Father wanted for murder after daughters found dead in Washington
- Travis Decker was scheduled for a visitation with his daughters but did not return them, leading to alarm from their mother.
- The bodies of the three girls were found near Decker's abandoned truck in a campground after an extensive search.
- Authorities have issued a warning for the public to avoid contact with Decker, who is now a suspect in their deaths.
In a tragic case in Washington State, three young sisters—ages 5, 8, and 9—were reported missing after their father, Travis Decker, failed to return them following a scheduled visitation on a Friday evening. Their mother reported the situation when Decker, who had custody of the girls for a planned visit, did not return them by 8 p.m. and could not be reached. Concerns arose because Decker had previously always returned the children as planned, and this change in behavior was alarming to the mother. Authorities initiated a search for both the girls and Decker over the weekend, during which it was confirmed that Decker was living out of his vehicle, a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck. After several days of searches around the Wenatchee area, authorities discovered the truck abandoned near a campground. Subsequent investigations led to the horrific discovery of the sisters' bodies found nearby. The circumstances surrounding their deaths indicated that they had died from asphyxiation, and their wrists were reportedly zip-tied, which raised suspicions about foul play. As the investigation unfolded, Travis Decker, 32, became the prime suspect. Searching for Decker, law enforcement reported that he is possibly armed and in a distressed mental state. Decker's history of mental health issues was documented, including a previous diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The police cautioned the public against approaching him due to safety concerns. The tragic outcome of this case, which has left the community in mourning, has garnered attention to the complexities of custody arrangements and the dangers they may pose in situations of parental instability. The police were criticized for not issuing an Amber Alert under the circumstances, as they believed it did not meet the required criteria for abduction. This incident has prompted discussions on improving the alert criteria to potentially save lives in future similar scenarios. The girls were students at Lincoln Elementary School, and the community was encouraged to provide adequate support as they dealt with this incomprehensible loss.