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The Murders of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker

● Suspect Deceased Multiple Victims Child Victims Filicide Washington
Victims
Paityn, Evelyn & Olivia Decker
Ages
9, 8, and 5
Date of Deaths
On or around May 30, 2025
Location
Leavenworth, Washington
Cause of Death
Suffocation
Perpetrator
Travis Caleb Decker
Charges
3 Counts Murder 1st Degree
Case Status
Suspect Confirmed Deceased
The Victims

Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker

Paityn, Evelyn & Olivia Decker
VictimsPaityn, Evelyn & Olivia
Ages9, 8, and 5
FromWenatchee, Washington
SchoolLincoln Elementary
MotherWhitney Decker
ActivitiesTheater, Dance

Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker were three sisters who lived in Wenatchee, Washington, with their mother, Whitney Decker. Paityn was 9, Evelyn was 8, and Olivia was 5. All three attended Lincoln Elementary School in the Wenatchee School District. Their father, Travis Decker, had been divorced from Whitney since 2023 and maintained a court-ordered visitation schedule that permitted him to see the girls on Friday afternoons and every other weekend, within the boundaries of the Wenatchee Valley.

The girls were described by their community as creative, confident, and full of light. All three participated in theater programs through the Music Theatre of Wenatchee, and they were well known to parents and children throughout their school and neighborhood. A community member whose daughter attended the same theater program said the girls were always lively, with Paityn instantly making friends with anyone she met.

Their mother Whitney described her daughters as having warm and open hearts. Friends remembered them as performers and dancers whose laughter, curiosity, and spirit left a mark on everyone around them. The Wenatchee School District called their deaths an absolutely heartbreaking loss for the entire community.

The Sisters
The Sisters
The Sisters
01
Background

What We Know

On May 30, 2025, Travis Caleb Decker picked up his three daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, from their mother Whitney at the family home in Wenatchee, Washington at approximately 5:00 p.m. for a scheduled court-ordered visitation. He told Whitney he would have the girls back by 8:00 p.m. When the girls did not return, Whitney attempted to reach Travis by phone repeatedly, but his calls went directly to voicemail. She filed a report with the Wenatchee Police Department that evening. The Wenatchee Police requested a Washington State Patrol Amber Alert, but it was not issued at that time because Travis had partial custody rights and there was no immediate evidence the girls were at risk of serious injury or death. An Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued the following day after detectives provided additional information.

On June 2, 2025, Chelan County Sheriff's deputies located Decker's white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck parked near Rock Island Campground along Icicle Creek, outside Leavenworth. The truck contained the girls' car seats, food, blankets, and Decker's wallet. Two bloody handprints were visible on the tailgate. Approximately 75 to 100 yards down an embankment from the truck, deputies found the bodies of all three girls. Each had a plastic bag over her head and her wrists were zip-tied or showed signs of having been zip-tied. Zip ties and plastic bags were found scattered throughout the surrounding area. Travis Decker was not at the scene.

The Chelan County Medical Examiner determined the girls' cause of death was suffocation and the manner of death was homicide. DNA analysis conducted by the Washington State Crime Lab, with results received on August 6, 2025, confirmed that DNA profiles matching Travis Decker were found on the plastic bags covering each of the girls' heads and on the cable ties collected at the scene. No other DNA profiles were identified on either the bags or the ties, confirming Decker as the only suspect involved in the homicides.

Case Timeline

How It Unfolded

May 30, 2025 — 5:00 p.m.
Travis Decker Picks Up the Girls
Travis Decker picked up Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia from Whitney at their Wenatchee home for a scheduled visitation. He spoke with Whitney for about 15 to 20 minutes before leaving. His last words to her were, "We'll see you at eight."
May 30, 2025 — Evening
Girls Reported Missing
When Travis failed to return the girls by 8:00 p.m. and did not answer his phone, Whitney filed a report with the Wenatchee Police Department. Police requested a Washington State Patrol Amber Alert, but it was not issued. An Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued the following day.
June 2, 2025
Bodies Discovered Near Leavenworth
Chelan County deputies located Decker's abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground along Icicle Creek. The bodies of all three girls were found approximately 75 to 100 yards down an embankment from the truck. Each had a plastic bag over her head and zip ties on her wrists. Travis Decker was not present.
June 2025 — Onward
Largest Manhunt in Chelan County History
A multi-agency manhunt involving the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, Washington National Guard, and other partners covered approximately 2,900 square miles of rugged terrain over nearly four months. Hundreds of tips were received. In July, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson directed emergency funds and National Guard resources to support the search.
August 6, 2025
DNA Evidence Confirms Decker as Sole Suspect
The Washington State Crime Lab reported DNA profiles matching Travis Decker on the plastic bags found over each girl's head and on the cable ties collected at the scene. No other DNA profiles were identified, confirming Decker as the only suspect in the homicides.
September 18, 2025
Human Remains Found on Grindstone Mountain
A drone search located decomposed human remains on a steep, remote slope partway up Grindstone Mountain, south of Leavenworth, less than one mile from the campsite where the girls' bodies were found. Clothing and personal items were recovered from the scene.
September 25, 2025
Remains Confirmed as Travis Decker
DNA testing by the Washington State Patrol crime lab confirmed the remains belonged to Travis Decker. The U.S. Marshals Service had officially declared him deceased the day prior. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison addressed Whitney Decker directly at a press conference, stating that he hoped she could rest easier knowing Travis was accounted for. The coroner's office continued working to determine a cause and time of death.
02
Investigation

