The Haunting Last Sighting of Travis Decker: Neighbor Recounts ‘Weird’ Encounter Before Triple Fatalities
WENATCHEE, WA — Binh Nguyen watered his lawn on a mild Friday afternoon, May 30, when his neighbor Travis Decker pulled up to collect his three daughters for a court-approved visit. What Nguyen saw startled him: A gaunt, bearded man with long hair replaced the clean-cut Army veteran he once knew. “I said, ‘Is that you, Travis?’” Nguyen recalled. During their 10-minute chat, Decker asked three times how Nguyen was doing, his expression vacant. “It was kind of weird. He had a sad face”.
That eerie encounter marked the last confirmed sighting of Decker before his daughters—Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5—were found suffocated near a remote Washington campground. Four weeks later, the manhunt for their father has shifted from pursuit to recovery, with cadaver dogs scouring the Cascades’ brutal terrain.
A Father’s Devotion, Then Devastation
Travis Decker, 32, was once the portrait of a devoted “girl dad.” Neighbors and family described him taking his daughters camping in the Cascade Mountains, attending their soccer games, and doting on them even after his 2022 divorce from Whitney Decker. “They loved him a lot, and he loved them too,” Nguyen emphasized.
But beneath the surface, Decker battled severe mental collapse. After leaving the Army in 2021—where he served as a Staff Sergeant in Afghanistan—his PTSD spiraled into paranoia, nightmares, and homelessness. He lived in an RV or shelters, struggling to secure Veterans Affairs support despite reaching out to crisis lines. “His issues seemed to spiral once he was out of what Whitney calls the bumpers of the military,” said Whitney’s attorney, Arianna Cozart. In September 2024, Whitney petitioned courts to restrict overnight visits, citing his instability.
The Final Hours: Missed Signals and a System’s Failure
On May 30, Decker arrived for his 5 p.m. visitation with the girls. Whitney noticed he seemed quieter than usual but handed over Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia without alarm. By 8 p.m., when he failed to return them, her calls went straight to voicemail—a first in their co-parenting history. She rushed to Wenatchee police by 9:34 p.m.
Despite Whitney’s warnings about Decker’s mental state and homelessness, authorities declined to issue an Amber Alert. Washington State Patrol claimed the case lacked “evidence the children were at risk of serious bodily injury.” Instead, they issued a low-profile Endangered Missing Person Alert the next day.
Three days later, on June 2, investigators discovered Decker’s abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground. Nearby, the sisters’ bodies lay with plastic bags over their heads and zip-tied wrists. Bloody handprints stained the truck’s tailgate. The medical examiner confirmed asphyxiation.
Manhunt at a Crossroads: Survivalist or Suicide?
Decker’s military survival training—including navigation, foraging, and evasion—initially fueled a multi-agency dragnet. Authorities revealed he’d searched “how to relocate to Canada” days before the killings and noted his proximity to the Canada-bound Pacific Crest Trail.
But after four weeks with zero sightings, hope of capturing Decker alive has dimmed. The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office stated: “There is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area.” Cadaver dogs now sweep the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, where rugged terrain and wildlife complicate searches. Sheriff Mike Morrison vowed, “Justice will catch up with him—alive or dead”
Security expert Todd McGhee (ABC News) speculates Decker could still be in Canada, but Whitney’s attorney believes he died by suicide. “He probably killed himself up there somewhere,” Cozart told PEOPLE
Legacy of Light: A Mother’s Fight for Change
On June 20, hundreds gathered at a Wenatchee park wearing the girls’ favorite colors—purple, pink, and green—to remember Paityn’s kindness, Evelyn’s love of bright outfits, and Olivia’s adventurous spirit. “They were incredible,” Whitney told mourners, her voice steady. “They were warm and open-hearted”.
Whitney now channels her grief into advocacy. She blames systemic failures: the VA’s mental health gaps, the Amber Alert denial, and courts that couldn’t force Travis into treatment. “The system failed Travis,” Cozart said. “If somebody had provided help, those girls would be alive”.
How You Can Help
The U.S. Marshals offer a $20,000 reward for tips leading to Decker’s location. Authorities urge residents to:
- Review game/surveillance cameras in remote areas of Kittitas or Chelan Counties.
- Report tips to the U.S. Marshals (1-800-336-0102) or local police
Decker is 5’8”, 190 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. His last known outfit was a light shirt and dark shorts.