Nationwide Manhunt for Ex-Soldier After Three Daughters Found Murdered in Washington Forest

Authorities in Washington State have intensified the search for 32-year-old Travis Caleb Decker, a former U.S. Army soldier wanted in connection with the brutal murder of his three young daughters. The bodies of the girls; 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were discovered earlier this week in a wooded camping area in the Cascade Mountains near Decker’s abandoned white pickup truck. The grim discovery has shocked the local community and drawn nationwide attention.

On Friday, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson ordered the deployment of the National Guard to assist in the manhunt, stating that helicopters would be made available to law enforcement to help search remote and rugged terrain. Federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals Service, are also involved. "The brutal murder of these young girls has shaken our entire state," the governor said, vowing full support for law enforcement in their pursuit of justice.

The search effort, centered in the mountainous terrain of central Washington, now includes over 100 officers, deputies, and federal agents. According to local authorities, more than 500 tips have poured in from the public. The area remains dangerous and difficult to navigate, further complicating search efforts.

Court documents revealed that the girls were found on a slope near the truck, with indications they had been bound with plastic zip ties. A sheriff’s deputy discovered two bloody handprints on the vehicle’s rear door. The children’s mother, Whitney Decker, had reported them missing on the night of May 30, after Travis failed to return them from a scheduled visit. In September 2024, she had petitioned to modify custody arrangements, citing concerns over his deteriorating mental health and unstable living conditions specifically, his decision to live in his truck.

“He’s made great sacrifices in service to our country and he loves his daughters deeply, but he needs to get better,” she wrote in her custody filing. “I can’t allow our daughters to sleep in what is essentially a homeless shelter.”

Travis Decker served in the U.S. Army from 2011 to 2013 and was deployed to Afghanistan for four months during his service. Authorities have warned the public that he is considered dangerous and potentially armed. Although it is unclear whether he currently possesses a weapon, citizens in the search area have been advised to lock their homes and keep outdoor lights on. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest, and all nearby campgrounds have been closed as a precaution.

Officials emphasize that Decker is believed to possess survival training and could remain off the grid for days or even weeks with minimal equipment, increasing the urgency of the search.