The three young sisters who were allegedly killed by their homeless father in Washington state likely died from asphyxiation, according to authorities.
Preliminary autopsy results, filed with the Chelan County Superior Court and reported by Fox 13 on Tuesday, revealed the suspected cause of death for Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5.
The girls’ bodies were discovered around 5 p.m. Monday near their father’s white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck at the Rock Island Campground in Wenatchee, approximately three hours east of Seattle.
AMBER alerts for the missing sisters were canceled late Monday, before police confirmed their deaths on Tuesday morning. Authorities are still searching for their father and suspected killer, Travis Decker, who is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Decker, 32, had picked up his daughters on Friday. When he failed to return them as scheduled, their mother, Whitney Decker, grew concerned after his phone went straight to voicemail, according to the New York Post. She quickly reported the situation to Wenatchee police.
His white pickup truck was later spotted in the west end of Leavenworth, leading officers to search nearby wooded areas.
Just hours before the girls’ bodies were discovered, a warrant was issued for Decker’s arrest on three counts of first-degree custodial interference. Murder and kidnapping charges were later added. Decker — a military veteran with extensive training — is homeless and has been divorced from the children’s mother for several years. He often stayed at local campgrounds and hotels with his dog.
Court documents obtained by Fox 13 reveal Decker had driven to and from the campground the day before the abductions. When officers found his truck, they discovered two bloody handprints, along with blankets, food, car seats, and his wallet inside.
According to court documents, the campsite near Decker’s truck appeared recently used when police arrived.
After the heartbreaking discovery of the sisters’ bodies, SWAT teams and federal agencies — including Homeland Security and the U.S. Forest Service — flooded the area to search for Decker.
Authorities described Decker as 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. While it’s unclear if he is armed, police warn he may be dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him or knows his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
Decker and his ex-wife Whitney, who had full custody of the children, had created a parenting plan after years of divorce. He was allowed supervised visits with his daughters every other weekend in the Wenatchee Valley area.
When Decker picked up the girls on Friday, he was reportedly “quieter than usual,” something court documents say was unusual for him. Whitney suspected he may have stopped taking his prescribed medication. Under the custody agreement, Decker was required to continue mental health treatment and anger management counseling. According to the New York Post, documents allege he failed to comply.
