Found Deceased WA - 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

[no greed]

“I think the bugs are probably causing him fits if he's up there. I mean, we know that it's certainly becoming that time of season where they're out in force,” Sheriff Morrison tells PEOPLE.

...

The sheriff adds that if for some reason Decker is no longer alive, he’d still like to find him to “bring closure to not only the family, but to our communities.”

Inside the Manhunt for Dad Accused of Killing Three Daughters: 'Justice Will Catch Up with Him'

As law enforcement agencies continue the manhunt for Travis Decker — a Washington state father accused by police of murdering his three young daughters — Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison has vowed to bring him to justice.

people.com

6 years ago I was in the area of Chelan. It was late June and absolutely gorgeous. As the sheriff said, the bugs were brutal. Add the chance of running into a disgruntled bear or one of the venomous snakes; I almost hope TD is wandering those forests thinking about how he ruined his own life and those of everyone who ever cared about himself.

 

[JenniD]

“Whitney detailed incidents that contributed to the separation, including a situation on Aug. 15, 2024, when Travis allegedly found one of their daughters passed out with a bathrobe tied around her neck at his mother's house and failed to inform Whitney.”
What am I missing? I thought his family lived in Wisconsin and that his mother had passed away a couple years ago?? Did his mother live in Washington and only recently passed? How can he have been at his mothers house when this incident occurred?

 

[RedHaus]

It seems like they've spent an extraordinary amount of time & resources pursuing him around there

Maybe included in one of his hidden caches of supplies his father said he was known to keep...

RS&BBM from your post #660.

I really dislike perseverating on any WS thread.... its against my nature. But you pushed my theory and question buttons about this manhunt, @Twistinginthewind.

Why on 6/2 did LE believe TD went into the woods from his alleged crime scene? What compelled LE to not publicly consider two other options - A. TD killed himself near or far, B. TD left the area 5/30?

Perhaps LE has been tracking all three scenarios, and their press releases and MSM coverage have, until now, been mostly focused on C. TD slowly slogged through the mountains for 3 weeks.

But like you and OPs, my perception of what we know is TD likely high-tailed out the area on 5/30 (B). Additionally, several OPs believe TD likely killed himself or has died while evading LE (A).

Yet, as you say, various LE branches have spent A LOT of resources, presumably only on (C).

So, I remain puzzled about LE's search approach; I hope because LE has kept a lot close to their vest. I welcome answers from OPs to this question... Why was the search initially focused only on option C?

IMO.
ET: clarify last para

 

[Nikynoo]

RS&BBM from your post #660.

I really dislike perseverating on any WS thread.... its against my nature. But you pushed my theory and question buttons about this manhunt, @Twistinginthewind.

Why on 6/2 did LE believe TD went into the woods from his alleged crime scene? What compelled LE to not publicly consider two other options - A. TD killed himself near or far, B. TD left the area 5/30?

Perhaps LE has been tracking all three scenarios, and their press releases and MSM coverage have, until now, been mostly focused on C. TD slowly slogged through the mountains for 3 weeks.

But like you and OPs, my perception of what we know is TD likely high-tailed out the area on 5/30 (B). Additionally, several OPs believe TD likely killed himself or has died while evading LE (A).

Yet, as you say, various LE branches have spent A LOT of resources, presumably only on (C).

So, I remain puzzled about LE's search approach; I hope because LE has kept a lot close to their vest. I welcome answers from OPs to this question... Why was the search initially focused only on option C?

IMO.
ET: clarify last para

Way good observations. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any answers! My preference is A, but agree that B is very close behind. I can see no reason why TD would want to stay hidden in the woods.

 

[appleatcha]

RS&BBM from your post #660.

I really dislike perseverating on any WS thread.... its against my nature. But you pushed my theory and question buttons about this manhunt, @Twistinginthewind.

Why on 6/2 did LE believe TD went into the woods from his alleged crime scene? What compelled LE to not publicly consider two other options - A. TD killed himself near or far, B. TD left the area 5/30?

Perhaps LE has been tracking all three scenarios, and their press releases and MSM coverage have, until now, been mostly focused on C. TD slowly slogged through the mountains for 3 weeks.

But like you and OPs, my perception of what we know is TD likely high-tailed out the area on 5/30 (B). Additionally, several OPs believe TD likely killed himself or has died while evading LE (A).

Yet, as you say, various LE branches have spent A LOT of resources, presumably only on (C).

