Whitney Decker is grieving an unimaginable loss—and speaking out—after her three young daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), were found murdered, allegedly by their father, Travis Decker, a former Army Ranger with a known history of mental illness.

Travis picked up the girls last Friday for a scheduled custody visit. When he failed to return them as planned, Whitney immediately grew concerned and asked authorities to issue an Amber Alert. But officials declined, saying the case didn’t meet the criteria.

Just three days later, the worst possible outcome became reality. The girls were found dead at a remote campground in Leavenworth, Washington. Their wrists had been zip-tied, and investigators believe they were suffocated with plastic bags.

Now, a nationwide manhunt is underway for Travis Decker, who is wanted for first-degree murder and kidnapping. He fled into the woods and remains at large. Authorities warn that he is armed, highly trained due to his military background, and considered extremely dangerous.

According to Whitney’s attorney, this tragedy might have been prevented. Travis had been diagnosed with PTSD and borderline personality disorder and had failed to comply with court-ordered therapy and anger management as part of his parenting plan. Whitney raised red flags during the divorce proceedings, voicing serious concerns about the girls’ safety during visits.

Despite those warnings, Whitney still allowed the visits, believing that Travis loved his daughters. He had never harmed them before or missed a scheduled return.

Now, that trust has been shattered, and a community is left in shock. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Travis Decker’s arrest.

This heartbreaking case raises critical questions about how authorities handle mental health warnings and child custody risks—and whether more could have been done to save Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia.