Sinister Military Record of 'killer' Dad Wanted For Murdering Girls

A Washington father presumed of fatally suffocating his 3 little ladies has a substantial military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has found out - as police warned the public not to approach him throughout their continuous manhunt.

Travis Decker, 32, is implicated of eliminating his children, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were discovered at a camping area in Leavenworth, after he failed to return them to their mother in Wenatchee following a scheduled three-hour visit.

As authorities search for Decker, who is thought to be mentally unstable, they cautioned residents that he could be harmful due to his military background.

Decker joined the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before moving to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Karina Shagren, interactions director for the the Washington Military Department, verified to the Daily Mail.

He was a full-time member of the Guard up until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped going to necessary monthly drills a little over a year back, and the Guard remained in the process of a disciplinary discharge.

He likely has advanced battle training and was an air-borne paratrooper who made the elite rank of 'Ranger,' suggesting he would have outstanding wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, citing social networks posts.

It is unknown if the veteran is currently armed, however regional police cautioned people from approaching him.

Travis Decker, 32, is implicated of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he stopped working to return them back to their mother following a set up three-hour go to in Washington on Friday

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the women' bodies about 75 to 100 backyards from Decker's truck at a campground. Police believe the women died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files said

'Due to security concerns do not try to contact or approach Decker,' police said.

'This is an outright disaster,' the military spokesperson informed AP. 'We are mourning along with the neighborhood.'

Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after discovering Decker's truck.

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 lawns from the truck. Police believe the girls passed away from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files stated.

Decker's truck likewise had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, cars and truck seats and a wallet on the center console.

The camping area also revealed indications of recent activity, with a camping tent and a cooler situated a brief range away, however Decker was no place to be discovered.

The ladies' mom, Whitney Decker, who is divorced from the veteran, told cops that he had chosen the ladies up around 5pm however had actually not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court files stated.

Detectives said she 'revealed concern due to the fact that Decker supposedly has never done this before and ... is currently experiencing some mental health concerns.'

The girls' bodies were discovered around 38 miles from their mother's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities caution locals that he could be dangerous due to his basic training

Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal products consisting of blankets, food, safety seat and a wallet on the center console

She also informed law enforcement authorities that Decker was identified with borderline personality disorder and thinks he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.

The father-of-three was supposed to seek psychological health treatment and anger management therapy as part of a parenting strategy, but there was no indication he has followed through with the plan - which he declined to sign, the court documents show.

Still, Whitney informed police she did not think her ex threatened and said he loved his children.

She said the women had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had actually never ever failed to return the women before, according to an authorities affidavit.

She said when Decker went to choose up the girls for an arranged three-hour visit on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him.

He had also presumably been talking about getting rid of his pet dog due to housing and monetary battles.

When Decker failed to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing out on.

'What triggered her to call us was that ... he was late returning the women and had actually not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his normal style therefore this was out of the regular,' Captain Brian Chance said.

Decker signed up with the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard up until 2023 or 2024, when he changed to part-time. Decker stopped going to obligatory regular monthly drills a little over a year back, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge

Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to ask for an Amber Alert, but it did not fulfill the needed requirements, Wenatchee Police stated.

The lacking requirements was presumed kidnapping and imminent peril of death or major injury, stated Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

'In this case, it was a moms and dad with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather typical incident and not something where you simply automatically presume kidnapping,' he stated.

He included that there was no indication Decker would harm them.

'We're individuals too, you understand, so the loss of a kid, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is ... devastating,' Loftis stated. 'Everybody constantly looks to how we can enhance.'

The following day, Wenatchee investigators called the patrol with extra info that caused the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).

State cops later on dropped the EMPA on Monday evening without launching a public factor. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department announced the girls' deaths.

Whitney likewise mentioned in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'having a hard time to keep stability' considering that they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.

The girls' mother stated that sometimes he would have the women sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, in spite of her objections

The ladies' mother stated they had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had actually never failed to return the ladies before

Whitney stated when Decker went to get the women for a set up three-hour see on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him

When Decker failed to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing

She stated that sometimes he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he remained in the National Guard, regardless of her objections, according to the Seattle Times.

She likewise said Decker was vulnerable to 'outbursts' and would enter into her home screaming for the women, whom he would in some cases fail to get after guaranteeing to do so.

In one circumstances, Whitney wrote that her youngest child, Olivia, called her weeping throughout a see with Decker and stated she might not discover her father - before Evelyn got home with welts between her legs.

'I do not wish to keep Travis from the girls at all,' Whitney composed in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship.

'But I can not have our girls remaining in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times without supervision, with dozens of odd men or remaining in a camping tent or living in his truck with him, both in severe temperature levels and unidentified areas for their security.'

The girls' maternal granny similarly wrote that Decker would drop off the ladies at irregular times and they would often be upset or sobbing when they returned home.

'They are all happy, smart, well-adjusted ladies with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she wrote, according to the Seattle Times.

On Tuesday, a judge provided a warrant for Decker's arrest and bought he be held without bail.

Whitney likewise stated in September divorce procedures that he had been 'struggling to keep stability' because they were separated and it was starting to impact their daughters

Whitney informed police she did not think her ex was dangerous and said he enjoyed his children

Police is asking the public for assistance to find the father-of-three, however recommended residents not to approach him

Decker is referred to as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair worn in a ponytail and brown eyes.

He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe established for Whitney had raised almost $366,000 since Wednesday early morning.

'These girls held true light in this world and it is a darker location without them. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.