So, I remain puzzled about LE's search approach; I hope because LE has kept a lot close to their vest. I welcome answers from OPs to this question... Why was the search initially focused only on option C?

IMO.
ET: clarify last para

This is an excellent summary of the questions on my mind as well. This is just my opinion/theory, but I believe law enforcement likely had some kind of evidence (quite possibly planted/deliberately left to be found by TD), which they haven't made public, that initially led them to lean so heavily on (C). The only alternative to that I can think of is incompetence, and I really don't want to believe that.

 

[Scatcat]

Decker Sisters "Buddy Bench" To Be Placed At Lincoln Elementary

A bench is being installed to honor the memories of three young sisters who were found murdered at a campsite near Leavenworth earlier this month. The

kpq.com

The Wenatchee School District (WSD) says the "Buddy Bench" will feature the names of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker,

*****
District officials say the bench will be located on the playground at Lincoln Elementary School, where all three girls were students.

*****
A buddy bench, also known as a friendship bench, is a seat designed to hold at least two people that is typically installed on a school playground where children can go when they need someone to talk to.

Buddy benches are often unique from other playground seating at a school and are commonly designed by artists who are assisted by children who attend the school where it's located.

*****
Children who feel the need to talk with someone can sit on the bench as a sign for other kids and school staff to intervene and become the "buddy" they require in that moment.

*****
More at link.

Thats a lovely tribute for all three little lives.

 

[Trino]

Way good observations. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any answers! My preference is A, but agree that B is very close behind. I can see no reason why TD would want to stay hidden in the woods.

He had a good lead so he could have gone anywhere, any direction, and, of course, he could have pre-planned and planted deceptions. Part of this military training is deceiving the enemy, which it sure seems he has done. I still think upper echelons with the same military training would find him, but LE is not about to legally put someone not LE into such position.

 

[Ssschu]

“Whitney detailed incidents that contributed to the separation, including a situation on Aug. 15, 2024, when Travis allegedly found one of their daughters passed out with a bathrobe tied around her neck at his mother's house and failed to inform Whitney.”
What am I missing? I thought his family lived in Wisconsin and that his mother had passed away a couple years ago?? Did his mother live in Washington and only recently passed? How can he have been at his mothers house when this incident occurred?

I don't believe for a second he found her with a robe tied around her neck. I think he did it and then chickened out on his plan. The courts never should have let this monster stay in their lives. So avoidable and sad!

 

[huckleberryhound]

RS&BBM from your post #660.

I really dislike perseverating on any WS thread.... its against my nature. But you pushed my theory and question buttons about this manhunt, @Twistinginthewind.

Why on 6/2 did LE believe TD went into the woods from his alleged crime scene? What compelled LE to not publicly consider two other options - A. TD killed himself near or far, B. TD left the area 5/30?

Perhaps LE has been tracking all three scenarios, and their press releases and MSM coverage have, until now, been mostly focused on C. TD slowly slogged through the mountains for 3 weeks.

But like you and OPs, my perception of what we know is TD likely high-tailed out the area on 5/30 (B). Additionally, several OPs believe TD likely killed himself or has died while evading LE (A).

Yet, as you say, various LE branches have spent A LOT of resources, presumably only on (C).

So, I remain puzzled about LE's search approach; I hope because LE has kept a lot close to their vest. I welcome answers from OPs to this question... Why was the search initially focused only on option C?

IMO.
ET: clarify last para

I hope that LE has identified places out of state that TD might be familiar with, places he has lived, camped or visited regularly, and at least notified LE in those places about that connection.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Whitney Decker, the mother of the slain girls, remembered her “incredible” daughters at a Friday memorial service.

"I truly hope that the legacy of the girls' lives lives in everyone's heart forever,” she said.

Fugitive dad wanted over murders of his three daughters may be dead, cops say

Police say there is ‘no certain evidence’ that Decker is alive, despite promising early leads in manhunt for alleged triple-murderer

www.the-independent.com

 

[Snoop Sister]

Some circular action going on around Wenatchee and the airport there by a helicopter and plane about 10 minutes ago.

 

[Boxer]

Respectfully snipped by me, thanks for this thorough update, @UsernameRequired

I think ^^^ this possibility ^^^ (TD has left their area) is a good one, and it could have been a ruse of his own making that he would be doing the survivalist thing nearby.

