Murdered girls' mother blames POLICE for their deaths as 'killer' dad Travis Decker remains on the run
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A mother whose three daughters were allegedly suffocated by their father has broken her silence - as her commando ex-husband remains on the run.
Whitney Decker says she knew her daughters Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, were in 'substantial danger' when Travis Decker failed to return them after his visitation on Friday.
She said through her lawyer she begged police to issue an Amber Alert but was told the case did not meet the requirements.
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth, 20 miles from their Washington state home, on Monday. Their wrists had been bound with zip ties and each of them had been suffocated with a plastic bag.
Travis, an Afghanistan veteran, is wanted on suspicion of their murder. He reportedly suffers from 'complex PTSD' and 'other mental health issues'.
He vanished into the woods and remains on the run. He is considered dangerous, given his extensive military training and propensity for violence.
But Whitney, through her attorney Arianna Cozart, has now spoken out, alleging this 'was a tragedy that could've been completely' avoided had officials intervened.
She believes 'something broke inside' of Decker and that he 'would not have done what he did if he was himself', Cozart revealed in a heartbreaking statement early Thursday morning.
'He clearly had some sort of break and everything that he had been living with, everything that had been bottled up inside of him for so long as far as trauma, just won out,' Cozart told the Seattle Times.
Decker was diagnosed with complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder after leaving active military service, Cozart said.
The attorney, speaking on behalf of Whitney, also noted that it was uncharacteristic of Decker not to return his daughters after a scheduled visitation.
His 'declining mental health' and 'out-of-character behavior' should have prompted 'enough concern' for an Amber Alert, Cozart argued.
She believes authorities should have acknowledged the sisters were 'missing' and in 'substantial danger', even though Decker 'didn't issue an overt threat'.
'We may never know if it could've meant the difference between life and death for those girls … but it could've made a huge difference,' Cozart told the newspaper.
The father-of-three has not been seen since he picked up Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia from their mother's home in Wenatchee, Washington State for a three-hour visit on Friday.
Decker, 32, was caught on a Ring doorbell approaching a home in a light colored T-shirt and dark shorts in the days leading up to his visitation with his daughters. He could be seen with a goatee and a mustache, with his long hair pulled back.
Authorities shared the images of the wanted suspect on Tuesday night in a bid to familiarize the public with his appearance.
'These are the most recent photos and videos we have that reveal his last known appearance,' Under Sheriff Dan Ozment said in a police press release.
The sheriff's office is now working with the Wenatchee Police Department, US Border Patrol and Homeland Security investigations to track down Decker, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
The US Marshals Service also said it would offer a reward of up to $20,000 for any information leading to Decker's arrest.
Court documents state that when Whitney reported her daughters missing on Friday, she 'expressed concern' over his out-of-character actions and his alleged deteriorating mental state.
Whitney told police Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and believes he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.
The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there was no sign he had followed through, the documents show.
Whitney stated in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'struggling to maintain stability' since they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.
She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.
She also said Decker - was prone to 'outbursts' and would come into her house yelling for the girls - would sometimes fail to pick up after promising to do so.
In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her crying during a visit with Decker and said she could not find her father - before Evelyn came home with welts between her legs.
'I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship.
'But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.'
But still Whitney reiterated to authorities how she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters.
She said the girls had a, 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit.
She said when Decker went to pick up the girls Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him.
He had also allegedly been talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles.
On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.
Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after finding Decker's truck.
Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents state.
Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console, police said.
The campground also showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a short distance away, but Decker was nowhere to be found.
Decker joined the US Army in 2012 and served a tour in Afghanistan two years later.
He likely has advanced combat training as a result, and was an airborne paratrooper who earned the elite rank of 'Ranger,' indicating he would have excellent wilderness and survival skills.
Decker then transferred to the Washington Army National Guard in 2021, rising to the rank of sergeant.
But he stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
