Crime
Father Travis Decker Wanted for Murder After Bodies of 3 Sisters Were Found at Washington Campground
WENATCHEE, WA — A heartbreaking search for three missing sisters in Washington has ended in tragedy after authorities confirmed that the bodies of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were discovered near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County on Monday.
The girls’ father, 32-year-old Travis Decker, is now wanted on multiple felony charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping.
According to the Wenatchee Police Department, the children were last seen around 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, when they left for a scheduled court-approved visitation with their father.
When Decker failed to comply with the agreed-upon parameters of the visitation, concerns quickly escalated, prompting authorities to issue an Endangered Missing Persons Alert.
Travis Decker, described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair (often worn in a ponytail) and brown eyes, is believed to be homeless and was reportedly living in a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck with Washington license plate D20165C.
That vehicle was located unoccupied around 3:00 p.m. Monday near the Rock Island Campground. Shortly after, responding officers discovered the bodies of the three girls at the scene.
Police have not released details on the manner of death, but confirmed that Decker was not present when the vehicle was found.
A manhunt is now underway, with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies actively searching for the suspect.
Authorities emphasized that Decker is a former military service member with extensive training and may pose a significant danger to the public.
It is currently unknown if he is armed, and officials are urging the public not to approach him.
Anyone who sees him or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.
“This is an unthinkable tragedy,” the Wenatchee Police Department said in a statement. “We want to express our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. Our focus now is to locate the suspect and bring justice for the victims.”
The Endangered Missing Persons Alert for the girls was formally canceled late Monday following the discovery of their bodies.
Prior to the grim discovery, the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, had issued a public plea expressing deep concern for her daughters’ safety. “I just want the girls back home safe and sound,” she said.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement urges anyone who may have seen Travis Decker, or has relevant information about his movements or possible whereabouts, to come forward.
This remains an active and evolving investigation.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.