A former Army soldier with “extensive training” is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and subsequently found dead in Washington state.
Travis Decker, 32, is wanted on three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to Wenatchee Police. Wenatchee is located about 100 miles east of Seattle.
On Friday, the girls’ mother reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said. The girls were aged nine, eight and five.
“We are all turning our heartbreak into focus. There is work to be done in apprehending this man,” a spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
FBI TO PROBE ‘TARGETED VIOLENCE’ AGAINST RELIGIOUS GROUPS AFTER EVANGELICALS’ PROTEST IN SEATTLE
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said “The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is working closely with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office to locate and apprehend this fugitive” and “a reward of up to $20,000 is available for information leading directly to Mr. Decker’s arrest.
“The suspect is not known to be armed at this time, but should be considered dangerous,” it added.
In court documents, Decker’s ex-wife claimed he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she believes he isn’t taking medication for, according to Fox 13 Seattle.
The station also cited the documents as saying that Decker was “quieter than usual” when he was picking up the kids on Friday, which was “out of character,” and that he allegedly was talking about getting rid of his dog because of housing and financial woes.
Over the weekend, authorities searched for the children and their father, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington state plates.
Police said Decker’s truck was found unoccupied on Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles northwest of Wenatchee.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the girls’ bodies in “relatively close proximity to that vehicle,” police said.
Police believe the girls, whose wrists were zip-tied, died from asphyxiation, according to court documents.
The Wenatchee School District’s superintendent called the deaths of the children “tragic,” noting that they attended Lincoln Elementary School.
“Our immediate and utmost priority is the well-being of the Lincoln Elementary community. We are focusing all our efforts on providing comprehensive support to their students, staff, and families during this unimaginable time,” Superintendent Kory Kalahar said.
Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows where he may be was asked to contact police.
“Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,” police said.
The mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. on Friday but did not return them by 8 p.m. and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.
A detective said she “expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues.”
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN SUNKEN BOAT BRINGS CLOSURE TO TEXAS FAMILY’S ALASKA TRAGEDY
“What prompted her to call us was that … he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,” Capt. Brian Chance said.
The sheriff’s office, which located the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on “potential credible information and tips” about Decker’s location, the agency said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Travis, if you’re listening, this is your opportunity to turn yourself in,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said at a press conference Tuesday. “Do the right thing, do what you need to do. And take accountability for your actions. We’re not gonna go away, we’re not going to rest, and we’re gonna make sure we find you.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. News Today on Fox News
Read the full article .
