The Wenatchee Police Department in saddened to report that three girls reported missing since Friday have been found deceased. At about 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 30, the Wenatchee Police Department responded to a civil complaint by the mother reporting that her daughters had not been returned following a planned visitation with their father. The girls involved were ages nine, eight and five years old. Their father, the prime suspect, remains at large.
“We want to express our sincere and deep heartfelt condolences to the family at this time,” a police spokesman said. “We have been in close communication with the family at each step of the investigation.”
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, WA license D20165C. Based on initial information provided to patrol, all Wenatchee and East Wenatchee area motels 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 30.
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 worked with local law enforcement partners to check possible locations throughout Chelan County in an effort 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 2, the search area was narrowed to somewhere between Icicle Road and Chumstick Road near Leavenworth, and a warrant for Decker’s arrest was obtained by Wenatchee Police detectives for three counts of first-degree custodial interference.
On June 2, resources searching the area included Chelan County deputies, detectives, Emergency Management, and a Homeland Security helicopter. At approximately 3:45 p.m., 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 and began searching 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.
At this time, the search is still on-going and Decker has not been located. Crime scene processing is expected to conclude sometime today.
“We are asking for the community’s assistance in locating Decker. Decker is currently wanted for three counts of first degree murder and first degree kidnapping degree,” the spokesman said. “Decker is 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 30, and/or know his current whereabouts, are asked to call 911 immediately.
Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker.
Travis Caleb Decker is five feet, eight inches tall and he weighs about 190 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and weas last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wenatchee Police Captain Brian Chance by telephone, (509) 888-4203, or email, bchance@wenatcheewa.gov.