The mother of the three young girls who were allegedly killed by her now-missing ex-husband shared a bizarre Father’s Day tribute to him before their tragic deaths.
Whitney Decker made a 20-second video featuring a slideshow of photos of her daughters, Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, Olivia Decker, 5, and their father, Travis Decker.
The video was made as a Father’s Day tribute to her veteran ex-husband who is now wanted on suspicion of murdering their three daughters. Her attorney, Arianna Cozart, provided the video to People.
It’s unclear when the video, which features Pharrell Williams‘ song Happy, was posted.
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia’s bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth on Monday, after Travis failed to return them after his visitation on Friday.
The girls were found 20 miles from their Washington home with their wrists bound with zip ties and each having been suffocated with a plastic bag.
Travis reportedly suffers from ‘complex PTSD’ and ‘other mental issues,’ and has since been on the run after vanishing into the woods.
Yet, the girls’ mother spoke out through Cozart and alleged that their murder ‘was a tragedy that could’ve been completely’ avoided had officials intervened.
Whitney Decker shared a 20-second video with People through her attorney, Arianna Cozart, featuring a slideshow of photos of her daughters, Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, Olivia Decker, 5 , and their father, Travis Decker
Travis reportedly suffers from ‘complex PTSD’ and ‘other mental issues,’ and has since been on the run after vanishing into the woods
The video was made as a Father’s Day tribute to her veteran ex-husband who is now wanted on suspicion of murdering their three daughters
She believes ‘something broke inside’ of Decker and that he ‘would not have done what he did if he was himself’, Cozart revealed in a heartbreaking statement early Thursday morning.
‘He clearly had some sort of break and everything that he had been living with, everything that had been bottled up inside of him for so long as far as trauma, just won out,’ Cozart told the Seattle Times.
The attorney, speaking on behalf of Whitney, also noted that it was uncharacteristic of Decker not to return his daughters after a scheduled visitation.
His ‘declining mental health’ and ‘out-of-character behavior’ should have prompted ‘enough concern’ for an Amber Alert, Cozart argued.
She believes authorities should have acknowledged the sisters were ‘missing’ and in ‘substantial danger’, even though Decker ‘didn’t issue an overt threat’.
Court documents state that when Whitney reported her daughters missing on Friday, she ‘expressed concern’ over his out-of-character actions and his alleged deteriorating mental state.
Whitney told police Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and believes he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.
The girls were found 20 miles from their Washington home with their wrists bound with zip ties and each having been suffocated with a plastic bag
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia’s bodies were found at a campsite in Leavenworth on Monday, after Travis failed to return them after his visitation on Friday
On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker’s arrest and ordered he be held without bail
The father-of-three was supposed to seek mental health treatment and anger management counseling as part of a parenting plan, but there was no sign he had followed through, the documents show.
Whitney stated in September divorce proceedings that he had been ‘struggling to maintain stability’ since they separated and it was beginning to affect their daughters.
She said that at times he would have the girls sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.
She also said Decker – was prone to ‘outbursts’ and would come into her house yelling for the girls – would sometimes fail to pick up after promising to do so.
‘I do not want to keep Travis from the girls at all,’ Whitney wrote in the court filing. ‘To the contrary, I have bent over backwards to facilitate that relationship.
‘But I cannot have our girls staying in what is essentially a homeless shelter, at times unsupervised, with dozens of strange men or staying in a tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperatures and unknown areas for their safety.’
But still Whitney reiterated to authorities how she did not believe her ex was dangerous and said he loved his daughters.
She said the girls had a, ‘good relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,’ and noted that he had never failed to return the girls before, according to a police affidavit.
Decker’s truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console
Whitney believes ‘something broke inside’ of Decker and that he ‘would not have done what he did if he was himself’
‘He clearly had some sort of break and everything that he had been living with, everything that had been bottled up inside of him for so long as far as trauma, just won out,’ Cozart said
She said when Decker went to pick up the girls Friday, he was ‘quieter than usual’ which was ‘out of character’ for him.
He had also allegedly been talking about getting rid of his dog due to housing and financial struggles.
On Tuesday, a judge issued a warrant for Decker’s arrest and ordered he be held without bail.
Authorities swarmed the Rock Island Campground on Monday evening after finding Decker’s truck.
Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the girls’ bodies about 75 to 100 yards from the truck. Police believe the girls died from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court documents state.
Decker’s truck had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, car seats and a wallet on the center console, police said.
The campground also showed signs of recent activity, with a tent and a cooler located a short distance away, but Decker was nowhere to be found.
