Washington Tragedy Sparks Calls for Reform
The murders of Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5) at a Leavenworth campsite have left their mother, Whitney Decker,
grief-stricken and the public demanding accountability. Their father, Travis Decker—now wanted for their
killings—allegedly bound and suffocated them in what investigators described as an “unthinkable” act.
Whitney says the tragedy could have been prevented. She repeatedly warned officials about Travis’s PTSD and
borderline personality disorder and urged police to issue an Amber Alert when he failed to return the girl
s after visitation. Authorities denied the request, claiming the case did not meet criteria. Her attorney, Arianna Cozart,
stressed that those warnings should have prompted urgent action: “We may never know if an Amber Alert
would have saved their lives, but it could have made a difference.”
The case highlights systemic gaps in how custody disputes and mental health red flags are addressed.
Experts warn that Amber Alert thresholds are often too strict, delaying responses until it’s too late. As Travis remains at large,
the girls’ deaths have become a rallying cry for reform, pushing for faster intervention, stronger
mental health screening, and improved protections for vulnerable children.
