Authorities across multiple states are racing against time to find the 32-year-old Washington man accused of murdering his three daughters, Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5, during what was supposed to be a routine custody visit.
Now, police fear the Army veteran — who has a history of surviving off the grid —could be anywhere in the country.
And the newest footage released by authorities is nothing short of haunting.
The last known footage
Just recently, police released a new video that shows Travis Decker, 32, on a Ring doorbell camera the day he picked up his daughters.
It’s the last time the girls were seen alive. Authorities are now hoping someone will recognize the man in the video and help bring him in.
His vehicle was found abandoned near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington.
The bodies of the three girls were discovered nearby, each with plastic bags over their heads and wrists zip-tied, according to disturbing court documents. Plastic bags and zip ties were reportedly found scattered around the scene. And on the tailgate of Decker’s truck — what appeared to be two bloody handprints.
“Clearly, this was not the outcome we wanted,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a somber press conference Wednesday evening. “We were hoping that we could find Travis today.”
A veteran in hiding
Authorities believe Decker may be using his military training to stay hidden. He served in Afghanistan in 2014, later transferring to the Washington National Guard.
Though administrative separation proceedings reportedly began in 2023 or 2024, he technically remains a member of the Guard.
Sheriff Morrison said Decker’s father told investigators that Travis had previously lived off the grid for as long as two and a half months at a time. He’s described as someone capable of “surviving for long periods of time in the wilderness.”
“We understand that at times, he would do caching,” Morrison said. “So we understand that’s a possibility — that he could have scoped out this area before, put some supplies out there, and has the ability and knowledge to survive.”
Decker had been living out of his truck or staying at motels and campgrounds before the tragedy unfolded. Authorities don’t know if he’s armed, but say he is dangerous and could be anywhere.
Nationwide search underway
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is now working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals to track down Decker.
A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
On Wednesday, local police in McCall, Idaho, investigated a reported sighting of Travis, but authorities later confirmed it wasn’t him. Still, officials say they’re fielding tips from all over the country.
“Thanks to our Marshall’s Office tracking down some good leads, we feel we’re getting more insight into Travis’ mindset — where he may have gone to,” said Morrison.
Officials are asking the public to be cautious about what they report. Only first-person sightings should be sent to 911.
“Dispatch should only be notified of first-person sightings, not rumors, texts, or online chatter,” the McCall Police Department said.
A mother’s nightmare
The girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, had reported concerns to police on the night of their disappearance. She told officials that Travis had picked up the children around 5 p.m. Friday for a scheduled visit, but never returned them.
She said her ex-husband wasn’t answering his phone and that it was going straight to voicemail. “He reportedly has never done this before,” she said, adding that Travis had recently been struggling with mental health issues and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder during their marriage.
Court records show that Whitney and Travis were married for seven years before divorcing. She recalled times when he would scream at her in the middle of the night or vanish without explanation.
Initially, the disappearance didn’t qualify for an Amber Alert. Instead, authorities issued an Endangered Missing Persons Alert, and obtained arrest warrants for Decker on custodial interference charges — just hours before the bodies were found.
Whitney, through her attorney, also criticized authorities for not issuing an Amber Alert — suggesting that her daughters might still be alive today had that step been taken.
Before their tragic discovery, the mother had expressed deep fear: “I just want the girls back home safe and sound.”
“Do the right thing”
Now that fear has turned into heartbreak—and resolve.
“Travis, if you’re listening, this is your opportunity to turn yourself in, do the right thing, do what you need to do and take accountability for your actions,” said Sheriff Morrison. “We’re not going to rest, and we’re going to make sure we find you. You will be brought to justice — those young ladies deserve it.”
If you have seen Travis Decker or know anything about his whereabouts, call 911 immediately. He is described as 5’8″, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen in a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
