
A shocking event has struck the community of Wenatchee in Washington state, USA, where three teenage girls – Paityn (9), Evelyn (8) and Olivia (5) – were found lifeless at a campsite in the rural area of Leavenworth, about 38 miles from their home.
US authorities suspect that they were murdered by their father, Travis Decker, who is on the run and considered dangerous due to his military training.
Meanwhile, the girls' mother, Whitney Decker, through her lawyer, stated that she had warned authorities about the potential danger, after Decker had not returned the girls after a scheduled visit on Friday.
She had requested an Amber Alert be issued, but the police had refused, saying the case did not meet the criteria.
The girls were found bound and suffocated with plastic bags. According to court documents, Whitney had previously expressed concerns about the mental state of Decker, who had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it was not known whether he was receiving treatment.
Travis Decker, 32, an Afghanistan war veteran and member of the Washington National Guard, has been the subject of several previous concerns for erratic behavior and inappropriate housing for children.
However, according to the mother, he had not previously given direct signs that he might be violent with children.
US authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Decker, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and child kidnapping, while US Marshals have offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to his capture.
According to officials, Decker is capable of surviving in extreme conditions, as he was trained as a Ranger with advanced survival and concealment skills in the field.