It seems like they've spent an extraordinary amount of time & resources pursuing him around there and following up on "dozens and dozens and dozens" of tips in their words (that's a lot of dozens!!), and he could be long gone and up in Canada having changed his appearance.

Maybe included in one of his hidden caches of supplies his father said he was known to keep, he had a stash of cash and MREs and an unregistered motorbike/off road ATV, so took off right after killing his daughters and sped for the border, dumped the bike into a crevasse and hiked across the border, and is living a new life as a blond vagabond fisherman.

JMO

Exactly he could-be survivalling in any other wilderness where no searching is being done.

 

[Boxer]

Some circular action going on around Wenatchee and the airport there by a helicopter and plane about 10 minutes ago.


View attachment 598026

Wow. That is actually a connect the dots area.

 

[Centaurus]

Some circular action going on around Wenatchee and the airport there by a helicopter and plane about 10 minutes ago.


View attachment 598026

It looks like it’s a fire fighting plane.

 

[Twistinginthewind]

RS&BBM from your post #660.

I really dislike perseverating on any WS thread.... its against my nature. But you pushed my theory and question buttons about this manhunt, @Twistinginthewind.

Why on 6/2 did LE believe TD went into the woods from his alleged crime scene? What compelled LE to not publicly consider two other options - A. TD killed himself near or far, B. TD left the area 5/30?

Perhaps LE has been tracking all three scenarios, and their press releases and MSM coverage have, until now, been mostly focused on C. TD slowly slogged through the mountains for 3 weeks.

But like you and OPs, my perception of what we know is TD likely high-tailed out the area on 5/30 (B). Additionally, several OPs believe TD likely killed himself or has died while evading LE (A).

Yet, as you say, various LE branches have spent A LOT of resources, presumably only on (C).

So, I remain puzzled about LE's search approach; I hope because LE has kept a lot close to their vest. I welcome answers from OPs to this question... Why was the search initially focused only on option C?

IMO.
ET: clarify last para

I've wondered the same, good questions, @RedHaus.

I wonder if it was a lack of evidence pointing to an alternate scenario so they had to assume he fled the scene on foot and took off into the woods, and continued to pursue that as the most likely scenario... knowing what they did about his training and history living off the grid and all.

I also have wondered if there was some evidence he fled the scene on foot and away from roads/into the wilder terrain and he must have been flipping out about what he did. So he was assumed to be in such a tailspin, to where he wouldn't have had the capacity to drive on public roads and keep it together. So a less likely scenario he drove away especially with his truck left behind.... knowing what they did about his lack of funds and maybe not being able to afford a 2nd vehicle.

For example, JMM (just my musings), what if:

• The plastic bags and zip ties were strewn between his truck and where their bodies were found and beyond that location into the woods
• The bloody handprint on his truck lead to a blood trail or disturbed soil or leaves heading into the woods
• The dog was tied up away from the scene so it couldn't follow him into the woods

all pointed towards him running into the woods, and it was just a "best bet" scenario of where he was for them to pursue?

Then there were reported sightings of him in the area, which could have supported or confirmed their best bet scenario, and they did their due diligence and felt they may have gotten close, and now things have run their course and the trail has gone cold after almost a month, so they're now announcing pursuing other leads.

JMO, it's got to be a tough call.

 

[Boxer]

6 years ago I was in the area of Chelan. It was late June and absolutely gorgeous. As the sheriff said, the bugs were brutal. Add the chance of running into a disgruntled bear or one of the venomous snakes; I almost hope TD is wandering those forests thinking about how he ruined his own life and those of everyone who ever cared about himself.

With the harpies of his shallow mind in pursuit.

 

[Boxer]

If it's him, he is in a creek bed waiting for his New Moon - for moonless and dark night travel time.

But there is no plane now.

 

[Boxer]

Experience

experience.arcgis.com

Don't see fire in the WA state fire incident page.

 

[Boxer]

So apparently he wanted to be a terrifying ghost to haunt the Enchantments.

 

[UsernameRequired]

Some circular action going on around Wenatchee and the airport there by a helicopter and plane about 10 minutes ago.


View attachment 598026

It was a brush fire in East Wenatchee reportedly caused by fireworks.

East Wenatchee fire contained, evacuations lifted

Crews are responding to a brush fire outside East Wenatchee.Firefighters were dispatched about 3:30 p.m. to the area of 10th Street NE and North Nile Avenue to a report of

www.wenatcheeworld.com