() Three Washington girls who were reported missing last week were found dead Monday, and a search is now ongoing for the girls’ father, police have announced.
The girls were discovered just before 4 p.m. local time Monday after detectives in Chelan County gathered information that led them to search an area around Leavenworth, where they hoped to find the girls and their father, Travis Decker, police said.
A Chelan County Forest Service deputy located Decker’s vehicle in a remote area and then found the girls, who were deceased. Police said that Decker was nowhere to be found.
Detectives and investigators have launched an investigation into the scene where the three girls were found and are working with multiple local, state and federal agencies to find Decker.
A regional SWAT team and U.S. Border Patrol agents, as well as Department of Homeland Security Investigations agents, are searching for Decker, police said.
Police do not know if Decker is armed but are warning the public that he should be considered dangerous and encourage residents not to approach him if he is seen.
The three sisters were last seen around 5 p.m. on May 30, when they left home with their father. Police said that Decker is homeless and lives in his vehicle or various hotels, motels or campgrounds.
Police said on Tuesday that Decker is being sought on three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Decker is a former member of the U.S. military has has extensive training. Decker is described as being 5’8 and 190lbs with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
