WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON — What began as a normal custody visit has turned into one of the most heartbreaking cases to ever shake Chelan County. Three young sisters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5 — were tragically found near Rock Island Campground after spending a weekend with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker. Authorities have since launched a nationwide search, describing Decker as armed, dangerous, and possibly attempting to flee the country.
For the small, close-knit community of Wenatchee, this case has left deep scars — not only for the loss of three innocent children but for the questions it raises about how such a tragedy could have been prevented.
A Visit That Should Have Been Safe
On May 30, 2025, Travis Decker arrived at his ex-wife Whitney’s home to pick up their daughters for a scheduled court-approved visit. He was supposed to return them by 8 p.m. that evening. When he didn’t, and calls went unanswered, Whitney’s mother’s intuition told her something was terribly wrong.
Police were alerted immediately. What started as concern quickly turned into a desperate search as investigators uncovered signs that Travis had been struggling emotionally in the months leading up to the visit. Records revealed he was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had shown signs of instability following his military service.
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