’The System Ki.lled My Children’
Tragic Disappearance and Deaths
Whitney Decker’s three daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were found dead Monday at a camping site near their Washington home. Their wrists were zip-tied, and plastic bags were used to suffocate them. Their father, Travis Decker, a military veteran with “additional mental health concerns” and “complicated PTSD,” is wanted on suspicion of killing them and remains missing in the forest. Whitney had warned authorities of “substantial danger” after he failed to return the girls following a Friday visitation.
Concerns Ignored by Authorities
Whitney’s lawyer Arianna Cozart criticized law enforcement, saying this “was a tragedy that could’ve been absolutely avoided.” She explained, “something broke inside” Travis, and he “would not have done what he did if he was himself.” Despite Whitney’s pleas and reports of his “out-of-character behaviour” and “declining mental health,” authorities did not issue an Amber Alert, believing the case didn’t meet criteria.
Background and Warning Signs
Travis, a former Army Ranger and National Guard sergeant, struggled with borderline personality disorder and PTSD, and had not followed court-ordered therapy or anger management. Whitney noted his behaviour was worsening, affecting the girls, saying he sometimes kept them in unsafe conditions like “homeless shelters” or tents. She stressed, “I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,” but feared for their safety.
Ongoing Manhunt and Investigation
After finding Decker’s truck at the Rock Island Campground, authorities discovered the girls’ bodies nearby. The US Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
