A Washington dad presumed of fatally suffocating his three little girls has a substantial military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has learned - as police warned the public not to approach him during their ongoing manhunt.
Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth, after he stopped working to return them to their mom in Wenatchee following an arranged three-hour check out.
As authorities search for Decker, who is believed to be mentally unsteady, they cautioned locals 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 transferring 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 switched to part-time.
Decker stopped attending mandatory month-to-month drills a little over a year earlier, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge.
He likely has actually advanced combat training and was an air-borne paratrooper who earned the elite rank of 'Ranger,' suggesting he would have exceptional wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, mentioning social media posts.
It is unidentified if the veteran is currently equipped, however local police warned people from approaching him.
Travis Decker, 32, is accused of eliminating his children, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he stopped working to return them back to their mother following a set up three-hour check out in Washington on Friday
Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the ladies' bodies about 75 to 100 lawns from Decker's truck at a camping area. Police think the women passed away from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files said
'Due to safety issues do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' authorities said.
'This is an absolute tragedy,' the military spokesperson informed AP. 'We are grieving in addition to the community.'
Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after discovering Decker's truck.
Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police think the women passed away from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files said.
Decker's truck also had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were individual items including blankets, food, safety seat and a wallet on the center console.
The camping site also revealed indications of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a brief range away, but Decker was nowhere to be discovered.
The girls' mom, Whitney Decker, who is separated from the veteran, told cops that he had picked the girls up around 5pm but had actually not them by 8pm, and his phone went directly to voicemail, court documents stated.
Detectives said she 'expressed issue since Decker apparently has actually never done this before and ... is presently experiencing some psychological health concerns.'
The girls' bodies were found approximately 38 miles from their mom's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities alert locals that he might be harmful due to his military training
Decker's truck 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
She also told police officials that Decker was detected with borderline personality disorder and thinks he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.
The father-of-three was supposed to look for mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting strategy, however there was no indication he has actually followed through with the plan - which he declined to sign, the court documents show.
Still, Whitney told cops she did not believe her ex was hazardous and said he liked 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 ever stopped working to return the ladies before, according to an authorities affidavit.
She stated when Decker went to get the women for a set up three-hour visit on Friday, he was 'quieter than typical' which was 'out of character' for him.
He had actually likewise supposedly been speaking about eliminating his dog due to housing and financial battles.
When Decker failed to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing.
'What triggered her to call us was that ... he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion therefore this was out of the regular,' Captain Brian Chance said.
Decker signed up with the Army in 2013 and moved to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard till 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. Decker stopped going to necessary monthly drills a little over a year earlier, and the Guard remained in the process of a disciplinary discharge
Washington State Patrol was gotten in touch with Friday night to ask for an Amber Alert, however it did not meet the needed criteria, Wenatchee Police said.
The doing not have criteria was believed abduction and impending peril of death or serious injury, stated Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.
'In this case, it was a moms and dad with custodial privileges, and the kids had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common event and not something where you simply automatically presume kidnapping,' he said.
He added that there was no indication Decker would damage them.
'We're individuals too, you know, so the loss of a kid, the loss of two children, the loss of three kids is ... devastating,' Loftis stated. 'Everybody always seeks to how we can improve.'
The following day, Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional details that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).
State police later on dropped the EMPA on Monday night without launching a public reason. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department revealed the women' deaths.
Whitney also stated in September divorce proceedings that he had actually been 'struggling to preserve stability' since they separated and it was starting to impact their children.
The women' mother stated that sometimes he would have the ladies sleep at an armory while he remained in the National Guard, despite her objections
The girls' mom said they had a 'excellent relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had never ever failed to return the ladies before
Whitney said when Decker went to pick up the women for a scheduled three-hour check out on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him
When Decker stopped working to return with the girls that night, Whitney reported them missing
She stated that sometimes he would have the women sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.
She likewise said Decker was susceptible to 'outbursts' and would come into her house shouting for the ladies, whom he would often fail to choose up after promising to do so.
In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her sobbing during a go to with Decker and said she could not find her father - before Evelyn got home with welts between her legs.
'I do not wish to keep Travis from the women at all,' Whitney composed in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over in reverse to help with that relationship.
'But I can not have our women remaining in what is basically a homeless shelter, at times not being watched, with dozens of strange guys or remaining in a camping tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperature levels and unknown locations for their safety.'
The girls' maternal grandmother similarly wrote that Decker would drop off the ladies at irregular times and they would sometimes be upset or weeping when they returned home.
'They are all pleased, clever, well-adjusted girls with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she wrote, 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 mentioned in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they were separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters
Whitney told police she did not believe her ex threatened and stated he enjoyed his daughters
Police is asking the general public for help to find the father-of-three, but encouraged residents not to approach him
Decker is referred to as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair worn in a ponytail and brown eyes.
He is charged with 3 counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe set up for Whitney had actually raised nearly $366,000 since Wednesday early morning.
'These girls were real light in this world and it is a darker place without them. I will miss out on seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.
bloglines.com
'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take a while to today to tell someone you enjoy them.'
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Sinister Military Record of 'killer' Dad Wanted For Murdering Girls
Timothy Almeida edited this page 1 week ago