Travis Decker Timeline

Timeline of Main Events

September 2024:

• Court Hearing and Parenting Plan Modification: A family court hearing takes place where Whitney Decker petitions to modify the parenting plan with Travis Decker due to his worsening mental health issues and increasing instability.

• Reduced Visitation: The family court judge allows Whitney Decker to take near-full custody of their three daughters (Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia). Travis Decker's visitation is significantly reduced to every other weekend for a set number of hours, with no overnight visits allowed, and all visits must occur in the Wenatchee Valley.

• Decker's Frustration and Court Order: Travis Decker expresses frustration with the reduced visitation in court, pleading to spend more time with his daughters. Court records indicate he was ordered to seek mental health treatment, anger management counseling, and a full psychiatric evaluation, with the mother having the option to further limit visitation if he failed to comply.

• Allegations of Neglect and Emotional Distress: Whitney Decker cites neglect and emotional distress as reasons for the parenting plan modification, noting that Travis had "neglected his parental duties" and had "a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of his ability to parent." Incidents cited include the children allegedly crying over the phone with their mother during an overnight trip with their father at the Wenatchee armory.

• Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder: Whitney Decker mentions that near the end of their marriage, Travis was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she believes he currently does not take medication for.

May 2025:

• May 4: Travis Decker leaves the scene of a car crash, though there was no damage to the other vehicle.

• May 27: Travis Decker is involved in a car crash and receives traffic infractions after a police investigation. He had also recently been cited for driving without insurance.

• May 30 (Friday): Travis Decker takes his three daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), for a scheduled custody visit. He fails to return them to their mother's home by the 8 p.m. curfew and does not answer Whitney Decker's phone calls. The girls are reported missing at 9:45 p.m.

June 2025:

• June 2 (Monday):Travis Decker fails to show up to work, and his boss notes "recent mental health concerns."

• A sheriff's deputy finds Travis Decker's unoccupied white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck near the Rock Island Campground, accessed by Icicle Road, outside Leavenworth.

• The bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker are discovered down an embankment at a campsite in the Cascade Mountains, approximately 30 miles from Rock Island Campground. They died by suffocation.

• A man's blood is discovered at the scene, later confirmed to belong to Travis Decker.

• Authorities quickly turn attention to Travis Decker, as he was the last person to see the girls. He is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. An endangered missing person alert is issued for the girls.

• June 4 (Wednesday): KIRO 7 News confirms Travis Decker's military background, including his service in the Army and transfer to the Washington National Guard in 2021, where he is a Sergeant (E5). It's noted he hasn't been to drill for approximately a year, and administrative separation paperwork had been started but not completed.

• June 6: Whitney Decker's attorney, Arianna Cozart, speaks to PEOPLE, stating that Travis's mental health struggles strained his marriage with Whitney, but he was a good "co-parent." She also expresses a belief that Travis died by suicide, but that finding him is important for "peace of mind."

• June 8: Federal authorities take over the lead role in the search for Travis Decker after local officials request assistance. The U.S. Marshals Service becomes the lead agency.

• June 12: An unconfirmed sighting of Travis Decker is reported near Teanaway by a fly-fishing guide, who clocks the location with GPS and calls 911 and the Marshals' tip line. Another unconfirmed sighting is reported by hikers near Colchuck.

• June 13: PEOPLE.com publishes an article detailing Travis Decker's mental decline.

• June 16: Fox News publishes an article including new audio from the September 2024 family court hearing where Travis Decker pleads for more time with his daughters.

• June 18: The Chelan County Sheriff's Office releases new images showing how Travis Decker may have altered his appearance (shaved head, mustache, shoulder-length hair). The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, National Guard, and Marshals Service are noted as actively involved in the search.

• June 24 (Monday): The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office issues a social media post stating there is "no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area," but that the search will continue.

• June 25:Authorities acknowledge the possibility that Travis Decker may have died in the wilderness and begin modifying part of their search into a recovery effort.

• The U.S. Marshals release new photos highlighting the rugged terrain and harsh conditions of the search area.

• Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider, a former FBI Special Agent, shares advice with Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison based on his experience hunting Eric Rudolph, emphasizing vigilance and public awareness. Crider states he doesn't believe Decker is receiving public sympathy or aid like Rudolph did.

Ongoing:

• The search for Travis Decker continues across hundreds of square miles in mountainous terrain, lakes, and rivers near Leavenworth and the Enchantments.

• Local deputies and prosecutors remain in charge of the criminal investigation, even as federal agencies lead active search operations.

• Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison states he presumes Decker is alive until found otherwise, and that Decker remains a danger to the community.

• A public memorial is held in Wenatchee for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker.

• The U.S. Marshals Service offers a $20,000 reward for information leading to Decker's arrest.

• Rumors circulate regarding Travis Decker's potential whereabouts, including reports from as far as Texas, Canada, and England, though many are unconfirmed. FBI behavior analysts have developed a psychological profile of Decker.

• Concerns and discussions among the public about hiking safety in the area where Decker is believed to be, and whether he is still alive.

Cast of Characters

Principle Individuals:

• Travis Decker: The 32-year-old Washington state man accused of killing his three young daughters, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. He is a former Army infantryman (March 2013 - July 2021) who deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014, and transferred to the Walla Walla National Guard in 2021, reaching the rank of Sergeant (E5). He has extensive survival skills, including training in navigation and parachuting (Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge). Court records indicate he had worsening mental health issues, including a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, and was becoming increasingly unstable, often living out of his truck or in campgrounds/motels. He was charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. He is the subject of an ongoing manhunt.

• Paityn Decker: Travis and Whitney Decker's 9-year-old daughter, found deceased on June 2, 2025.

• Evelyn Decker: Travis and Whitney Decker's 8-year-old daughter, found deceased on June 2, 2025.

• Olivia Decker: Travis and Whitney Decker's 5-year-old daughter, found deceased on June 2, 2025.

• Whitney Decker: The mother of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker. She petitioned to modify the parenting plan with Travis Decker in September 2024 due to his declining mental health and instability, resulting in reduced visitation for him. She reported the girls missing on May 30, 2025, when Travis failed to return them. She has spoken publicly about her daughters, reflecting on their lives and hoping their legacy lives on. She denied domestic violence in her marriage with Travis but mentioned his "moments of power or control." Her attorney, Arianna Cozart, stated Whitney wants the Amber Alert System and mental health resources for veterans to be "fixed."

Other Key Figures:

• Sheriff Mike Morrison: The Chelan County Sheriff. He is a key figure in the manhunt, providing updates on the search efforts and acknowledging the profound impact of the tragedy on the Wenatchee community and his deputies. He believes Travis Decker is still alive and is actively fleeing, emphasizing that Decker remains a danger to the community and needs to be held accountable.

• Mark Crider: Walla Walla County Sheriff and a former FBI Special Agent who previously hunted Centennial Olympic Park Bomber Eric Rudolph. He provided advice to Sheriff Mike Morrison on the Travis Decker case, emphasizing continued vigilance and the importance of public awareness. He differentiates the Decker case from Rudolph's, noting a lack of public sympathy or aid for Decker.

• Arianna Cozart: Whitney Decker's attorney. She provided insight into Travis Decker's mental health struggles and the strained marriage. She believes Travis may have died by suicide but stresses the importance of finding him for peace of mind.

• Eric Rudolph: The Centennial Olympic Park Bomber, a notorious fugitive who was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for five years (captured in 2003) and was convicted of multiple bombings. He is referenced by Sheriff Mark Crider as a comparison in terms of manhunt strategy, though Crider notes key differences in public sympathy and support between Rudolph and Decker.

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