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Travis Decker Manhunt. Timeline & Cast of Characters.

  • Writer: Cassian Creed
    Cassian Creed
  • Jun 9
  • 6 min read

Timeline of Events

  • November 2022: Whitney Decker files for divorce from Travis Decker. Court documents indicate no protection order was needed at this time.

  • 2022: Travis Decker begins struggling with homelessness, at times sleeping on a mattress in his Army National Guard armory and later living in his RV, which is subsequently repossessed.

  • March 2013 - July 2021: Travis Decker serves as an infantryman in the US Army.

  • 2014: Travis Decker deploys to Afghanistan for four months.

  • 2014 - 2016: Travis Decker serves as an automatic rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

  • August 27, 2024: A custody hearing takes place before Chelan County Superior Court Judge Robert Jourdan to change the parenting plan for the Decker children. Whitney Decker's attorney, Arianna Cozart, argues for a change due to concerns about Travis's ability to parent safely, noting his struggles after becoming inactive in the Army. Travis, representing himself, discusses his difficulties transitioning to civilian life and his desire for more time with his daughters.

  • September 2024: Whitney Decker proposes a change to the parenting plan, citing Travis "neglected his parental duties towards a child" and struggled to "maintain stability in his life," negatively impacting the children. She notes his diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and narcissism, which she believes contributed to the end of their marriage and his increasing instability. Whitney recounts instances of the children having to "walk on eggshells" around him and one instance where her daughter couldn't find him while injured, later discovering they were sleeping at the armory. Whitney's attorney requests a domestic violence evaluation and psychiatric assessment for Travis, recommending he not be alone with the children. The court limits Travis's visitation but does not require supervision during weekend visits.

  • May 26, 2025: Travis Decker conducts Google searches for terms including "how does a person move to canada," "how to relocate to canada," "jobs canada," and visits the official Canadian job website.

  • May 30, 2025 (around 5:00 pm): Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker leave their mother's residence for a planned visitation with their father, Travis Decker, in the Wenatchee area.

  • May 30, 2025 (around 8:00 pm): The girls are expected to be returned to their mother.

  • May 30, 2025 (around 10:00 pm): Whitney Decker contacts the Wenatchee Police Department, reporting her daughters missing after they were not returned at the agreed-upon time. She expresses distress and informs police that Travis is "currently experiencing some mental health issues" and she believes he is not taking medication for his borderline personality disorder. Authorities do not issue an Amber Alert, stating the situation did not meet the criteria for immediate danger to serious bodily injury or death, as Travis had custodial visitation rights.

  • May 31, 2025: Social media speculation arises regarding the whereabouts of Whitney Decker and her children, based on the fact that Whitney had not been able to contact Travis for over twelve hours and law enforcement had noted an event planned at a local park that Travis and the children did not attend.

  • June 2, 2025 (around 9:00 am): There has been no contact with Travis Decker or the children. He has failed to return the children according to the parenting plan schedules for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. His employer notes recent mental health concerns.

  • June 2, 2025 (around 3:45 pm): The bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker are discovered near the Rock Island Campground, off Icicle Road outside of Leavenworth, Washington. The girls' bodies are found approximately seventy-five to one hundred yards east of Travis Decker's pickup truck.

  • June 2, 2025 (around 3:56 pm): Chelan County Sheriff's Office Deputy McCleod locates Travis Decker's vehicle near the Rock Island Campground on U.S. Forest Service land near Icicle River Road in Leavenworth. Investigators find a large amount of evidence in the truck, including personal items, blankets, car seats, food, miscellaneous items, and a wallet. Zip ties and plastic bags are strewn throughout the area. The suspect's dog is recovered. Preliminary examination suggests the cause of death is likely asphyxiation, with signs of being zip-tied at the wrists and/or ankles.

  • June 2, 2025: A probable cause exists to arrest Travis Decker for three counts of Custodial Interference in the First Degree.

  • June 3, 2025: A warrant is requested and granted by Chelan County Superior Court Judge Robert E. Jourdan for Travis Decker's arrest.

