| Murders of the Decker children | |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, U.S. |
| Date |
|
Attack type | Mass murder, child murder |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Motive | Unknown |
On May 30, 2025, sisters Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker (ages 9, 8 and 5 respectively) were reported missing in Wenatchee, Washington, after their father failed to return them from a custody visit on time. Three days later, their bodies were discovered in Chelan County, near the unoccupied and abandoned truck the father lived in. The father, identified as 32-year-old Travis Caleb Decker of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, [1] who lived in Wenatchee at the time of the murders, was the main suspect and became the focus of a three-month-long nationwide manhunt. On September 25, human remains found near Leavenworth, Washington, a week prior were confirmed to be that of Decker; the confirmation came a day after he had been declared dead by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Travis Caleb Decker (born August 15, 1992) had a history of mental health issues, having been diagnosed with both borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. [2] He was raised in the Milwaukee suburb of Pewaukee, in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Pewaukee High School in 2010. During his high school years, Decker played JV/Varsity football, and was a member of the Pewaukee wrestling team who later wrestled in the state finals that same year. [3] [4]
According to authorities in his later years, Decker later served as a Green Beret and a member of the Army National Guard and served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from March 2013 until July 2021, including a four-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. From 2014 to 2016, Decker served in the Washington National Guard as an automatic rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. According to the Washington Military Department, Decker possesses special skills and training that could make him difficult to locate. [5] During his time in the army, he was a former part of the 503rd Infantry Regiment and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team while stationed in Italy in 2017. Before joining the 503rd, Decker had reportedly been removed from the elite Ranger Regiment after failing to complete Ranger School. [6]
In Pewaukee, where Decker was raised, Milwaukee Fox affiliate WITI-TV spoke to his brother TJ by phone, stating that he had a falling out with Decker a decade prior and the two haven't spoken since. [7] Decker's former neighbor in Pewaukee, who asked to remain anonymous because of Decker's disappearance, described Decker in an interview with NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV as "extremely athletic" and a kind teenager who excelled at sports, alongside his grandfather who was in the special forces. She replied that Decker followed in his father's footsteps, joining the military. [8]
Decker was married to his ex-wife, the mother of the three children, for 10 years, before they divorced in 2023. His ex-wife's attorney has stated that while Decker did have mental health issues, there were no red flags with him, and that he and his ex-wife "were able to communicate on a regular basis, not just as co-parents, but as friends". The attorney also stated that the ex-wife emphasized that Travis was an "active dad", with no previous history of violence to either her or their children. [9]
On May 30, 2025, Travis picked his three daughters up from his ex-wife at 5pm for a planned visitation. Without explanation, he failed to return them at 8pm as planned. [10] On June 2, law enforcement in Chelan County discovered the unoccupied white 2017 GMC Sierra truck that Travis had lived in near the Rock Island Campground. The bodies of the three girls were nearby; they had been found zip-tied, with plastic bags over their heads. A preliminary examination concluded they had likely been killed by asphyxiation. Travis' wallet was located in the truck, which also had a bloody handprint on its tailgate. [11]
Travis has been the subject of a manhunt since the bodies of the children were discovered. The Washington State Patrol was criticized for not initially issuing an Amber alert, despite being asked by the Wenatchee Police to do so. [12]
A deputy U.S. Marshal with the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, revealed in a U.S. Marshals Service affidavit that Travis Decker's Google account included searches such as "how does a person move to Canada," "how to relocate to Canada," and "jobs in Canada", meaning that Travis may have been attempting to flee to Canada days before the murders. According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s office, Travis Decker is well-versed in outdoor survival and has previously lived off-grid for up to almost three months, but has struggled to maintain stability in his life and consistent housing. Travis Decker was homeless, living at campgrounds and motels. [13]
On July 5, 2025, several law enforcement agencies began searching Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest for Travis Decker after law enforcement officials received a tip from a family that Travis may be in the area. [14] On July 9, 2025, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force located a hiker who matched Travis’s general appearance and was initially suspected to be him. Later that day, the manhunt for Travis in the state of Idaho was called off after it was confirmed that the hiker was not Travis Decker. [15] On August 28, 2025, investigators reportedly discovered bones in Chelan County during the search for Travis Decker. Authorities conducted forensic analysis to determine whether the remains were human and potentially connected to the case. On September 3, they were verified to be animal bones, not belonging to Travis or connected to the case. [16]
On September 18, 2025, remains were found south of Leavenworth, Washington, which authorities believe to be consistent with Travis Decker’s last known clothing. [17] Six days later, on September 24, the U.S. Marshals Service officially declared him deceased, [18] and DNA analysis the following day confirmed the identity. [19] On September 26, 2025, The Chelan County coroner revealed that an autopsy to determine the time and manner of his death is impossible to do on the remains. [20]