WENATCHEE, Wash – The mother of three girls who were allegedly murdered by their father had increasing concerns about his mental stability in the weeks and months leading up to their murder.
Travis Decker is wanted for the murders of his three daughters, Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia.
He failed to bring them back after a visitation Friday afternoon. Their bodies were found Monday near a campground west of Leavenworth, Washington.
According to charging documents obtained by 4 News Now, the couple has been divorced for several years.
Their parenting plan was modified last fall and allowed Decker to visit his kids every other weekend within specific hours. The visitations were not allowed to happen overnight and had to be in the Wenatchee Valley.
Decker picked up the girls from their mother’s home around 5 p.m. Friday and was supposed to have them back by 8 p.m.
After they did not return, the girls’ mother tried repeatedly to reach Decker, but the calls went straight to voicemail.
The mother told investigators Decker had never done this before, “and further noted he is currently experiencing some mental health issues.”
She told police Decker was homeless and stayed in hotels/motels or in local campgrounds.
Decker’s mental health
The children’s mother told investigators that Decker had a good relationship with his daughters and they enjoyed their time with him.
She told investigators he was not physically abusive to her during their marriage, but said he did have moments of exerting his control over her, including “randomly leaving or waking her up by screaming at her in the middle of the night.”
The children’s mother also said Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and she did not believe he was taking medication for it.
Court records from their divorce show increasing concerns with his behavior.
In a court hearing in September, attorneys argue there was a “substantial change in circumstances as to [Decker’s] ability to parent children safely.”
Attorneys said he was living in his truck and that he shouldn’t be allowed overnight visits until he had safe housing.
The girls’ mother told the court Decker once had them sleeping at the armory, around dozens of men.
The court also ordered Decker to take part in anger management classes and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
At that hearing, Decker told the court he objected to the change in the parenting plan, saying he already didn’t get enough time with his girls.
He said he left the Army voluntarily to spend more time with them.
The judge sided with the girls’ mother and limited the visitation.
On the afternoon of the girls’ abduction, their mother told police Decker was “quieter than usual, which was out of character.”
She mentioned that he had concerns about money because of a recent traffic ticket and because his wages were being garnished due to back child support.
She said his children and his dog are two positives in his life, but he mentioned he may have to get rid of the dog due to his housing and financial concerns.
Wanted for aggravated murder
After an extensive search through the weekend, investigators found the bodies of the three girls at a campground west of Leavenworth, Washington.
They found Decker’s truck, unoccupied.
On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping.
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