Three months after the disappearance of Travis Decker, the father of three young girls he is suspected of murdering, police have released a heartbreaking statement from his ex-partner.
Whitney Decker reported her daughters—Olivia, five; Evelyn, eight; and Paityn, nine—missing on May 30, after they failed to return home following a court-ordered visit with their father. Travis Decker was expected to drop the girls off in Wenatchee but never showed up.
A widespread search ended tragically when the children’s bodies were discovered on June 2 at Rock Island Campground. Authorities believe they died of asphyxiation, and DNA testing has identified Travis Decker as the sole suspect.
The U.S. Army veteran is now wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
To gather further evidence, the FBI has taken the lead in an ongoing search at the campground. On Monday, August 25, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that federal, state, and local agencies are coordinating under the FBI’s direction.
Sheriff Michael Morrison said: “Beginning today, Monday, August 25, through Tuesday, August 26, the FBI Seattle Office will be leading a coordinated search near Rock Island Campground outside of Leavenworth, Washington.”
Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Peter Orth explained that nearly 100 personnel from the FBI and partner agencies are combing the area, hoping to uncover clues that could lead to Travis Decker or provide additional information about the murders.
“The goal is to seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia,” Orth said at a press conference. “We want answers for their family, friends, and the community, and hope to provide some measure of closure.”
This week, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison offered another update, confirming that he recently spoke with the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, regarding the ongoing manhunt for her ex-partner.
Morrison added: “We understand the frustration. We’re feeling it as well.”
“We understand that the girls wouldn’t want us to give up, but I did speak with Whitney over the phone last night,” Sheriff Morrison said.
The police chief described Whitney as understandably frustrated by the ongoing situation.
“Of course, she wants the kind of closure that comes with locating Travis and bringing him to justice,” Morrison added.
Whitney has previously expressed her desire to see Decker found “dead or alive” so that she can finally have closure.