-Information provided by the Wenatchee Police Department
The Wenatchee Police Department (WPD) is saddened to report that the three missing girls have been found deceased. They would like to express their sincere and deep heartfelt condolences to the family at this time. The department has been in close communication with the family at each step of the investigation.
Yesterday morning, Wenatchee Police Detectives met with the family to provide an update on the case. Later in the afternoon, the family was requested to return shortly after the truck was located. For the next several hours, the family remained at WPD with leadership and received updated information from the scene, as it became available. WPD, along with other regional, state, and federal agencies, is committed to working diligently to bring closure to this case.
The following is a summary of the in-depth, coordinated investigation.
On Friday, May 30ᵗʰ at 9:45 pm, the Wenatchee Police Department responded to a Civil Complaint. The mother of three young girls reported her daughters not being returned following a planned visitation with their father. The girls involved were ages nine, eight, and five years old. The father of the children has been identified as 32-year-old Travis Decker, of the Wenatchee area.
Officers immediately began working to determine the whereabouts of Decker and the children. Decker was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup, with a Washington license plate number D20165C. Based on the initial information provided to the patrol, all motels in the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee areas were checked, with no results. The vehicle information was also entered into the local Flock database, which indicated the vehicle had traveled westbound on Highway 2 from Wenatchee on May 30ᵗʰ.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) was contacted on Friday night to request an AMBER Alert. However, it did not meet the required criteria. On Saturday, Wenatchee Police detectives recontacted WSP with additional information and an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA) was issued.
Throughout the remainder of the weekend, Wenatchee Police detectives continued to investigate the case. Wenatchee Police detectives collaborated with local law enforcement partners to investigate potential locations throughout Chelan County to locate Decker and the three girls.
Based on information developed over the weekend with the assistance of the FBI, Wenatchee Police and Chelan County Sheriff’s Office detectives believed Decker and the girls were still in Chelan County. On June 2ⁿᵈ, the search area was narrowed to somewhere between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth, and Wenatchee Police detectives obtained a warrant for Decker’s arrest for three counts of Custodial Interference 1ˢᵗ degree.
On June 2ⁿᵈ, resources searching the area included Chelan County deputies, detectives, Emergency Management, and a Homeland Security helicopter. At approximately 3:45 pm, a Chelan County deputy located Decker’s vehicle near the Rock Island Campground accessed by Icicle Road. The vehicle was unoccupied.
Additional law enforcement officers responded and searched the immediate area. During the search, the bodies of the three missing girls were discovered. Decker was not located.
Shortly after this discovery, the East Cascade SWAT Team (ECST) was activated and responded to the area, beginning a search for Decker. Around the same time, WSP Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) was requested to handle processing of the crime scene, including a search of Decker’s vehicle. The search is still ongoing, and Decker has not been located at this time. Crime scene processing is expected to conclude sometime on June 3ʳᵈ.
The Wenatchee Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating Decker. Decker is currently wanted for three counts of Murder 1ˢᵗ degree and Kidnapping 1ˢᵗ degree. Decker is a former Military with extensive training. It is unknown whether Decker is currently armed, but he may pose a significant risk if approached. Any member of the public who believes they may have seen Decker since Friday, May 30ᵗʰ, and/or knows his current whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.
Due to safety concerns, do not attempt to contact or approach Decker.
Travis Caleb Decker – DOB 8/15/1992, 5’8”, 190 lbs, Black hair, Brown eyes, Last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts
