Travis Decker, suspected of killing his three daughters, may have faced mental health issues, as reported in court documents.
WENATCHEE, Wash. — The man suspected of killing his three daughters and leaving their bodies at a campground outside Leavenworth may have been experiencing mental health issues, court documents show.
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker, 9, 8 and 5 years old, were reported missing after their father, Travis Decker, failed to return with them from a scheduled visitation. When reporting them missing on May 30, Decker’s ex-wife and the girls’ mother told detectives Travis was “currently experiencing some mental health issues.”
When Travis Decker was picking up his daughters for a scheduled visit, his ex noted he “was quieter than usual, which was out of character.” She mentioned a recent ticket being a financial burden for him, along with garnished wages due to back child support. She also stated he was talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and additional financial concerns.
She said that near the end of their marriage, he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she believed he was not taking medication for.
The couple’s parenting plan was amended in 2024 due to Travis Decker’s current living and mental health situation, but his ex told police that “the children enjoyed their time” with Travis and he had “never failed to return the kids.”
The plan, which Travis Decker refused to sign, also ordered him to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling, which he had not done, the probable cause documents said.
At the time of the initial report, it was noted that Decker did not have a stable home and is considered homeless. He was known to stay at hotels or motels, or camp at local campgrounds.
Decker and the girls remained missing over the weekend.
On Monday, June 2, he failed to show up to work. His boss noted “some recent mental health concerns” to detectives.
RELATED: The timeline of how the missing Wenatchee family case unfolded
Information eventually led the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office to search the Icicle Road area near Leavenworth for the Deckers. Deputies found Decker’s truck near the Rock Island Campground, which is about 17 miles west of Leavenworth. The vehicle was unoccupied.
Law enforcement searched the surrounding area and found the bodies of the three Decker children. Their cause of death is believed to be asphyxiation.
Travis Decker faces three charges of aggravated murder in the first degree and first degree kidnapping.
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