A mother in Washington is grappling with the tragic loss of her three young daughters, believing their father, a homeless military veteran, is more “broken” than a cold-hearted murderer after he allegedly killed them.
“Nobody fakes love for nine years,” said Whitney Decker’s attorney, Ariana Cozart, reflecting on the father’s emotional state. She stresses that something inside him must have shattered for him to commit such a horrific act.
Travis Decker is currently on the run after a girl’s body was discovered near a campground in Wenatchee, roughly three hours east of Seattle, following a visitation that ended tragically.
Authorities reported that the child, who vanished during a court-ordered visit, was found in a disturbing situation. Whitney, however, points not just to Travis but to the larger failings of a system that seems to let veterans down when they need help.
Whitney, who ended her marriage to Decker two years ago, mentioned he had actually sought help for his mental health issues from the veteran crisis line, grappling with post-traumatic stress and borderline personality disorders.
“If he could have gotten the help he needed, things might have turned out differently,” Cozart argued. She insisted that there’s no question of how much he loved those girls, even while recognizing his mental health struggles.
Whitney noted that after their separation in 2022, Decker was granted limited visitations every weekend. She argued that he had followed the visitation rules until this tragic incident.
Despite the social media backlash against her, Whitney remains firm in her understanding of who Travis is: a man battling complex PTSD and the scars of war.
Cozart further argued that perhaps the tragedy could have been averted had local police considered Decker’s mental health more seriously. An appeal for an Amber alert was made when he did not return with the girls, but officials deemed there was no reason to initiate it due to the nature of the visitation arrangement.
Travis Decker Update
Whitney informed police that Decker picked up the girls at around 5 PM, but by 8 PM, they had not returned and his phone went straight to voicemail. Law enforcement requested an Amber alert on Friday night, but the case didn’t fit the requirements since Decker had a scheduled pickup.
In light of her daughter’s death, Whitney is advocating for reforms in the Amber Alert system and better mental health resources for veterans. “If the system was better funded, those girls might still be here today,” her attorney highlighted.
“Travis’ struggles with mental health ultimately led to this tragedy. He had actively sought emergency services, but the system failed him,” Whitney stated. She expressed frustration about the limited support for veterans once they leave the service.
As law enforcement continues the manhunt for Travis, there are efforts underway to form a task force focused on the Amber Alert system. Interested parties can reach out via email for more information.
Additionally, they encourage anyone in need of assistance to contact the Veteran Crisis Line.
