Causes of death revealed for 3 sisters as police continue to search for father accused of murders
CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. (Gray News) – Three young girls who were found dead Monday after leaving for a planned visit with their father likely died from asphyxiation, according to court documents.
The Wenatchee Police Department said 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were found dead near the Rock Island Campground in Washington state on Monday.
Their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, is still missing. He is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.
Court documents obtained by KQ and KIRO say that the girls likely died from asphyxiation.
The sisters were last seen alive on Friday when they headed out with their dad for a planned visitation, according to Wenatchee police.
At the time the girls went missing, police said in a statement that the “visitation was part of a parenting plan, but he has since gone outside the parameters of it, which is not normal and cause for the alarm.”
Officials did not send out an AMBER Alert because they said the case didn’t meet the criteria for one. However, an Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued through the Washington State Patrol.
Travis Decker is believed to be homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck with a Washington license plate D20165C.
Officials said they found the truck near the campground where the girls’ bodies were discovered on Monday.
KQ reports that the truck had two bloody handprints on it and had personal items such as blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console. The camp showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and cooler located a short distance away.
Travis Decker’s cell phone activity shows he drove to and left the same campground a day prior to the kidnapping, court documents said.
KIRO reports that officers also found zip ties and plastic bags tossed throughout the area.
Police are still looking for Travis Decker.
He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 190 lbs., with black hair in a ponytail and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light shirt and dark shorts.
If you see him, do not approach him for safety reasons. Police said he may be armed and is a veteran with extensive training.
You are asked to call 911 if you see him.
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