Callum Jones
The mother of three missing sisters who went missing from Wenatchee last week and were found dead on Monday (June 2) has spoken out.
Whitney Decker called the police last Friday (30 May) when her three daughters, Olivia, 5, Evelyn, 8, and Paityn, 9, failed to return home from a planned visitation with their father.
Her ex-husband, Travis Decker, was due to drop their daughters back at their home in Wenatchee, Washington State, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Police later confirmed the tragic news all three of the little girls were found dead at Rock Island Campground, around 40 miles away from their home, at around 3.45pm on Monday.
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The girls' bodies were also found near to their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck, with Decker being charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, Wenatchee Police Department have confirmed.
However, the father remains at large, so officials are at work trying to locate the suspect.
Now, Whitney is calling for reforms to Washington State's Amber Alert system, with the grieving mother suggesting it may have been a different outcome if Washington State Patrol issued an Amber Alert for the sisters last week.
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Arianna Cozart, Whitney's attorney, told KING of Seattle: "It’s very important to Whitney to get that fixed."
An Amber Alert aims to 'instantly galvanize communities to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of an endangered missing or abducted child', according to the State.
UNILAD has contacted the Washington State Patrol for comment.
After Whitney contacted the police in concern for her daughters' safety, she told cops her frantic calls to Decker went straight to voicemail after he was due to return them home.
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A large scale search operation remains in the town of Leavenworth, the location where Decker's truck was seen.
Upon searching the vehicle, personal items such as blankets, food, car seats and a wallet were found, as well as two bloody handprints were found by police, reports The NY Post.
Law enforcement has urged the public not to approach Decker if they see him, stating he poses a 'significant risk' amid his military background.
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It remains unclear if the suspect is or was armed.
However, police are appealing for assistance to help locate him, describing Decker as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
"If you see, or believe you have seen, Mr. Decker please call 911 immediately and do not attempt or contact or approach him," Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a statement released on Thursday (June 5).