Three young sisters from Washington, Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, have been found dead after they went missing during a scheduled visitation with their father, Travis Decker. The Wenatchee Police Department confirmed the tragic news, stating that the girls were last seen leaving home for the visit around 5 p.m. on May 30.

Authorities discovered the girls' bodies near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, after locating Decker's unoccupied vehicle at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday. As of Thursday, Travis Decker remains missing, prompting a search by law enforcement.

Whitney Decker, the girls' mother, has expressed her heartbreak over the situation. Her attorney, Arianna Cozard, revealed that Travis Decker, a former military member, struggled with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cozard stated that he lacked access to adequate mental health resources, which may have contributed to the tragic outcome.

"The courts didn't fail these girls. It wasn't the judge and it wasn't Whitney; it was our system," Cozard said. She emphasized that if Travis had received the help he needed, the girls might still be alive. Despite his mental health struggles, Cozard noted that there were no significant warning signs before the girls' disappearance.

Travis and Whitney Decker were married for ten years and had a close relationship, even after their separation. Cozard described how Travis's PTSD worsened after he left the active reserves in 2023. She recounted instances of him experiencing night terrors and insomnia during their marriage.

In September 2024, Whitney sought legal counsel to impose restrictions on Travis's visitation rights due to concerns about his mental health. The court allowed him to visit the children for three hours on Fridays and eight hours every other weekend, provided he remained in Wenatchee Valley.

Cozard stated that the parenting arrangement had been functioning well until the recent tragedy. She recounted the last interaction between Travis and Whitney, where he assured her he would return after their visit. "He said, 'Hey, I will see you at 8 [p.m.]' and he left, and he never came back," Cozard said.

Despite the horrific events, Whitney maintains that Travis was never violent towards her or their daughters. Cozard described him as an involved father who attended his children's activities. In the days leading up to the incident, Travis expressed feelings of despair, stating he had "nothing except for you and the girls," but Whitney did not perceive this as a cause for alarm.

Cozard has called for improvements in mental health resources for veterans and is advocating for changes to the Amber Alert system, which was not activated when the girls went missing. "When there is a parent with limited visitation that has this history of mental health issues and is a military veteran with the training necessary to kill 100 different ways, that Amber Alert should have been issued," she stated.

Travis Decker is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts. His father is reportedly traveling to speak with detectives as the search for Travis continues. Authorities urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 911 immediately.