Travis Decker, the father of three teenage girls who were found dead on June 2 in Washington state, is still at large and is being sought by authorities. He is suspected of killing his daughters — ages 9, 8, and 5 — during a routine parental visit.
His ex-wife's lawyer, Whitney Decker, told ABC News that Travis "showed no warning signs" before his disappearance and that he "loved his daughters very much." The lawyer added that he had been an "active father" and that although he had mental health issues after his military service, his relationship with his ex-wife had been calm and cooperative.
The girls' bodies were found near their father's car after several days of searching. According to the preliminary forensic report, the girls are suspected to have died of asphyxiation.
Travis Decker separated from his wife in 2023. After the divorce, she gained full custody of the girls, while he was allowed limited visitation — three hours every Friday and eight hours every other weekend, provided he did not leave their immediate area of ??residence. These measures were taken due to concerns about his mental state.
According to the lawyer, "something broke inside him" after the restrictions were imposed, describing the act as a dark explosion related to the trauma and military training he had received.
Police have released new images of Decker and launched a massive search operation in the mountainous terrain of the region. The popular tourist area, “The Enchantments”, has been closed until June 18 or until further notice. Authorities warn that Decker is capable of surviving for days in the wild without equipment, as he has advanced survival training from his military service.
Residents in nearby mountainous areas have been asked to keep their doors and windows closed and to report any information immediately.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help Whitney Decker with expenses and legal support following this devastating tragedy. To date, it has raised over $1 million.
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