Found Deceased Olivia 5, Evelyn 8 & Paityn Decker 9, found dead, manhunt on for father, Travis Decker 32, wh 2017 GMC Sierra PU, Wenatchee, 30 May 2025 #2

[crhedBngr]

Late to this case today; therefore, I've missed any earlier aircraft searches.

Here are two screenshots of the N305DK search. The first shows aircraft start- and stop-times; the second shows the area searched.





All images are taken from Flightradar24.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

JMVHO.

 

[RedHaus]

IME, even getting mandated holds and forced services is very very difficult. It took me two years to get my son into a setting where he could even be evaluated enough to receive a diagnosis. He is currently med compliant. When he is not, I cannot force him to comply. My hands are tied. Unless he is adjudicated an IMMINENT threat to self or others. And as soon as he is not, the authority to force the issue is gone.

Mentally ill people have rights. Those rights are important to prevent the sort of imprisonment and warehousing without treatment that was used so prevalently in the past to "handle" mentally ill persons.

But those laws protecting the rights of the mentally ill mean it is extremely difficult to force someone to receive treatment, whether it be counseling or meds, if they do not want it.

Just my own. Experience of others may vary.

Eloquently stated, @tlcya.

You know, it seems this discussion about how much our society should or should not do to protect people with serious mental health issues from harming themselves or others, and how frequently our society should alert the public about suspected abductions, and how much legal intervention is appropriate to mitigate current or prospective domestic violence, is all about risk management.

To protect peoples rights and freedoms, how much risk can a democratic society in western civilization tolerate where, in the end, we inevitably will miss protecting some of those who need it?

There are many cases here on WS that raise these deep seeded societal questions.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Just here to pop in and say that not taking medication, not engaging in classes or therapy or any help is a symptom of the mental illness. One has to be well enough for compliance. Whether this applies here or does not I don’t know but there is a very, very thin line between too mentally ill to agree and self responsibility.

That’s why we have systems that mandate services, inpatient holds, etc. sounds like some of that was missed here when it should have been used. But I (we) don’t know enough here to accurately say

Exactly, non compliance to meds etc can be part of mental illness. That is why I stated previously that perhaps he could have used an advocate or more support in that area. I don’t know how effective a Pastor would be but it certainly was someone for whom TD could talk to. Imoo

On a different note, the brother indicated that TD became violent when a financial intervention was attempted. However, it was noted it was not of a physical nature. If in fact TD has NPD, people can become very angry and full of rage when they feel criticized. This can perhaps be witnessed with TD’s reaction to his brother and father’s attempted “intervention”. It would probably have been more appropriate to have a trained facilitator present at the intervention, considering the state of TD’s mental health. IMO.

Edited to add - I found it rather odd that there were so many pictures of the brother and his wife (well at least 3) in the article. The article was supposed to be about TD and the girls. I didn’t really feel comfortable on many levels with this news story. And, I will leave it at that.

 

[tlcya]

have we heard anything today about the search? Are they still in the same area (Blewett Pass area near Highway 97) as they were yesterday?

ETA just saw @crhedBngr 's above when I refreshed - thank you

 

[RedHaus]

Have Canadian authorities been put on alert?

Yes, it seems so from this DM summary of Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison's statements during a press conference Wednesday, 6/11: "Despite his survivalist skills, Decker’s time is running out... international, federal, state and local law enforcement are not going to give up until he has been captured." I presume "international" implies CAN is engaged.

 

[NuttMegg]

Exactly, non compliance to meds etc can be part of mental illness. That is why I stated previously that perhaps he could have used an advocate or more support in that area. I don’t know how effective a Pastor would be but it certainly was someone for TD to talk to. Imoo

On a different note, the brother indicated that TD became violent when a financial intervention was attempted. However, it was noted it was not of a physical nature. If in fact TD has NPD, people can become very angry and full of rage when they feel criticized. This can perhaps be witnessed with TD’s reaction with his brother and father’s attempted “intervention”. It would probably have been more appropriate to have a trained facilitator present at the intervention considered the state of TD’s mental health. IMO.

