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

[tlcya]

the welts described in earlier articles are more fully described in this one with a quote attributed to WD.

She recalled a time Olivia FaceTimed her 'screaming, crying Travis was nowhere in sight,' and describing how her sister Paityn was left 'unattended in the armory with Olivia' who was playing with a machine and had 'smashed Olivia's fingers'.

Another time, daughter Evelyn came back from the weekend 'with welts between her legs that looked like what happens when you sit in an accident for too long'.
Mother's tragic mistake that led to ex-husband killing their daughters

Not sure what to think of the neighbor's statements about physical abuse of WD during the marriage but IMO it would align with what I have come to believe about TD's issues.

 

[MizStery]

the welts described in earlier articles are more fully described in this one with a quote attributed to WD.

She recalled a time Olivia FaceTimed her 'screaming, crying Travis was nowhere in sight,' and describing how her sister Paityn was left 'unattended in the armory with Olivia' who was playing with a machine and had 'smashed Olivia's fingers'.

Another time, daughter Evelyn came back from the weekend 'with welts between her legs that looked like what happens when you sit in an accident for too long'.
Mother's tragic mistake that led to ex-husband killing their daughters

Not sure what to think of the neighbor's statements about physical abuse of WD during the marriage but IMO it would align with what I have come to believe about TD's issues.

Brought over from FB.
[mod snip We do not allow FB posts. If this document is from an official government FB page then we can allow it.]

 

[tlcya]

sadly, in her attempt to continue to be compassionate towards her ex and support her daughters' rights in continuing their relationship with their father, she made the wrong choice and didn't withhold the girls after his failure to abide by the court's order.

My heart will hurt for her for a long long while. The guilt and pain of that decision will probably haunt her always.

 

[ttjo]

sadly, in her attempt to continue to be compassionate towards her ex and support her daughters' rights in continuing their relationship with their father, she made the wrong choice and didn't withhold the girls after his failure to abide by the court's order.

My heart will hurt for her for a long long while. The guilt and pain of that decision will probably haunt her always.

"But when he ultimately failed to follow through with the court order, Whitney never informed the authorities, nor did she pursue her parental rights"

Uggh What a terrible position to be in.
How many other women/people are in this position? where you make decisions based on an expected outcome.(sometimes you dont want to upset the apple cart) and sounds like she really wanted to give him a hand up and not hold his head under water.
Maybe thats an area they could help people be more informed on, making difficult decisions.

 

[RedHaus]

But when he ultimately failed to follow through with the court order, Whitney never informed the authorities, nor did she pursue her parental rights.

RSBM
This starts to sound like Stockholm Syndrome for WD, as @Rescuedawg posted about ^^^.

 

[ttjo]

Fawn Response: The Trauma Survival Pattern That’s Mistaken for Kindness | CPTSDfoundation.org

cptsdfoundation.org

 

[Boxer]

and then there is the after... how long can a brain stay in a state of fight or flight?

That is what stress training in the military is about. The answer is, for a long, long time.

 

[Boxer]

But when he ultimately failed to follow through with the court order, Whitney never informed the authorities, nor did she pursue her parental rights.

Uggh What a terrible position to be in.
How many other women/people are in this position? where you make decisions based on an expected outcome.(sometimes you dont want to upset the apple cart) and sounds like she really wanted to give him a hand up and not hold his head under water.
Maybe thats an area they could help people be more informed on, making difficult decisions.

The courts can't save you or your children from a vengeful man, let alone one with lethal training. She did her best to make it work.

 

[Nikynoo]

the welts described in earlier articles are more fully described in this one with a quote attributed to WD.

She recalled a time Olivia FaceTimed her 'screaming, crying Travis was nowhere in sight,' and describing how her sister Paityn was left 'unattended in the armory with Olivia' who was playing with a machine and had 'smashed Olivia's fingers'.

Another time, daughter Evelyn came back from the weekend 'with welts between her legs that looked like what happens when you sit in an accident for too long'.
Mother's tragic mistake that led to ex-husband killing their daughters

Not sure what to think of the neighbor's statements about physical abuse of WD during the marriage but IMO it would align with what I have come to believe about TD's issues.

That is the most disgusting article I’ve read on this case yet. Thank you for posting.

 

[TMich6811]

and then there is the after... how long can a brain stay in a state of fight or flight?

Do you mean how long after trauma?

 

[Nikynoo]

The courts can't save you or your children from a vengeful man, let alone one with lethal training. She did her best to make it work.

It may have ended with all of them being killed if she had intervened. I really don’t know what to make of it all.

 

[TMich6811]

the welts described in earlier articles are more fully described in this one with a quote attributed to WD.

She recalled a time Olivia FaceTimed her 'screaming, crying Travis was nowhere in sight,' and describing how her sister Paityn was left 'unattended in the armory with Olivia' who was playing with a machine and had 'smashed Olivia's fingers'.

Another time, daughter Evelyn came back from the weekend 'with welts between her legs that looked like what happens when you sit in an accident for too long'.
Mother's tragic mistake that led to ex-husband killing their daughters

Not sure what to think of the neighbor's statements about physical abuse of WD during the marriage but IMO it would align with what I have come to believe about TD's issues.