  • June 5, 2025: Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announces the activation of emergency funds and Washington National Guard resources to support the search for Travis Decker, including helicopter transportation for law enforcement searching remote areas. Officials urge residents in surrounding counties to take extra precautions and report any suspicious activity. The US Marshals Service announces a $20,000 reward for information leading to Travis Decker's capture. National forest areas and sections of hiking trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail, are closed.

  • June 6, 2025: An autopsy is completed by the medical examiner. The cause of death for the three girls is determined to be suffocation, and the manner of death is determined to be homicide. A federal arrest warrant is issued for Travis Caleb Decker for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution, in addition to existing state charges of aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Court documents citing Google searches for moving to Canada are filed in U.S. District Court. KIRO 7 News shares exclusive video and photos provided by Whitney Decker, showing positive interactions between Travis and his daughters.

  • June 7, 2025: The manhunt for Travis Decker is in its seventh day. Deputies are narrowing the search to Chelan and surrounding counties, focusing on the mountains, thanks to over 500 tips. Residents near the search zone express concern for their safety.

  • June 8, 2025 (6:00 pm local time): The Chelan County Sheriff's Office hands over search efforts for Travis Decker to federal authorities but continues to lead the criminal investigation.

  • June 9, 2025: PEOPLE reports on the release of the autopsy results. A GoFundMe campaign for Whitney Decker has raised over $1 million. Authorities in McCall, Idaho, receive reports of a possible sighting of Travis Decker.

Cast of Characters

  • Travis Caleb Decker: The 32-year-old father accused of kidnapping and murdering his three young daughters. He is a former US Army infantryman and Ranger with specialized training in mountain warfare and wilderness survival. He is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and suffers from Complex PTSD. He was reportedly struggling with homelessness and financial issues. He refused court-ordered mental health assessments and treatment. He is currently missing and wanted on charges of murder, kidnapping, and custodial interference, as well as unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Authorities consider him dangerous.

  • Paityn Decker: The 9-year-old daughter of Travis and Whitney Decker. She was found deceased, and her cause of death was determined to be suffocation.

  • Evelyn Decker: The 8-year-old daughter of Travis and Whitney Decker. She was found deceased, and her cause of death was determined to be suffocation.

  • Olivia Decker: The 5-year-old daughter of Travis and Whitney Decker. She was found deceased, and her cause of death was determined to be suffocation.

  • Whitney Decker: The mother of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker and former wife of Travis Decker. She reported the girls missing and expressed concerns about Travis's mental health. She is using her voice to advocate for veterans' mental health benefits. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support her.

  • Arianna Cozart: Whitney Decker's attorney during the divorce proceedings. She advocated for changes to the parenting plan due to concerns about Travis's stability and requested mental health evaluations for him.

  • Judge Robert Jourdan: The Chelan County Superior Court Judge who presided over the custody hearing and ordered Travis Decker to undergo mental health assessments and treatment. He also issued the initial arrest warrant for Travis.

  • Corporal Albert Gonzalez: A Corporal with the Wenatchee Police Department who contacted Washington State Patrol's Missing and Endangered Person Unit to screen for an Amber Alert after the girls were reported missing.

  • Chris Loftis: A spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol who explained why an Amber Alert was not issued at the initial reporting of the missing girls.

  • Sheriff Mike Morrison: The Chelan County Sheriff. He has been involved in the search efforts and has spoken publicly about the case, including making a plea for Travis Decker to turn himself in.

  • Deputy Keegan Stanley: A Deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service who filed the affidavit in U.S. District Court citing Travis Decker's Google searches and charging him with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

  • Lt. Col. Ruth Castro: An Army spokesperson who provided details about Travis Decker's military service record.

  • Dean Summers: A longtime resident and groundskeeper near Leavenworth who took KING 5 News past roadblocks in the search zone to check on properties, including his parents' home. He expressed concern for the safety of residents in the area.

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