It's a very thin line becoming "violent" but not "physically violent". Many (of us) have nightmares years later of someone we loved becoming violent in our faces, but the physical (non-existent , imo) line wasn't crossed. And would have been brushed off by the burly cops called to interfere in "only" screaming from a guy weighing >50 lbs than the victim. I would guess that the 2 grown males experiencing the violent but not physically violent behavior were not affected like the wife and kids would have been. There's a lot of blame to pass around here.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

@Nikynoo

In the Daily mail article about the brother, linked multiple times as in this post:

Toward the end is this quote:

“Whitney told Thomas that Travis had been going to a therapist and trying to get help. Once he started doing better, she told Thomas, he stopped going.”

From what I know of mental health (not an expert) this is fairly typical of people suffering from many stories I've heard (some crimes here in Canada).

They start feeling better, then stop the meds/therapy. A vicious circle...

 

[Snoop Sister]

Yes, it seems so from this DM summary of Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison's statements during a press conference Wednesday, 6/11: "Despite his survivalist skills, Decker’s time is running out... international, federal, state and local law enforcement are not going to give up until he has been captured." I presume "international" implies CAN is engaged.

What is CAN?

 

[Gemmie]

Sheriff Mike Morrison said the net is tightening on the search for Travis Decker.

Morrison said Decker has one option left: Make a mistake. When he does, authorities will be ready.

After more than a week on the run, Morrison said Decker cannot hide forever.

“You’re going to have to be perfect every single day, Travis. We only have to be perfect one day,” he said.

[...]

Climbing experts believe Decker likely hiked nearly 20 miles from Rock Creek Campground, where his daughters’ bodies were found, up Windy Pass, past Stuart Lake to Colchuck Lake, and then dropped 4,000 feet into Ingalls Creek.

It is a route with over 7,000 feet of elevation gain and dangerous conditions.

“There’s no trail from there. A lot of it is like third-, fourth-class rock, steep trees, steep heather. Up in that area, there’s still snow about 6,000 feet,” said Jonathon Spitzer with Alpine Ascents.

‘We will not stop’: Authorities say search is narrowing for father accused of killing 3 daughters

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I took that to mean a professional therapist. Calling a pastor a therapist is a stretch, imo.

Somebody diagnosed him with BPD and PTSD, as stated in the family court documents.

But I could see a narcissist stopping treatment as soon as a slight improvement occurs. And instead thinking they’re better off getting divine guidence. And near the end he stopped that as well.

JMO

I wonder if TD thought the meds (science approach) weren't working and then resorted to spiritual approach for guidance?

Does anyone know if he was a religious/spiritual person throughout his life? Or if this was a new thing?

If he felt "abandoned" by everyone else (even though I think it was more him doing this, in his mind it was everyone else's fault), maybe he thought God/Jesus/spiritualiy was his last attempt at finding a meaning or connection. MOO

 

[Gemmie]

I stumbled across Decker's affidavit. From it...

It is a nationwide extradition warrant. I also noted Judge Jourdan included on the arrest warrant “No bail until first appearance”.

The location of the victim’s remains is relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly Canada. DECKER is a former military member with training in navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines needed to be able to flee from the Eastern District of Washington.

Further, during the investigation, it was learned DECKER is a very avid and well-versed outdoorsman. Prior to the above alleged crimes, DECKER frequently recreated in outdoor, woodland and mountainous areas throughout the Eastern District of Washington and surrounding states. Amongst other outdoorsman activities, DECKER frequently engaged in hiking, camping, survival skill practice, hunting and even lived off the grid in the backwoods for approximately 2.5 months on one occasion.

Travis Caleb Decker

 

[seasideForest]

Just here to pop in and say that not taking medication, not engaging in classes or therapy or any help is a symptom of the mental illness. One has to be well enough for compliance. Whether this applies here or does not I don’t know but there is a very, very thin line between too mentally ill to agree and self responsibility.

