Visitation to Violence: The Tragedy of the Decker Sisters
Friday, May 30th, 2025, began like any other summer weekend in Wenatchee, Washington. Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, were excited for a scheduled visit with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker. The visit was authorized under a parenting plan, though Decker was restricted from overnight stays and limited to visitation within the Wenatchee Valley. Nonetheless, Whitney Decker watched her daughters drive off in their father’s truck, expecting them home by 8 p.m.
That evening, no one returned. Whitney called repeatedly. By 10 p.m., with no word and increasing fear, she reported her daughters missing to Wenatchee Police. An Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued, but no Amber Alert — the children were with a custodial parent. Decker was known to be living out of his vehicle and frequently camping. Authorities feared for the girls' safety.
Two days later, on June 2nd, a Chelan County deputy found Decker’s abandoned pickup near Rock Island Campground, deep in the Cascades. About 75–100 yards from the vehicle, under a tarp, were the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. Each girl had been suffocated with plastic bags, zip-tied at the wrists. Two of the girls had two plastic bags over their heads, one had three. DNA on the materials matched Decker. A bloody fingerprint on the truck’s tailgate confirmed his presence. No other DNA was found.
This discovery marked a shift from a missing persons case to a triple homicide investigation. A manhunt began immediately.
The Decker Sisters: Remembering Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia
Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker were inseparable in life and mourned deeply in death. The three sisters were known for their playful spirits, creativity, and kindness. Neighbors often saw them outside with chalk and bubbles, or walking hand-in-hand with their mother. Paityn, the eldest, loved to bake and was already dreaming of culinary school. Evelyn adored animals and hoped to be a vet. Olivia, just five, was full of energy and fiercely attached to her older sisters.
After news of their deaths, Wenatchee mourned. Purple, pink, and green ribbons — their favorite colors — were tied across fences, cars, and streetlights. Officers wore those colors on their mourning badges. A candlelight vigil at Memorial Park on June 5th drew hundreds. At another memorial on June 20th, Whitney Decker shared how her daughters practiced naming three feelings every night before bed. She spoke of their joy, curiosity, and the aching void their deaths left behind.
Community support poured in. Over $1.26 million was raised for Whitney’s family. A scholarship fund is being established at Brookside Funeral Home. A Philadelphia police officer painted a portrait of the girls and mailed it to the sheriff’s office. Grief echoed far beyond the valley.
A Vanishing in the Mountains: The Search for Travis Decker
Decker’s military background and wilderness familiarity made him a challenging target. A former Army Ranger with survival training, he had previously lived off-grid for extended periods. Search teams feared he had fled into the vast Cascade wilderness.
The search effort quickly became one of the largest in Chelan County’s history, spanning over 2,900 square miles. The terrain was punishing: thick forest canopy, unstable slopes, and extreme vertical drop-offs. Decker had positioned himself in terrain “unsafe for searchers to access from below.” His truck remained at the crime scene, and searchers faced high-risk conditions daily.
A turning point came when an operational psychologist created a behavioral profile predicting that Decker would remain close to the original crime scene, in a remote position of tactical advantage. Using this profile, a top-down aerial search was launched. On September 18th, nearly four months after the murders, skeletal remains were found less than a mile from the truck on Grindstone Mountain. A CBP BORSTAR K-9 unit trained in human remains detection had assisted in the operation.
The remains, confirmed via DNA to be Decker’s, were scattered. Five separate search areas revealed evidence. His torso and cranium were never recovered. No fractures were observed, and no conclusive cause of death was determined. Wildlife interference and decomposition rendered autopsy impossible.
Officials noted that without federal collaboration, including over 100 FBI personnel, drone teams, cadaver dogs, and mobile command units, Decker may never have been found. A $20,000 reward for information had been offered but was never claimed.
What Investigators Have Confirmed
Authorities confirmed the following:
- Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker were killed by asphyxiation.
- Each girl had plastic bags over her head, secured with zip ties. Two had two bags, one had three.
- Travis Decker’s DNA was found on the bags and zip ties. A bloody fingerprint on the tailgate matched him.
- No other DNA profiles were recovered.
- The bodies were discovered 75–100 yards from his parked truck.
- Decker was diagnosed with PTSD and borderline personality disorder.
- A judge recommended psychiatric evaluation in September 2024. Decker never completed it.
- At the time of the crime, Decker was living in his truck and exhibiting increased instability.
- He searched “how to move to Canada,” “jobs Canada,” and browsed Canadian government sites in the days before the murders.
- He was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
- A behavioral profile led searchers to Grindstone Mountain, where his remains were discovered.
- The motive has not been publicly released but is known to investigators and will first be shared with the family.
Unanswered Questions
- What triggered the murders during a routine parenting visit?
- Why was Decker granted visitation despite mental health concerns and an incomplete court-ordered evaluation?
- Could an Amber Alert have altered the response timeline?
- What did Decker do between May 30th and June 2nd?
- Was he intending to flee to Canada, or were those searches part of another plan?
- What specifically led to the psychological profile pinpointing his final location?
- Why were his torso and skull never recovered, and could this affect closure?
Key Individuals and Relationships
TRAVIS DECKER – Father/Suspect – Former Army Ranger. Allegedly murdered his daughters and fled into the Cascade Mountains. Remains discovered on Grindstone Mountain.
WHITNEY DECKER – Mother – Reported her daughters missing. Advocated for custody limits. Now leading efforts to honor her daughters’ memory and protect other families.
ARIANNA COZART – Attorney – Legal representative for Whitney Decker. Shared custody agreement details and raised concerns over Travis’s mental health history.
MIKE MORRISON – Sheriff – Led the investigation. Provided updates on cause of death, search efforts, and case closure.
U.S. MARSHALS, FBI SEATTLE, CBP BORSTAR, WASHINGTON STATE PATROL – Agencies – Coordinated multi-jurisdictional search and manhunt. Provided aerial support, canine teams, tactical expertise, and search logistics.