Topline: Decker seemed out of sorts and kept repeating himself—days later, his children were found dead in the woods.
Published: June 27, 2025 1:00 pm ET
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WENATCHEE, WA — Travis Decker didn’t look like himself when he arrived to pick up his daughters on May 30.
“He was skinny, with long hair and a beard,” said Binh Nguyen, Decker’s former neighbor, who spotted him outside the home he used to share with his ex-wife. “I said, ‘Is that you, Travis?’”
Nguyen told PEOPLE that Decker seemed distracted, and asked how he had been three times during an unsettling interaction in hind sight.
“It was kind of weird,” Nguyen said. “He had a sad face.”
That Friday evening, Decker was supposed to spend a few hours with 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia. When he didn’t return them by the 8 p.m. deadline, their mother, Whitney, became alarmed, CrimeCod previously reported.
Her calls went straight to voicemail. At 9:34 p.m., she walked into the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing.
Three days later, investigators found the girls’ bodies at the Rock Island Campground, about 130 miles east of Seattle. Each had a plastic bag over her head. One had zip ties around her wrists. Decker’s truck was nearby, but he was gone.
According to court documents and statements from the Chelan and Kittitas County sheriff’s offices, Decker is now wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. A former Army Ranger and National Guard member, he had extensive survival training and was reportedly dealing with serious mental health issues following his military service. Authorities say he had refused treatment in the months prior and had even searched online for how to relocate to Canada.
The manhunt—now entering its fourth week—has expanded across a vast stretch of rugged forest and backcountry. Search teams with K-9 units, helicopters, and wilderness trackers have scoured areas including Blewett Pass and the Teanaway Valley. The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the effort, warning the public that Decker may be armed and dangerous.
“There is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 23 update. “Some resources are now being directed toward recovery, in the event he died in the wilderness.”
Decker and his ex-wife had legally separated in 2022. As his stability declined, a judge revised their custody agreement, limiting his time with the children to brief supervised visits every other weekend. He had reportedly been living in an RV and spending nights in shelters at the time of the murders.
On June 20, at a memorial service held in a Wenatchee park, mourners wore the girls’ favorite colors—purple, pink, and green. Whitney Decker told the crowd, “I’m so thankful for the time that I had with the girls. They were incredible.”
She now plans to advocate for improved Amber Alert protocols and better mental health resources for veterans.
Until then, the search for her daughters’ killer continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Neighbor Recalls Unsettling Exchange with Travis Decker On the Day He Allegedly Killed Daughters
Decker seemed out of sorts and kept repeating himself—days later, his children were found dead in the woods.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 27, 2025 1:00 pm ET
WENATCHEE, WA — Travis Decker didn’t look like himself when he arrived to pick up his daughters on May 30.
“He was skinny, with long hair and a beard,” said Binh Nguyen, Decker’s former neighbor, who spotted him outside the home he used to share with his ex-wife. “I said, ‘Is that you, Travis?’”
Nguyen told PEOPLE that Decker seemed distracted, and asked how he had been three times during an unsettling interaction in hind sight.
“It was kind of weird,” Nguyen said. “He had a sad face.”
That Friday evening, Decker was supposed to spend a few hours with 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia. When he didn’t return them by the 8 p.m. deadline, their mother, Whitney, became alarmed, CrimeCod previously reported.
Her calls went straight to voicemail. At 9:34 p.m., she walked into the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing.
Three days later, investigators found the girls’ bodies at the Rock Island Campground, about 130 miles east of Seattle. Each had a plastic bag over her head. One had zip ties around her wrists. Decker’s truck was nearby, but he was gone.
According to court documents and statements from the Chelan and Kittitas County sheriff’s offices, Decker is now wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. A former Army Ranger and National Guard member, he had extensive survival training and was reportedly dealing with serious mental health issues following his military service. Authorities say he had refused treatment in the months prior and had even searched online for how to relocate to Canada.
The manhunt—now entering its fourth week—has expanded across a vast stretch of rugged forest and backcountry. Search teams with K-9 units, helicopters, and wilderness trackers have scoured areas including Blewett Pass and the Teanaway Valley. The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the effort, warning the public that Decker may be armed and dangerous.
“There is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 23 update. “Some resources are now being directed toward recovery, in the event he died in the wilderness.”
Decker and his ex-wife had legally separated in 2022. As his stability declined, a judge revised their custody agreement, limiting his time with the children to brief supervised visits every other weekend. He had reportedly been living in an RV and spending nights in shelters at the time of the murders.
On June 20, at a memorial service held in a Wenatchee park, mourners wore the girls’ favorite colors—purple, pink, and green. Whitney Decker told the crowd, “I’m so thankful for the time that I had with the girls. They were incredible.”
She now plans to advocate for improved Amber Alert protocols and better mental health resources for veterans.
Until then, the search for her daughters’ killer continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Neighbor Recalls Unsettling Exchange with Travis Decker On the Day He Allegedly Killed Daughters
Decker seemed out of sorts and kept repeating himself—days later, his children were found dead in the woods.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 27, 2025 1:00 pm ET
WENATCHEE, WA — Travis Decker didn’t look like himself when he arrived to pick up his daughters on May 30.
“He was skinny, with long hair and a beard,” said Binh Nguyen, Decker’s former neighbor, who spotted him outside the home he used to share with his ex-wife. “I said, ‘Is that you, Travis?’”
Nguyen told PEOPLE that Decker seemed distracted, and asked how he had been three times during an unsettling interaction in hind sight.
“It was kind of weird,” Nguyen said. “He had a sad face.”
That Friday evening, Decker was supposed to spend a few hours with 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia. When he didn’t return them by the 8 p.m. deadline, their mother, Whitney, became alarmed, CrimeCod previously reported.
Her calls went straight to voicemail. At 9:34 p.m., she walked into the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing.
Three days later, investigators found the girls’ bodies at the Rock Island Campground, about 130 miles east of Seattle. Each had a plastic bag over her head. One had zip ties around her wrists. Decker’s truck was nearby, but he was gone.
According to court documents and statements from the Chelan and Kittitas County sheriff’s offices, Decker is now wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. A former Army Ranger and National Guard member, he had extensive survival training and was reportedly dealing with serious mental health issues following his military service. Authorities say he had refused treatment in the months prior and had even searched online for how to relocate to Canada.
The manhunt—now entering its fourth week—has expanded across a vast stretch of rugged forest and backcountry. Search teams with K-9 units, helicopters, and wilderness trackers have scoured areas including Blewett Pass and the Teanaway Valley. The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the effort, warning the public that Decker may be armed and dangerous.
“There is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 23 update. “Some resources are now being directed toward recovery, in the event he died in the wilderness.”
Decker and his ex-wife had legally separated in 2022. As his stability declined, a judge revised their custody agreement, limiting his time with the children to brief supervised visits every other weekend. He had reportedly been living in an RV and spending nights in shelters at the time of the murders.
On June 20, at a memorial service held in a Wenatchee park, mourners wore the girls’ favorite colors—purple, pink, and green. Whitney Decker told the crowd, “I’m so thankful for the time that I had with the girls. They were incredible.”
She now plans to advocate for improved Amber Alert protocols and better mental health resources for veterans.
Until then, the search for her daughters’ killer continues.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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