A Washington father suspected of fatally suffocating his three little women has a comprehensive military background and served in Afghanistan, the Daily Mail has found out - as cops cautioned the general public not to approach him throughout their continuous manhunt.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of killing his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose bodies were discovered at a camping area in Leavenworth, after he stopped working to return them to their mom in Wenatchee following an arranged three-hour go to.

As authorities look for Decker, who is thought to be mentally unstable, they alerted locals that he might be unsafe due to his military background.

Decker joined the Army in 2013, according to the Associated Press. He served in Afghanistan before transferring 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 up until 2023 or 2024, when he changed to part-time.

Decker stopped participating in necessary regular monthly drills a little over a year back, and the Guard remained in the process of a disciplinary discharge.

He likely has advanced fight training and was an air-borne paratrooper who made the elite rank of 'Ranger,' showing he would have outstanding wilderness and survival skills, Fox 13 Seattle reported, citing social networks posts.

It is unidentified if the veteran is presently equipped, however regional law enforcement warned people from approaching him.

Travis Decker, 32, is accused of eliminating his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, after he failed to return them back to their mother following a scheduled three-hour see in Washington on Friday

Chelan County Sheriff's Office deputies found the girls' bodies about 75 to 100 lawns from Decker's truck at a campsite. Police believe the ladies passed away from asphyxiation and reported that their wrists were zip-tied, court files stated

'Due to security issues do not try to get in touch with or approach Decker,' cops stated.

'This is an absolute tragedy,' the military spokesperson informed AP. 'We are mourning together with the neighborhood.'

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

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

Decker's truck likewise had two bloody handprints on the tailgate, and inside were personal items including blankets, food, cars and truck seats and a wallet on the center console.

The campground likewise revealed signs of current activity, with a camping tent and a cooler located a brief range away, but Decker was no place to be found.

The women' mother, Whitney Decker, who is separated from the veteran, told police that he had actually picked the women up around 5pm but had actually not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents stated.

Detectives stated she 'expressed issue due to the fact that Decker reportedly has never done this before and ... is currently experiencing some mental health problems.'

The women' bodies were discovered around 38 miles from their mom's home. Decker is still on the run, as authorities caution locals that he might be harmful due to his basic training

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

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

The father-of-three was supposed to look for psychological health treatment and anger management therapy as part of a parenting plan, however there was no indication he has actually followed through with the plan - which he refused to sign, the court documents show.

Still, Whitney informed authorities she did not think her ex was unsafe and said he liked his daughters.

She stated the women had a 'excellent relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had actually never failed to return the ladies before, according to a police affidavit.

She said when Decker went to get the ladies for a scheduled three-hour see on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him.

He had actually likewise supposedly been speaking about getting rid of his canine due to housing and monetary struggles.

When Decker stopped working to return with the women that night, Whitney reported them missing out on.

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

Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He was a full-time member of the Guard till 2023 or 2024, when he changed to part-time. Decker stopped going to obligatory regular monthly drills a little over a year earlier, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge

Washington State Patrol was gotten in touch with Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not satisfy the needed criteria, Wenatchee Police stated.

The doing not have criteria was suspected kidnapping and impending danger of death or major injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol.

'In this case, it was a moms and dad with custodial opportunities, and the children had actually not been returned home on time. But that's a rather typical event and not something where you just automatically assume abduction,' he stated.

He added that there was no indication Decker would hurt them.

'We're people too, you understand, so the loss of a kid, the loss of 2 kids, the loss of 3 kids is ... devastating,' Loftis stated. 'Everybody constantly looks to how we can improve.'

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

State police later on dropped the EMPA on Monday night without releasing a public reason. The following day, Wenatchee Police Department announced the girls' deaths.

Whitney likewise mentioned in September divorce proceedings that he had actually been 'struggling to keep stability' since they separated and it was beginning to affect their children.

The women' mother said that at times he would have the women sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections

The women' mom said they had a 'excellent relationship with Decker and enjoy their time with him,' and kept in mind that he had never failed to return the women before

Whitney said when Decker went to get the ladies for a set up three-hour check out on Friday, he was 'quieter than normal' which was 'out of character' for him

When Decker stopped working to return with the ladies that night, Whitney reported them missing

She stated that sometimes he would have the women sleep at an armory while he was in the National Guard, despite her objections, according to the Seattle Times.

She likewise stated Decker was prone to 'outbursts' and would come into her house screaming for the women, whom he would often stop working to get after guaranteeing to do so.

In one circumstances, Whitney composed that her youngest daughter, Olivia, called her weeping throughout a see with Decker and said she might not find her father - before Evelyn got home with welts between her legs.

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

'But I can not have our ladies remaining in what is basically a homeless shelter, sometimes not being watched, with lots of weird males or remaining in a camping tent or living in his truck with him, both in extreme temperature levels and unknown locations for their safety.'

The women' maternal grandma similarly 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 happy, clever, well-adjusted women with the exception of when Travis brings them back to me after his visitations,' she wrote, according to the Seattle Times.

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

Whitney also stated in September divorce procedures that he had been 'struggling to keep stability' considering that they were separated and it was starting to affect their daughters

Whitney informed authorities she did not believe her ex was harmful and stated he enjoyed his children

Police is asking the general public for help to find the father-of-three, but advised locals not to approach him

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

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

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

'These ladies held true light in this world and it is a darker place without them. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' a note on the fundraising page read.

'Send Whitney all of your prayers, love and support. Take a while to today to inform somebody you love them.'

Afghanistan