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A Washington dad believed of fatally suffocating his three little girls has an extensive military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has found out - as police cautioned the general public not to approach him during their continuous manhunt.

Travis Decker, 32, is implicated of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were discovered at a camping site in Leavenworth, after he stopped working to return them to their mom in Wenatchee following a scheduled three-hour check out.

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

Decker signed up with the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before moving to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Karina Shagren, communications 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 participating in compulsory month-to-month drills a little over a year back, and the Guard remained in the process of a disciplinary discharge.

He likely has advanced fight training and was an airborne paratrooper who made the elite rank of 'Ranger,' suggesting he would have excellent wilderness and survival abilities, Fox 13 Seattle reported, pointing out social media posts.

It is if the veteran is currently armed, but local police warned people from approaching him.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he failed to return them back to their mom following a set up three-hour check out in Washington on Friday

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the women' bodies about 75 to 100 backyards from Decker's truck at a camping area. Police think the ladies died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents stated

'Due to safety issues do not try to get in touch with or approach Decker,' police stated.

'This is an outright disaster,' the military spokesperson told AP. 'We are grieving in addition to the neighborhood.'

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

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the ladies' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files said.

Decker's truck likewise had 2 bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal products consisting of blankets, food, safety seat and a wallet on the center console.

The camping site likewise showed signs of current activity, with a camping tent and a cooler situated a short distance away, but Decker was no place to be discovered.

The ladies' mother, Whitney Decker, who is separated from the veteran, informed authorities that he had actually selected the girls up around 5pm but had actually not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court files said.

Detectives said she 'revealed concern because Decker apparently has actually never done this before and ... is presently experiencing some mental health issues.'

The women' bodies were discovered around 38 miles from their mom's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities warn locals that he might be dangerous due to his military training

Decker's truck had 2 bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were individual products including blankets, food, vehicle seats and a wallet on the center console

She likewise told law enforcement authorities that Decker was detected with borderline personality condition and thinks he did not take medication for the condition, according to court files.

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

Still, Whitney told police she did not think her ex was harmful and stated he loved his children.

She said the ladies had a 'excellent relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never ever failed to return the women before, according to a cops affidavit.

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

He had actually also presumably been speaking about eliminating his pet due to housing and financial struggles.

When Decker stopped working to return with the girls that night, Whitney reported them missing.

'What prompted her to call us was that ... he was late returning the ladies and had 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 stated.

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 switched to part-time. Decker stopped participating in necessary monthly drills a little over a year earlier, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge

Washington State Patrol was called Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not satisfy the needed requirements, Wenatchee Police said.

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

'In this case, it was a parent with custodial advantages, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common occurrence and not something where you simply instantly assume kidnapping,' he said.

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

'We're individuals too, you understand, so the loss of a kid, the loss of 2 children, the loss of three children is ... devastating,' Loftis said. 'Everybody always wants to how we can improve.'

The following day, Wenatchee detectives contacted the patrol with extra details that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).

State cops later dropped the EMPA on Monday night without releasing a public reason. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department announced the girls' deaths.

Whitney likewise stated in September divorce procedures that he had actually been 'having a hard time to maintain stability' since they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.

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

The ladies' mother said they had a 'great relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had actually never stopped working to return the women before

Whitney stated when Decker went to get the women for an arranged three-hour check out on Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him

When Decker stopped working to return with the girls 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 also said Decker was vulnerable to 'outbursts' and would come into her home shouting for the ladies, whom he would sometimes stop working to get after promising to do so.

In one circumstances, Whitney composed that her youngest child, Olivia, called her crying throughout a check out with Decker and stated she might not find her father - before Evelyn got back with welts in between her legs.

'I do not wish to keep Travis from the women at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over in reverse to help with that relationship.

'But I can not have our girls remaining in what is basically a homeless shelter, at times not being watched, with dozens of unusual males or remaining in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in severe temperature levels and unidentified areas for their security.'

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

'They are all pleased, clever, well-adjusted women 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 released a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.

Whitney likewise specified in September divorce procedures that he had actually been 'having a hard time to preserve stability' since they were separated and it was beginning to impact their children

Whitney told cops she did not believe her ex was harmful and stated he enjoyed his children

Law enforcement is asking the public for aid to find the father-of-three, but encouraged locals not to approach him

Decker is referred to as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair used 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 as of Wednesday morning.

'These women were true light in this world and it is a darker location without them. I will miss out on seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.
askmoney.com
'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take some time to today to inform somebody you enjoy them.'

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