You will find an ongoing police probe after three sisters were found dead following a family dispute, with authorities investigating possible links to excessive online gaming and a written note recovered at the scene.
The incident raises urgent questions about what led to the deaths, who may be involved, and what investigators have already uncovered.
As the investigation unfolds, expect details about the discovery, initial forensic steps, and active search efforts for any suspect or digital evidence to emerge. For background on the reported link to online gaming, see the reporting on the Ghaziabad sisters’ deaths and police probe.
Discovery of the Sisters and Initial Investigation
Authorities found three young girls deceased near a campground east of Wenatchee after family members reported they never returned from a scheduled visit with their father. Law enforcement identified the victims and launched a search for the father, while investigators secured the scene and began collecting evidence.
Timeline of Events
The girls left for a planned visitation with their father on a Friday and did not return as expected, prompting concern from their mother and a missing-persons report. Wenatchee-area law enforcement issued alerts after the father’s truck was seen in the vicinity over the weekend.
Officers located the three sisters—Paityn Decker, Evelyn Decker, and Olivia Decker—on Monday afternoon near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. Deputies and Wenatchee Police Department personnel responded and declared the children deceased at the scene.
Chelan County investigators then transitioned the incident into a homicide inquiry and sought the father, who became a person of interest and is wanted on related charges.
Location Details: Rock Island Campground
Rock Island Campground sits along the Columbia River corridor within Chelan County, about three hours east of Seattle and a short drive from Wenatchee. The campground’s remote access roads and dispersed campsites create areas that are less visible from main highways.
Police said the girls were found close to a white pickup linked to the father, near a grouping of campsites and riverbank terrain. Local searchers and law enforcement canvassed nearby lodging and trails after sightings placed the vehicle in the west end of Leavenworth earlier in the weekend.
Chelan County responders coordinated with regional units to map the scene, establish perimeters, and control public access while forensic teams worked.
Evidence Recovered from the Scene
Investigators reported finding the girls near the father’s 2017 GMC Sierra, which contained personal items such as blankets, car seats, and a wallet. Authorities documented what they described as blood-like marks on the truck and collected samples for laboratory analysis.
Forensic teams from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office photographed the area, recovered physical evidence, and processed the immediate riverbank and campsite for trace materials. Medical examiners later indicated asphyxiation as the likely cause of death in preliminary reports, which guided investigative leads.
Law enforcement warned the public not to approach the suspect if located, and they urged anyone with information about the vehicle or sightings to contact local authorities.
Suspect and Ongoing Search Efforts
Authorities located the three girls deceased near a campground and launched a multi-agency manhunt for their father, who became the primary suspect. Investigators recovered the father’s vehicle and evidence at the scene that tied him to the crime, and charges were filed while search teams worked in wilderness areas.
Travis Decker: Background and Family Dispute
Travis Decker, 32, lived intermittently in vehicles, hotels and campgrounds around Wenatchee and had served in the Army and Washington National Guard. Court records and interviews indicate he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, and his ex-wife had sought restrictions on parenting time because of concerns about his mental stability.
Decker picked up his three daughters for a scheduled visitation on May 30 and did not return them. His vehicle was later found near Rock Island Campground, and investigators reported items in and around the truck — including zip ties and plastic bags — that became part of the criminal investigation. Local reporting summarized family statements that the couple had a 10-year history together and that custody had been granted to the mother after the separation.
Charges: First-Degree Kidnapping and Murder
Chelan County prosecutors charged Decker with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping after the children’s bodies were discovered and an autopsy ruled the deaths homicides by asphyxiation. Authorities said evidence at the scene linked Decker to the killings and that bloody handprints on his truck matched his DNA profile.
The charges reflect both the alleged unlawful taking and the fatal outcome. The U.S. Marshals Service and local sheriff’s detectives treated Decker as a fugitive with specialized training, emphasizing the need for caution when approaching him and the gravity of the alleged offenses.
Law Enforcement Agencies Involved
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office led on-scene investigation and coordinated evidence collection while the Wenatchee Police Department handled initial missing-person reports. The U.S. Marshals Service took a lead role in the fugitive search, issuing a reward and circulating suspect flyers with updated appearance options.
Federal partners including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security supported search logistics and forensic analysis. Search assets ranged from cadaver and tracking dogs to SWAT and K‑9 units in tip-response operations, and agencies expanded searches into adjoining national forest and Pacific Crest Trail areas when possible leads emerged.
Community Response and Safety Warnings
Local officials urged residents and hikers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity with GPS coordinates or photos. Chelan County authorities scaled back an intensive manhunt after leads diminished but said the criminal investigation remained active and that the public should continue to share tips.
Community memorials and statements from family members expressed grief and called for accountability. Law enforcement cautioned that Decker’s military background and wilderness experience could enable movement through remote terrain, reinforcing warnings for people to avoid approaching any suspect and to contact authorities immediately.
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