Tragic Case in Washington: Dad’s Young Daughters Found Dead with Bagged Heads and Bound Wrists, Authorities Say

Authorities in Washington state are intensifying their search for Travis Caleb Decker, a 32-year-old survivalist who has evaded capture for nearly a week following the alleged murder of his three young daughters. The investigation began after law enforcement discovered the children’s bodies on Monday at a remote Chelan County campground, each with a plastic bag over her head and evidence their wrists had been bound. The girls, ages 5, 8, and 9, are all believed to have died from asphyxiation.

Decker, described by officials as an avid outdoorsman with military experience and likely training from Mountain Survival School, is considered extremely dangerous. “We’re getting more confirmation that he might have possibly gone through Mountain Survival School,” said Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison. “But we also know, too, that he’s been an outdoorsman since he was a kid.” The U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI have joined local authorities in the manhunt, deploying search teams across the region.

Investigators say Decker did not have legal custody of the girls and was restricted to supervised, non-overnight visits every other weekend under a court-ordered parenting plan which he refused to sign. When he failed to return the children by an 8 p.m. curfew last Friday, their mother, Whitney Decker, contacted police after repeated attempts to reach him went unanswered. Whitney told authorities Decker had never previously missed a handover but warned that he struggles with mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder.

According to police documents, Decker has been living between motels and various campgrounds and is considered homeless. Surveillance cameras recorded his 2017 white GMC Sierra, bearing Washington license plate D20165C, crossing the Wenatchee Bridge Friday evening. By Monday afternoon, officers located the truck abandoned at the Rock Island Campground. A search of the area led them to the tragic discovery of the children’s bodies, which were found down an embankment roughly 75 to 100 yards away from the vehicle. Investigators also noted two bloody handprints on the truck’s tailgate and zip-tie marks on the victims’ wrists.

Decker's current whereabouts remain unknown. He now faces three counts each of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. Authorities describe him as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, tattoos on both arms, and recent facial hair in the form of a goatee and mustache. It is not known if Decker is armed, but the public is warned that he should be considered dangerous and not to approach him under any circumstances.

Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information about Decker’s location to come forward, offering a reward of up to $20,000 for details that lead to his arrest. “We want a peaceful resolution to this, but we’re not going to relinquish our efforts,” Sheriff Morrison stated during a press briefing. “So please turn yourself in. Let's wrap this up and do what's right for your kids.” Anyone who sees Decker is instructed to call 911 immediately or contact the Chelan County sheriff’s tip line at 509-667-6845. Tips can also be submitted online at this website.

The tragic case has sent shockwaves through the community, with officials reiterating their commitment to ensuring justice is served and urging the public to remain vigilant while the hunt for Decker continues.