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A man in Washington state is being sought on murder charges after his three young daughters went missing and were later discovered deceased.
Travis Decker, 32, faces three charges of murder and kidnapping, according to the Wenatchee Police Department, which is situated around 100 miles east of Seattle.
Authorities have stated that it is unclear if Decker is armed. He is a former soldier in the Army and has “extensive training.”
On Friday, the girls’ mother informed the police that their father failed to return them after a scheduled visit. The daughters are aged nine, eight, and five.
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The Wenatchee Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a Washington state father wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and later found dead. (Wenatchee Police Department)
Over the weekend, officials searched for both the children and their father, who was thought to be living in a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck registered in Washington.
Police discovered Decker’s truck abandoned on Monday near a campground west of Leavenworth, approximately 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee.
Deputies from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office subsequently found the bodies of the girls nearby the vehicle.
According to court documents, police suspect that the girls, whose wrists were bound with zip ties, died from asphyxiation.
Three girls, aged five, eight, and nine, went for a planned visit to see their father on Friday, May 30, but they didn’t return. Their bodies were located close to Decker’s abandoned pickup truck on Monday afternoon. (Wenatchee Police Department)
Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his whereabouts to contact the police.
“Due to safety concerns, do not attempt to approach or contact Decker,” the police advised.
The mother reported to the police that she had last communicated with Decker when he picked up the girls around 5 p.m. on Friday, but by 8 p.m. he had not returned them, and her calls went straight to voicemail.
A detective noted that she was worried because this was out of character for Decker, who is reportedly struggling with mental health issues.
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A photo of Travis Decker’s 2017 GMC Sierra, which has the Washington state license plate DCO165C. (Wenatchee Police Department)
“She reached out to us because he was late and hadn’t communicated that he would be. This was unusual for him,” said Capt. Brian Chance.
The sheriff’s office, which found the truck, is leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, while other teams are looking into potential credible tips regarding Decker’s whereabouts.
The agency is collaborating with U.S. Marshals to locate Decker, and a reward of up to $20,000 is available for information leading to his arrest.
“Travis, if you’re listening, this is your chance to turn yourself in,” stated Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison at a press conference on Tuesday. “Do the right thing and take responsibility for your actions. We won’t stop until we find you.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