The Investigation

The investigation into the murders of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker was led by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, with support from a large coalition of local, state, and federal agencies. Physical evidence collected from the scene at Rock Island Campground included the girls' bodies, zip ties and plastic bags, Decker's wallet, and two bloody handprints on the tailgate of his abandoned pickup. Blood samples taken from the scene tested positive for belonging to a male. A U.S. Marshals affidavit revealed that Decker's Google account, in the days before the murders, contained searches including how to relocate to Canada and available jobs in Canada, indicating possible planning to flee.

Travis Decker was a U.S. Army infantryman from March 2013 to July 2021, reaching the rank of staff sergeant. He served in Afghanistan from March to July 2014. Court documents described him as having extensive outdoor survival training, navigation skills, and a history of living off-grid for extended periods, including at least one stretch of nearly three months in the backcountry. Authorities characterized him as an experienced outdoorsman who was capable of surviving in remote wilderness without resupply. At the time of the murders, Decker was homeless and living out of his truck or at campgrounds and motels in the Wenatchee area.

Whitney Decker's attorney, Arianna Cozart, disclosed that Whitney had been concerned about Travis's mental health in the period leading up to the murders. A judge had recommended Decker receive a psychiatric evaluation and treatment in September 2024, but Decker struggled to access VA resources. Court records confirmed that Decker's known mental health issues included PTSD and borderline personality disorder. He had refused to sign a parenting plan that required him to seek mental health treatment.

03
Arrest & Charges

The Accused

Travis Caleb Decker
Travis Caleb Decker
Age 32 — Father
Charges: 3 Counts Murder in the First Degree, 3 Counts Kidnapping in the First Degree, 1 Federal Count Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution
Arrested: Never apprehended
Status: Confirmed deceased — remains identified September 25, 2025
Remains Found: Grindstone Mountain, south of Leavenworth, Washington
Cause of Death: Under investigation at time of confirmation
Key Evidence: DNA profiles matching Decker on plastic bags and zip ties at the scene, bloody handprints on truck tailgate, Google searches for Canadian relocation in days before the murders
Case Closure Notes
Travis Decker was never taken into custody. He was charged in absentia with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping in Chelan County Superior Court, and separately on one federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The U.S. Marshals Service offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. His remains were found on September 18, 2025, less than one mile from where his daughters' bodies were discovered. DNA confirmation was completed on September 25, 2025. Because Decker died before trial, no conviction was entered. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office confirmed he is the only suspect in the homicides.
In Memoriam

They Are Not Forgotten

Paityn was nine. Evelyn was eight. Olivia was five. They were performers and dancers and bug-hunters and friends. They lit up stages and classrooms and sidewalks in Wenatchee. They made friends easily and made people laugh without trying. They were the kind of children that a community wraps itself around, and when they were gone, that community felt the absence of them in every corner.

Their mother Whitney handed them over on a Friday evening with hugs and kisses and the ordinary confidence of a mother who had every reason to believe her children would be home by eight. That ordinary Friday became a grief she will carry for the rest of her life, and so will everyone in the Wenatchee Valley who knew those three girls, or knew of them, or simply sat with the weight of what was lost.

Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia are remembered in the theater programs they loved, in the school hallways they filled with noise, and in the hands of a community that has not stopped saying their names. Their deaths have prompted calls for reform to Washington's Amber Alert system, so that what happened to them will not happen to another child. They deserved more time. They deserved to grow up. They are not forgotten.

"They were the kind of children everyone rooted for, looked forward to seeing, and held close in their hearts."
Amy Edwards and Mark Belton, Family Friends — Statement on behalf of Whitney Decker
Resources for Families and Domestic Violence Support

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 — 24/7 confidential support for those experiencing intimate partner abuse or unsafe custody situations.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 — Crisis intervention, information, and referrals.

Whitney Decker Support Fund: gofundme.com/f/support-whitney-decker

Sources
NBC News — Travis Decker Remains Confirmed, September 26, 2025  |  NPR — Remains Identified as Travis Decker, September 26, 2025  |  CBS News — DNA Testing Confirms Decker Deceased, September 26, 2025  |  KOMO News — How Authorities Found Travis Decker, January 2026  |  KOMO News — Wenatchee Remembers the Decker Sisters, August 2025  |  Chelan County Sheriff's Office — Official DNA Evidence Statement, August 25, 2025  |  ABC News — Travis Decker Background and Timeline, June 2025  |  CNN — Travis Decker Manhunt Coverage, June 2025  |  KING5 — What We Know, June 2025  |  KOMO News — Amber Alert Reform Coverage, June 2025  |  Wikipedia — Decker Children Killings
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