You will never forget the moment your world shatters—and for Whitney Decker, that moment came when her three daughters were taken from her forever. The names Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia are now etched into national heartbreak after their father, Travis Decker, was charged with kidnapping and murdering them. As the manhunt for the former Army soldier intensifies, their mother has stepped forward, sharing the depth of her loss and the love that defined their short but beautiful lives.
Honoring Their Spirits With Words of Love
You could feel the ache in Whitney’s voice as she stood before a grieving crowd on June 20, trying to bring life to the memories of her girls. Speaking during the emotional memorial service, she offered personal reflections that painted a vivid portrait of Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5.
“You all look beautiful,” she told the mourners, “and I know Evy would have loved to ooh and ah over all your outfits.” Whitney added that her oldest daughter, Paityn, was the kind of child who would have complimented “each and every one of you… She did that for everyone, whether it was at a grocery store or at school or with me.” Her words served as both a eulogy and a testament to the light her daughters carried.
Navigating Emotional Currents After Divorce
Since her divorce from Travis in 2022, you can imagine the emotional landscape inside Whitney’s home was a complicated one. “There were a lot of feelings flowing through my house,” she admitted, reflecting on life after their separation. “Some of the feelings were easier to talk about than others.”
But Whitney and her daughters found solace in a ritual—a daily check-in on their emotions. With help from therapists, they developed what became known in their home as the “three feelings” routine. Each night, before bed, Whitney would ask her girls to share three emotions they had felt that day. It wasn’t just a coping mechanism; it became a foundation of connection.
How Each Daughter Shared Her Heart
You could see how different each child was in the way they expressed themselves. “For Paityn, she always had more than three,” Whitney shared, smiling through the sorrow. “She was consistently eager to tell me about every minute of her day.”
She described how Paityn often interrupted her sisters, desperate to make sure nothing was left out. Evelyn, on the other hand, preferred a more intimate setting. Whitney recalled how they would talk “one-on-one right at bedtime,” noting that Evelyn “wasn’t always ready to share them with her sisters.”
Olivia, the youngest, was still learning the language of feelings, but one emotion remained constant. “One was always ‘happy,’” Whitney said, her voice cracking as she held onto the sweetness of her little girl’s simplicity.
Quiet Power of Connection
Their nightly ritual wasn’t just about sharing—it was about listening, too. Whitney emphasized how important it was that she, too, expressed her feelings. You can sense how deeply those moments mattered. “It allowed us to connect when the world slowed down,” she said, explaining that those simple conversations gave them all space to breathe and just be.
“I believe doing this with them allowed them to come into the world with open hearts and kindness.” Her hope now is that their legacy—their innocence, their joy, their kindness—lives on in everyone who hears their story. “They were incredible,” she said, her voice full of pain and pride.
A Tragedy Still Without Closure
You now witness a mother not only mourning but also waiting. According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia died from suffocation. The details are harrowing, and the search for answers continues as authorities intensify efforts to capture Travis Decker.
The last confirmed sighting of the former soldier came during a routine custody visit on May 30. When he failed to return the girls by 8 p.m. and Whitney’s calls went unanswered, she knew something was terribly wrong. She called police. Her worst fears were confirmed on June 2, when the girls’ bodies were found near Travis’ abandoned truck at a campground in Washington State.
Search for Justice Presses On
You can feel the urgency in every update from law enforcement. As of now, Travis Decker remains a fugitive, but authorities say they are closing in. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Washington Army National Guard have joined the search. During a June 12 press conference, Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed that they are narrowing the gap.
“We are closing in,” he stated, referencing the man now charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping. As the investigation moves forward, you understand this is not only about justice—it’s about remembrance, healing, and the promise Whitney made to her girls to never let their light go out.
What do you think will bring Whitney and her family the closure they need? Let us know in the comments on Facebook.
