The following story contains details about a crime of violence against children that some readers may find disturbing.
Part of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington is closed as authorities hunt for a man accused of murdering his three daughters
Police believe that Travis Decker may be traveling along or on the PCT. In an update, the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) wrote that the section of the PCT that runs through Lake Chelan National Recreation Area north of Stehekin remained closed as authorities continue their search for him. The closure also includes Rainbow Lake Trail, Rainbow Creek Trail, McAlester Lake Trail, Twisp Pass Trail to the national forest border, Stiletto Spur Trail, North Fork Bridge Creek Trail, Upper Stehekin Valley Trail, Flat Creek Trail, Thunder Creek Trail from Park Creek Pass to the junction with Upper Stehekin Valley Trail, Upper Stehekin Valley Trail to junction with Horseshoe Basin Trail, and all backcountry campsites along them. Additionally, the Icicle Creek area of the Okanogan-Wentachee National Forest remains closed for the search until June 18 or further notice, according to a release from the Forest Service.
Police began searching for Decker, 32, after he failed to return his three daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—to their mother earlier this week. On June 2, police found the remains of the girls near Rock Island campground, west of Leavenworth. According to court documents, police found evidence that the three girls had had their wrists zip-tied and found them with plastic bags over their heads, leading authorities to believe they had been asphyxiated.
In the months prior to the alleged murders, Decker had been involved in a custody battle over the girls with his ex-wife, Whitney Decker. According to court records viewed by MyNorthwest, in September 2024, Whitney Decker asked a court to temporarily take away Travis Decker’s overnight custody rights, alleging that the former Army Ranger had left their children unsupervised at a National Guard armory, that he owed thousands of dollars in child support, and that Travis Decker, who at that point was unhoused and living out of his truck, motel rooms, and on friends couches, was unable to provide safe housing for their children. While the judge granted Whitney Decker’s request, Travis Decker refused to attend court mandated domestic violence or psychiatric assessments.
In a press release shared on the PCTA’s Facebook page, the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office asked local residents to use caution.
“Residents, particularly those on the west side of Okanogan County and in remote or seasonal areas, are urged to remain vigilant,” the office wrote. “Decker is still considered dangerous and potentially armed. Please take the following precautions: Ensure all doors and windows—including those in cabins, sheds, and outbuildings—are securely locked. Keep blinds and curtains open. Leave exterior lights on at night.”
Law enforcement asks that anyone with information that may aid their investigation to call Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office at 509-422-7232, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 509-667-6845, or submit a tip online.
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