Search on for former U.S. soldier accused of killing his three young daughters in Washington state
A man in central Washington state is wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead.
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
- Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.
- Unlimited online access to National Post.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle.
Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with “extensive training,” was armed.
On Friday the mother of the girls, Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said.
Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates.
Decker’s unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground, police said, and officers found the girls’ bodies during a search.
Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911.
“Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,” police said.
The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary. Counseling services were available, and the district asked people to respect the privacy of students, staff members and families and come to the campus only for regular school business.
It was not known how long the girls were with Decker before their mother contacted police, according to Capt. Brian Chance.
“What prompted her to call us was that … he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,” Chance said.
Decker and the girls’ mother are divorced, Chance said. He did not have details on how the girls were killed or on Decker’s employment.
In addition to living out of his truck, Decker is known to occasionally stay in motels, Chance said.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on “potential credible information and tips” regarding Decker’s location, the agency said in a statement.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
National Post
