THE mother of the three sisters who were found dead at a rural campground has spoken out about their ‘broken’ father who is suspected of brutally killing them.
Travis Decker who is believed to be in hiding at a popular tourist spot in Washington State is not a cold-blooded killer, Whitney Decker has said.
The grief-stricken mother whose daughters Olivia, 5, Evelyn, 8, and Paityn Decker, 9, were found dead on Monday has put blame on the system for their father’s alleged actions.
Decker was named as the suspect in the murders after his live-in truck was found 75 to 100 yards away from the girls’ bodies with two bloody adult-sized handprints on the tailgate.
Cops believe the 32-year-old dumped his daughters at the campground in Wenatchee, roughly three hours east of Seattle, after killing them.
A major manhunt was sparked last weekend after Decker failed to return the girls home on Friday following a court-ordered custody visit.
Now as the search for the veteran continues and the cops reveal that the children were likely suffocated to death, Whitney has said Decker is a “broken” man and not a cold-blooded killer.
It comes as…
- The girls’ bodies were found on Monday as cops said they likely died of asphyxiation
- Travis Decker’s truck was found 75 to 100 yards away with two bloody adult-sized handprints on the tailgate
- The girls’ mom, Whitney Decker, said her ex-husband was unusually quiet when he picked them up for the visit
- Eerie video of Decker showed his recent appearance
- Cops fear Decker could survive in the woods for MONTHS due to extensive military training
- His ex-wife said Decker was homeless and living out of his truck at the time
- Whitney shared the final message Decker gave her before the alleged killings
- Officials shot down claims Decker was seen in Idaho
- A GoFundMe for Whitney has raised over $1 million
“It’s clear that something broke in him because no person can go out there and be a parent to three beautiful girls for nine years, pretend like he loves them, if he’s intending to kill them for nine years,” Whitney’s lawyer, Arianna Cozart, told The Post, speaking on behalf of her client.
“It’s obvious something broken him. He’s a broken human, like anybody who could commit such a heinous act is, you know, I don’t know the better way to put it.”
Whitney revealed she and Decker divorced two years ago after a seven-year marriage and shared how the war vet had been desperately trying to seek help for his mental health.
She said the fugitive has PTSD and borderline personality disorders and had he gotten the help he so wanted, their children would be alive today.
“If Travis had been able to get the help that he was seeking, that he was reaching out for, then those girls would still be alive,” her lawyer said.
“There is not one instance that shows that Travis did not love those girls and was not a loving, active father.
“He never raised his voice to those girls. He never hit them. He never took off with them before.”
HAPPIER TIMES
Whitney shared a heartbreaking homemade video she created for Decker for Father’s Day with PEOPLE showing a montage of the fun-loving dad and his children.
The 20-second clip set to the song ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams features a slideshow of pictures featuring Decker, Whitney and their beloved girls.
It showed happy family moments from the children growing up including Decker walking one of his daughters at an airport and cuddling one of them in the pool on holiday.
The clip was shared just days before the children were found dead and Decker was named as a suspect, with Whitney saying that her missed ex-husband was a good parent.
Meanwhile, cops have warned residents to keep their doors locked as they continue to search for Decker.
He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of kidnapping, and a range of custodial interference charges.
The search has intensified with more wilderness regions being search by land and by air with those living in remote cabins and rural areas given a warning.
Undersheriff Dan Ozment told those living in such places in Chelan, Kittitas, King, Snohomish and Okanogan counties lock all doors including to outbuildings and sheds.
They should also leave their window blinds open and outside lights on.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office involved in the hunt has revealed that Decker’s military past means he is “well versed in wilderness survival”.
He is “capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment”.
Decker left the army as a ranger voluntarily over a year ago and started living in his truck, “struggling with isolation” and working minimum wage jobs, Cozart said.
A former squadmate revealed to Fox News affiliate KCPQ-TV that Decker was a hardworking member of the 503rd Infantry Regiment but was quiet and a bit of an outcast.
The veteran who remained anonymous said that Decker acted like he had something to prove but that the news about his daughters have left former comrades in shock.
“All of us who served with him feel betrayed and are beyond distraught with the news,” the ex-squadmate said.
Anyone who sees him should keep their distance and call 911.
He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 190 lbs., with black hair, likely in a ponytail, and has brown eyes.
Decker was last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts.
Chelan County Sheriff's Office's statement
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office released the following statement on June 5.
Our teams have written and executed several search warrants around the area and on electronic devices that belonged to Travis Decker. We have gathered new information which in turn has given us more leads to follow up on.
Additionally, we are asking citizens who own cabins or reside in our remote areas of Chelan, Kittitas King, Snohomish, and Okanagan Counties to please be aware that Mr. Decker is still missing. As law enforcement conducts their searches, we are asking for those owners to lock all of their doors, to include any sheds out outbuildings, and leave their window blinds open and we recommend leaving outside lights on.
If you see, or believe you have seen, Mr. Decker please call 911 immediately and do not attempt or contact or approach him. Anyone with information is urged to call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit your information here: https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.
For the public, please know that law enforcement professionals are patrolling at all hours, in all spaces throughout this region.
For the media, please understand that we are being overwhelmed with media requests for update and requests for interviews. All updates when come in the form of a media release from our office and we will not be providing individual updates to media outlets.
Currently, we do not have any scheduled press conferences but will update the media and public if one will be held.
**CCSO SUSPECT INFORMATION** Updated photos of Travis Decker, murder suspect.
Travis Caleb Decker 8/15/1992,5’8” 190lbs, Black hair, brown eyesst seen wearing light colored shirt and dark shorts
Source: CCSO
