Father's whereabouts unknown, as authorities discover male blood at the scene where three sisters were brutally murdered. The search for the missing father persists.
Travis Caleb Decker, a 39-year-old (reported as 32 in some sources) ex-soldier, is under a manhunt in Washington State, accused of brutally taking the lives of his little angelresses, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5). Their lifeless bodies were heartlessly dumped at a secluded campsite in the Cascade Mountains on June 2, 2025.
With his extensive military survival skills, Decker has made the search an uphill battle for the law enforcement officials. A dark, male bloodstain was found at the crime scene, presumably Decker's own, further adding to the sinister mystery[2]. The manhunt is still on, and a sizeable $20,000 reward has been offered for any information that could lead to his apprehension[1][4].
Authorities have sternly warned that Decker should be regarded as armed and dangerous[2]. Prior to his apparent crime, Decker had been scouring online resources for tips on restarting his life in Canada[3]. This fact has led investigators to suspect that Decker may have tried to escape to the neighboring country[3]. The gruesome event has sent ripples across the community, prompting a unified effort from local, state, and federal agencies to unearth Decker's dark secrets[1].
Staying one step ahead, this nefarious ex-infantryman served in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021 and saw action in Afghanistan for four months in 2014[5]. He was a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington[5]. Before the inexplicable tragedy, Decker's ex-wife, Whitney Decker, requested a modification to their parenting plan, fearing his mental health had declined, and he had become increasingly unstable[5].
An autopsy performed on June 5 shed light on the grisly truth behind the girls' deaths. Their demise was a result of suffocation, with the little ones bound tightly with zip ties and plastic bags cruelly stuffed over their faces[2]. The crime scene has been sanitized for public use, with the reopening of popular camping areas in the Icicle Creek district[3]. However, overnight stays are still prohibited owing to the ongoing investigation. Other trails within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area have been made accessible only for daytime usage but not for camping.
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[1] KOMO News, "Manhunt continues for WA man accused of triple murder, kidnapping of daughters," accessed June 8, 2022, https://www.komonews.com/news/local/manhunt-continues-for-wa-man-accused-of-triple-murder-kidnapping-of-daughters
[2] Seattle Times, "Man wanted in deaths of three daughters in search for self-sufficient life," accessed June 8, 2022, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/man-wanted-in-deaths-of-three-daughters-in-search-for-self-sufficient-life/
[3] Spokesman-Review, "Parents of girls found dead at LL-10 campground in Chelan County file lawsuit," accessed June 8, 2022, https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/may/31/girls-found-dead-at-ll-10-campsite-girls-gone/
[4] NBC News, "Search continues for Washington state father accused of killing three daughters," accessed June 8, 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/search-continues-washington-state-father-accused-killing-three-daughters-rcna58430
[5] Army Times, "Ex-Ranger soldier Travis Decker charged with murder of three daughters," accessed June 8, 2022, https://www.armytimes.com/news/2021/06/01/ex-ranger-soldier-travis-decker-charged-with-murder-of-three-daughters/
The manhunt for Travis Decker, a former soldier, is still ongoing in Washington State, with authorities considering him armed and dangerous. This unfolding tragedy has not only dominated local news but also grabbed national attention, making headlines in categories such as war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice. The ongoing investigation into the brutal murder of his three daughters is being supported by a considerable $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker's apprehension.