Three young girls were tragically discovered deceased on June 2, prompting a search for their father, Travis Decker, who had gone missing with the family. The girls, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), disappeared during a scheduled visit with their father and were later found deceased. A gathering was held on June 6 in Wenatchee Valley to pay tribute to the girls.
Authorities from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, who had been seeking Travis Decker, confirmed the discovery of human remains in a remote wooded area near Leavenworth. Family friend Amy Edwards described the girls as beloved members of the community who were cherished by all.
Travis, facing charges related to his daughters’ deaths, was urged to surrender by Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison during a press conference. The sheriff emphasized the importance of accountability for his actions, stating that justice would be served for the young girls.
In a statement to PEOPLE on June 6, attorney Arianna Cozart, representing Whitney, Travis’ ex-wife, shed light on the couple’s troubled relationship. Travis, an Army veteran, struggled with mental health issues, including Borderline Personality Disorder, and faced limitations on his visitation rights with the girls due to neglect of parental duties and emotional challenges.
The tragic events unfolded with Travis conducting searches about moving to Canada shortly before the girls went missing. The subsequent discovery of the deceased girls and the presence of incriminating evidence in Travis’ vehicle led to his arrest on charges of murder and kidnapping.
Whitney’s lawyer expressed that the system had failed Travis in providing adequate mental health support, emphasizing the need for intervention to prevent such a tragic outcome. An autopsy revealed that the girls’ cause of death was suffocation, ruled as homicide.
As the investigation unfolded, human remains believed to be Travis’ were found in a wooded area, pending confirmation through further examinations. The authorities continue their efforts to process the scene and gather more evidence in this heartbreaking case.