A Nervous Encounter, a Shattered Family, and a Trail Still Cold
Newly released police footage is shedding fresh light on fugitive father Travis Decker’s behavior just days before he allegedly murdered his three daughters and then vanished into the wilderness.
In bodycam video obtained from Wenatchee Police, Decker appears fidgety, disoriented, and at times “intimidating,” according to the driver involved in the incident.
The footage captures a tense roadside scene that now haunts both investigators and the man who unknowingly crossed paths with Decker in those final, fateful days.
A Minor Crash With Chilling Undertones
On May 27, just three days before a scheduled custody visit, Decker rear-ended a car while stopped at a light in Wenatchee, Washington.
Travis Decker, now wanted for murder and kidnappingAt first glance, it was a routine accident: no serious injuries, just damage to both vehicles.
But to the driver, something felt off.
“I could tell he was not in his full senses,” the man later told KING-TV. He described Decker’s body language as “nervous” and “fidgeting,” adding that Decker kept placing his hand on his hip and tilting his head in a way that seemed unsettling.
In the footage, Decker, wearing a light blue shirt and shorts, can be seen shifting uncomfortably, occasionally looking bored as officers take down details.
The driver said Decker repeatedly asked if he would be OK and even offered an unusually long handshake lasting around nine seconds. “His grip was tight,” the man recalled.
Two Accidents, One Manhunt
The May 27 crash wasn’t Decker’s first incident that month. Earlier, on May 4, he was involved in another rear-end collision but left the scene before police could arrive.
Less than a month later, on May 30, Decker collected his three daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), from ex-wife Whitney Decker for what was supposed to be a routine visit.
By June 2, all three children were found suffocated at a remote Washington campground, their wrists bound with zip ties. Decker’s truck was located nearby, with two bloody handprints on the tailgate.
He has been missing ever since.
A Warning Sign Missed
In court papers filed after the tragedy, Whitney Decker revealed that her ex-husband’s behavior had seemed quieter than usual when he picked up the girls. But she never imagined what would come next.
Whitney Decker with daughters Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia (Source: Whitney Decker)In the same documents, she noted that Travis had recently tried to rekindle their relationship, despite the fact that they had been divorced for several years. The attempt was reportedly unwelcome and added to Whitney’s growing unease.
Authorities later uncovered Decker’s internet searches showing he had been researching how to move to Canada and looking up Canadian job listings in the days leading up to the murders.
Police believe he may have attempted to cross the border undetected.
The manhunt for Travis Decker has cost more than $6 million (Source: Chelan County Sheriff’s Office)False Sightings and Frustration
Since Decker’s disappearance, law enforcement agencies have spent over $6 million on the manhunt. They’ve deployed helicopters, drones, and search teams across Washington, Idaho, and beyond.
One promising tip came on June 18 in the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho, nearly 600 miles from the original crime scene. Idaho resident Jennifer Rice reported spotting a man with a black backpack who seemed out of place.
However, the search was eventually called off with no confirmed sightings.
“At this point, unless we find him deceased, I’m going to consider him alive,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a recent update.