A Washington dad thought of fatally suffocating his 3 little women has an extensive military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has learned - as authorities cautioned the public not to approach him throughout their ongoing manhunt.

Travis Decker, 32, is implicated of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were found at a camping site in Leavenworth, after he failed to return them to their mom in Wenatchee following a scheduled three-hour visit.

As authorities look for Decker, who is believed to be mentally unsteady, they alerted residents that he could be harmful due to his military background.

Decker signed up with the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before moving to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Karina Shagren, interactions director for the the Washington Military Department, validated to the Daily Mail.

He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time.

Decker stopped attending obligatory regular monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the procedure of a disciplinary discharge.

He likely has actually advanced battle training and was an air-borne paratrooper who earned the elite rank of 'Ranger,' showing he would have excellent wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, mentioning social networks posts.

It is unidentified if the veteran is currently armed, but regional police warned people from approaching him.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his children, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he stopped working to return them back to their mom following a set up three-hour visit in Washington on Friday

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the ladies' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from Decker's truck at a camping site. Police think the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents said

'Due to security concerns do not attempt to call or approach Decker,' police said.

'This is an absolute disaster,' the military spokeswoman told AP. 'We are grieving in addition to the neighborhood.'

Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after finding Decker's truck.

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered the women' bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police think the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files stated.

Decker's truck also had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were individual products including blankets, food, safety seat and a wallet on the center console.

The camping site likewise revealed indications of recent activity, with a camping tent and a cooler located a brief range away, however Decker was nowhere to be discovered.

The women' mom, Whitney Decker, who is separated from the veteran, told authorities that he had actually selected the women up around 5pm however had not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.

Detectives stated she 'revealed concern due to the fact that Decker reportedly has actually never done this before and ... is currently experiencing some mental health concerns.'

The girls' bodies were found approximately 38 miles from their mom's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities alert residents that he might be hazardous due to his basic training

Decker's truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were individual products consisting of blankets, food, vehicle seats and a wallet on the center console

She likewise informed law enforcement authorities that Decker was identified with borderline character condition and thinks he did not take medication for the condition, according to court files.

The father-of-three was expected to look for psychological health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there was no sign he has actually followed through with the plan - which he declined to sign, the court documents reveal.

Still, Whitney told police she did not believe her ex was harmful and stated he liked his children.

She said the girls had a 'good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had actually never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit.

She stated when Decker went to get the ladies for an arranged three-hour go to on Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him.

He had actually likewise presumably been discussing getting rid of his canine due to housing and monetary struggles.

When Decker failed to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing out on.

'What triggered her to call us was that ... he was late returning the women and had not interacted to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion therefore this was out of the normal,' Captain Brian Chance said.

Decker signed up with the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. Decker stopped attending necessary month-to-month drills a little over a year earlier, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge

Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to ask for an Amber Alert, however it did not meet the needed requirements, Wenatchee Police stated.

The doing not have criteria was believed abduction and imminent hazard of death or major injury, stated Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

'In this case, it was a moms and dad with custodial privileges, and the children had actually not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common occurrence and not something where you simply immediately assume abduction,' he said.

He included that there was no sign Decker would damage them.

'We're individuals too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of 3 kids is ... ravaging,' Loftis stated. 'Everybody always aims to how we can improve.'

The following day, Wenatchee investigators called the patrol with additional details that caused the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert (EMPA).

State cops later dropped the EMPA on Monday evening without releasing a public factor. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department announced the girls' deaths.

Whitney likewise specified in September divorce proceedings that he had been 'having a hard time to maintain stability' given that they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.

The women' mom stated that sometimes he would have the women sleep at an armory while he remained in the National Guard, regardless of her objections

The ladies' mother stated they had a 'excellent relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and noted that he had never ever failed to return the ladies before

Whitney said when Decker went to pick up the ladies for an arranged three-hour see on Friday, he was 'quieter than usual' which was 'out of character' for him

When Decker failed to return with the women that night, Whitney reported them missing

She stated that at times he would have the ladies sleep at an armory while he remained in the National Guard, in spite of her objections, according to the Seattle Times.

She also said Decker was prone to 'outbursts' and would come into her house screaming for the ladies, whom he would often fail to get after promising to do so.

In one instance, Whitney wrote that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her crying throughout a go to with Decker and stated she might not find her dad - before Evelyn came home with welts between her legs.

'I do not desire to keep Travis from the ladies at all,' Whitney wrote in the court filing. 'To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to help with that relationship.

'But I can not have our girls remaining in what is basically a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with lots of unusual men or remaining in a camping tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperature levels and unidentified areas for their security.'

The girls' maternal granny likewise composed that Decker would drop off the women at irregular times and they would sometimes be upset or weeping when they returned home.

'They are all pleased, wise, well-adjusted girls with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she composed, according to the Seattle Times.

On Tuesday, a judge released a warrant for Decker's arrest and ordered he be held without bail.

Whitney also mentioned in September divorce proceedings that he had actually been 'struggling to keep stability' because they were separated and it was starting to affect their daughters

Whitney informed authorities she did not think her ex was hazardous and said he liked his daughters

Police is asking the public for aid to discover the father-of-three, however encouraged residents not to approach him

Decker is explained as 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, with black hair used in a ponytail and brown eyes.

He is charged with 3 counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe set up for Whitney had actually raised almost $366,000 as of Wednesday morning.

'These women were real light in this world and it is a darker location without them. I will miss out on seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.

'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take some time to today to tell someone you enjoy them.'

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