A small community in Washington has been left heartbroken after the loss of three young sisters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. What began as a custody visit turned into a devastating tragedy that has raised urgent questions about how such a situation could have been prevented.
Their mother, Whitney Decker, has shared her story publicly — a story about love, fear, and the struggle to get help when she felt her children were in danger. It’s a story that speaks not only to her personal heartbreak but also to the larger issue of how family and mental health crises are handled across the country.
According to investigators, the girls were last seen with their father, Travis Decker, during a scheduled visitation. When he failed to bring them home, Whitney immediately grew concerned. She called the authorities, explaining that her ex-husband had been struggling with serious mental health challenges and that she feared for her daughters’ safety. She pleaded for an Amber Alert to be issued, but was told the situation didn’t yet meet the required criteria.
Days later, the worst outcome imaginable unfolded. The children were found at a remote campsite in Leavenworth, Washington. Their father has since become the focus of a statewide search and remains a wanted suspect.
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