These are both abuse as a result of neglect not violence as far as I can tell based on the information, curious if there’s more to the events or he just wasn’t existing during the visits

The name of that article is utterly appalling thought

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Thank-you for your posts.

The link below has a quote from Whitney’s father Chris Richter. His comments along with Travis Decker’s brother help give us additional insight into what is known.

Grandfather of 3 slain girls speaks out | Waukesha Co. News | gmtoday.com

<snipped for emphasis >
Chris Richter admitted he wasn’t in their household, but his opinion was that Decker was “tired of adulting such as having three kids and going to work every day.”

Richter accused Decker after getting divorced of “going wild and drinking too much, not paying child support.”

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Grandfather of 3 slain girls speaks out

PEWAUKEE — A distraught and grief-stricken grandfather is questioning why his former son-in-law Travis Decker, who is accused in the deaths of his three daughters, was given visitation rights while

www.gmtoday.com

My Opinion Only I am only sporadically able to be on our thread. But I continue to try to read everyone’s post. Thank’s to each one of you for keeping this thread going.

I remember reading that as well and wondering what went wrong, it's like he did a 360 out of nowhere.... but maybe it was more of a build up over time and it only seemed like he changed abruptly.

MOO, I am can't help think he was feeling restless and idle... and when some people are restless and idle it can steer them into the wrong direction or a bad path depending on personality/trauma.

He's in civilian life, not getting the adrenaline like he used to. He's working construction where he's getting bullied.

I would bet my bottom dollar he was spending lots of free time online listening to all kinds of things that were maybe planting seeds in his already damaged mind about how as a man he should be living his life. He's losing personal connections, possibly feeling numb and disassociating from family life/being a father and moving towards fringe thinking likely.

Again, I'd really be interested to know what his online presence was leading up to this. There is so much garbage out there that attracts lonely, isolated people. I wouldn't be surprised if he was being influence by some of the content. MOO JMO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Thank for posting, @Dotta.

While it is the DM, I found these bits fascinating and appropros to our current discussion.

I think this tells us a lot.

"...And even now, with Travis on the run and wanted for their murders, DailyMail.com can reveal that Whitney still feels 'almost purely empathy' for her ex-husband, who she believes was failed by a broken system."

" 'She knows that the monster that came and out and killed her babies is not Travis,' her attorney Arianna Cozart, who has spoken with the grieving mom extensively since the kids' bodies were found last week, told DailyMail.com."

" 'She has a lot of empathy still for Travis,' Cozart said as she recalled Whitney telling her to 'think about what he must have fought and struggled with all these years'."

" 'For this to come out of this man who was a loving father, he's broken, a broken man. It's not him,' said Cozart."

" 'She just wants him to come back to humanity here because obviously he suffered some sort of break.' "

Wow what grace she has. I truly admire people full of such grace during these tragedies when they are suffering so greatly.

I've seen this before with some crimes... I do not think I could compose myself to that level. There is something truly moving to hear this, I wish her nothing but healing going forward. She has a tough road

 

[Lalalacasbah]

But when he ultimately failed to follow through with the court order, Whitney never informed the authorities, nor did she pursue her parental rights.

Uggh What a terrible position to be in.
How many other women/people are in this position? where you make decisions based on an expected outcome.(sometimes you dont want to upset the apple cart) and sounds like she really wanted to give him a hand up and not hold his head under water.
Maybe thats an area they could help people be more informed on, making difficult decisions.

I think this happens a lot in these types of domestic dynamics. I think it's very hard to navigate for sure.

It's almost a "doomed if you, doomed if you don't" situation as it could have easily went the other way... If she prevented him from seeing them, then he goes and kidnaps them anyways (maybe killer her or a care provider or other family member in the process) and potentially same result.

I do not think these situations can be easily predicted. Mentally unstable people are just that - unpredictable and will disregard the laws as well. Not sure there's a right answer for these cases. Sad sad sad no matter what.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

The courts can't save you or your children from a vengeful man, let alone one with lethal training. She did her best to make it work.

ITA, he would have got to the kids somehow if he was that determined sadly. I doubt he would've followed court orders.

Not to say they aren't helpful! In some cases they are, but these perpetrators are unpredictable.

 

[ttjo]

Do you mean how long after trauma?

No I mean . some people say he may have snapped. or even just consider what he did, someone posted earlier that can be a release.
Adrenaline can keep him on the run for a while but how long before you become emotionaly l exhausted let alone physically.

Probably a stupid question, cause there are so many factors.

 

[TMich6811]

No I mean . some people say he may have snapped. or even just consider what he did, someone posted earlier that can be a release.
Adrenaline can keep him on the run for a while but how long before you become emotionaly l exhausted let alone physically.

Probably a stupid question, cause there are so many factors.

Thanks for clarifying. I thought you meant fight or flight related to trauma and that answer is forever because your brain functions different after trauma

 

[Snoop Sister]

Thanks for clarifying. I thought you meant fight or flight related to trauma and that answer is forever because your brain functions different after trauma

The brain can heal through neuroplasticity and appropriate therapeutic interventions though.

 

[ttjo]

That is what stress training in the military is about. The answer is, for a long, long time.

Its fascinating how powerful the mind can be.