That’s why we have systems that mandate services, inpatient holds, etc. sounds like some of that was missed here when it should have been used. But I (we) don’t know enough here to accurately say

Thanks for saying that.
Especially the BBM.

Your depression can be so bad, that you can't engage. A therapist may say: "it's not that you can not, it is that you do not want to". The therapist may well be correct, but then the question is "Why not?". It's easy for people on the outside to say "He/She is just lazy. He/She wants somebody else to do the work." But imo and ime it's much, much more complicated and nuanced.

I also know that with Cptsd - complex ptsd which is not recognised in the US as a separate diagnosis from ptsd but is in some other major countries - not engaging can be a type of Flight mechanism. So the therapist or psychiatrist or both need to get beneath that, get at the root. Unfortunately, there are waiting lists and waiting lists. I don't know if TD had this type of Flight mechanism in his ptsd, no idea.

Whatever he had going on, he brutally murdered his own three sweet daughters and I can't see any 'excuse' for that. MOO
Though there are many diagnoses in mental illness of which I have no idea, so there may be 'reasons', I'm no expert.

 

[Snoop Sister]

I stumbled across Decker's affidavit. From it...

It is a nationwide extradition warrant. I also noted Judge Jourdan included on the arrest warrant “No bail until first appearance”.

The location of the victim’s remains is relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly Canada. DECKER is a former military member with training in navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines needed to be able to flee from the Eastern District of Washington.

Further, during the investigation, it was learned DECKER is a very avid and well-versed outdoorsman. Prior to the above alleged crimes, DECKER frequently recreated in outdoor, woodland and mountainous areas throughout the Eastern District of Washington and surrounding states. Amongst other outdoorsman activities, DECKER frequently engaged in hiking, camping, survival skill practice, hunting and even lived off the grid in the backwoods for approximately 2.5 months on one occasion.

Travis Caleb Decker

Ummm, “no bail until first appearance”??? Or is this a standard thing on arrest warrants?

 

[Snoop Sister]

Snipped

I also know that with Cptsd - complex ptsd which is not recognised in the US as a separate diagnosis from ptsd but is in some other major countries - not engaging can be a type of Flight mechanism. So the therapist or psychiatrist or both need to get beneath that, get at the root. Unfortunately, there are waiting lists and waiting lists. I don't know if TD had this type of Flight mechanism in his ptsd, no idea.

C-PTSD is another way of saying complex trauma. Repeated traumatic experiences. And, it is not listed in the DSM-5, which Canada follows in diagnosis.

Edited: Gee my ipad has a brain of its own. Constantly changing words around.

 

[seasideForest]

If in fact TD has NPD, people can become very angry and full of rage when they feel criticized.

Fight, Flight, Freeze (+Fawn, Collapse...) - people with cptsd can also react with what seems inappropriate levels of anger and rage - they go into Fight mode, criticism can be enough to trigger it, if the criticism feels annihilating enough. Again, idk if it happens with ptsd too. Just saying it doesn't have to be NPD, but it could be.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Fight, Flight, Freeze (+Fawn, Collapse...) - people with cptsd can also react with what seems inappropriate levels of anger and range - they go into Fight mode, criticism can be enough to trigger it, if the criticism feels annihilating enough. Again, idk if it happens with ptsd too. Just saying it doesn't have to be NPD, but it could be.

Just some of my own opinions and I did in a previous post mention complex trauma could be something with TD as well. Just speculation imo. We obviously don’t know enough about him.

 

[vls12345]

What is CAN?

Canada.

 

[seasideForest]

C-PTSD is another way of complex trauma. Repeated traumatic experiences.

Yes, I know. PTSD and CPTSD share some traits and then cptsd has some on top. I have experience with cptsd and I'm saying that I'm not sure if the stuff I listed is also applicable to PTSD. It could be though.

 

[Judy Sleuth]

dbm

 

[Snoop Sister]

Canada.

Oh ok. If I recall correctly, in the press conference it was said that they spoke to someone in Canada, he was vague about it. Maybe check the press conference video posted a few times previously. But, I am sure Border Patrol is very aware.