Travis Decker’s Neighbor Details Odd Encounter Before Kids’ Murders

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Travis Decker seemed off the last day his daughters were seen alive. 

In their ongoing pursuit of the suspect linked to the tragic murders of his daughters Paityn (age 9), Evelyn (age 8), and Olivia (age 5), who are Whitney Decker’s children, authorities have interviewed Binh Nguyen, a longtime neighbor of the Decker family. Binh shared details about his last encounter with Travis.

In an interview with People on June 26th, Binh recollected, “He was lean. He had lengthy locks and a beard. I asked, ‘Could that be you, Travis?’

During their recent interaction lasting ten minutes, Binh acknowledged that Travis, whom Binh had maintained a cordial bond with for some time, appeared to be preoccupied or inattentive.

“It was kind of weird,” the neighbor continued. “He had a sad face.”

Just like Travis’ ex-wife, Binh mentioned that he didn’t see any warning signs in Travis’ actions beforehand, given that he frequently observed the 32-year-old take his daughters on camping trips for three years following the Deckers’ divorce in 2022. In his words, Travis and his daughters had a deep affection for each other, as they all appeared to love one another dearly. Unfortunately, this loving bond ended tragically when the girls were found asphyxiated at a campground in Washington state on June 2.

On May 31, Whitney last saw Travis during their scheduled custody exchange with their three daughters. He had informed Whitney that he would return the girls to her home at 8 p.m., but she grew concerned when he failed to arrive and his phone started going straight to voicemail.

Following a two-day long search, the Decker sisters were tragically discovered near an abandoned pickup truck belonging to Travis, who left no sign of his location. However, during a recent press conference, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison stated that they were getting close to identifying the suspect.

In the wake of my treasured daughters’ untimely passing, I finally broke my silence with a heartfelt tribute at their memorial service in June. There, I spoke lovingly about their remarkable spirits, as they carried the most vibrant and compassionate hearts.

In line with what was expressed, I wholeheartedly echo this sentiment shared by NBC K5 Seattle: May the memories and impact of these remarkable young ladies reside eternally in all our hearts.

For everything to know about the Decker case, keep reading… 

(TopMob and NBC K5 Seattle are both part of the NBC Universal family.)

Travis Decker faces three charges: first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, following accusations that he took the lives of his daughters, Paityn (age 9), Evelyn (age 8), and Olivia (age 5).

As a dedicated follower, I learned that Travis, who had children with Whitney Decker in the past, was reportedly residing in a 2017 white GMC Sierra pickup truck, shifting between motels, and local campsites.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: Having served in the Army, I’ve faced my fair share of mental health challenges. To maintain a close bond with my daughters, I’ve had to work diligently to manage these issues. In a temporary parenting arrangement effective September 2024, as outlined by NBC News, I was mandated to enroll in an anger management program and schedule biweekly individual counseling sessions.

According to the arrangement, Travis gets visitation time every alternate weekend. During these weekends, he should bring his daughters over to his ex-wife’s place by 8 p.m. on Fridays, 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 5 p.m. on Sundays.

On May 30, it was reported that Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were last seen when Travis took them from Whitney’s house for their scheduled visit, as stated in a document submitted to the Chelan County Superior Court on June 3.

According to the documents, Whitney claimed that the transaction proceeded smoothly, but Travis, whom Whitney mentioned was dealing with mental health troubles, seemed unusually quiet and this behavior was unexpected for him.

After 8 p.m., when Travis hadn’t brought back the girls, Whitney made several attempts to reach her former partner. Eventually, she decided to call the authorities.

On May 31, the Wenatchee Police Department announced they were looking for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. But by June 3, the department confirmed that Travis and Whitney’s three daughters had tragically been found dead at the Rock Island Campground, close to an abandoned vehicle belonging to Travis that had two bloody handprints.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but delve into the findings of the initial investigation conducted by the Chelan County Coroner. It appears that the unfortunate fate of these young ladies was as a result of asphyxiation.

Officials from local authorities, the US Marshal Service, and the Washington Army National Guard are currently conducting a search for an individual named Travis. He was last seen near the Rock Island campground, as stated by Chelan County officials. The search is ongoing, but it has been reported in a June 23 press release by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office that there is no solid proof indicating that Decker is still alive or present in this specific area.

Initially solid leads appeared promising, but over the past fortnight, evidence became less conclusive. Regardless, we persist in our search, as it’s crucial that Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker receive justice. The fact remains that Decker poses a threat to the public while he continues to elude capture.

Whitney paid a heartfelt homage to her daughters, whom she described as having entered the world with compassionate spirits and generous hearts.

At the June 20 memorial service, she addressed the crowd by saying, “Everyone here looks stunning, I can imagine Evy admiring all your outfits with delight,” furthermore mentioning that Paityn would have praised “each and every one of you … She always did so, whether it was at a market, school, or with me.

After their divorce, Whitney frequently inquired about the three feelings her daughters experienced daily.

Whitney mentioned that Paityn was never shy about sharing details of her day with me, often interrupting her siblings to do so. On the other hand, Ev would only open up about her feelings during our private conversations before going to bed, as she wasn’t comfortable discussing them with her sisters at other times.

While they were both still figuring out the words for her emotions, it’s worth noting that one of them was consistently “full of joy.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office shared that they are shifting their strategy. 

In a press release on June 23rd, the office declared they’re simultaneously pursuing the search for the fugitive and investigating whether Travis may have perished in the wilderness, with an aim to recover his body if that’s the case. Furthermore, they mentioned that the US Marshals have shifted their resources focused on finding fugitives towards locating Decker should he have departed from our region.

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2025-06-26 17:47