to track in the vast Washington wilderness.
He is 5’8″, around 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes—last seen in a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
The manhunt has gone federal, with elite teams joining local forces in the growing search operation.
Officials are urging the public not to approach Decker and instead report any sightings immediately to 911.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is now working round the clock to track him down before anyone else gets hurt.
“We need the public’s help,” said Captain Chance. “Someone out there has seen something. Don’t stay silent.”
The manhunt continues.
The girls, all students at Lincoln Elementary, have left a gaping hole in their school community.
The Wenatchee School District confirmed grief counselors are now working with classmates and staff devastated by the news.
Police have hinted at new evidence from the scene—a possible trail camera video or witness sighting—but are withholding details.
Officials are now asking the entire state of Washington to be on the lookout for Travis Decker, calling the situation “urgent and highly dangerous.”