• Travis Decker, 32, is accused of murdering his three daughters after a planned visit.
• The girls, aged 9, 8, and 5, were found near a campground with indications of foul play.
• A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Decker's arrest.

Amanhunt is underway for Travis Decker, a 32-year-old accused of murdering his three young daughters, aged 9, 8, and 5, near a campground in central Washington. Their mother, Whitney Decker, reported their father did not return the girls after a visit, prompting police involvement when his lack of communication raised alarms. The girls were later found dead with plastic bags over their heads, approximately 75 to 100 yards from Decker's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck, which was located unoccupied at Rock Island Campground, according to indiatimes and ABC News.

Authorities are deeply concerned as Decker, a former Army soldier with "extensive training," is believed to be dangerous. The local police, along with federal agents from the FBI and U.S. Marshals, are searching for him, offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. "He can be anywhere within the nation," stated Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison, underscoring the urgency of finding Decker, who is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping, according to ABC News and Los Angeles Times.

Travis Decker is reported to have struggled with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, which his ex-wife's attorney claims impacted his behavior. Prior to the tragic events, Whitney Decker was concerned about his mental stability and petitioned the court to impose restrictions on his visitation rights with the children. According to his attorney, there were no clear red flags leading to the breakdown in their relationship that resulted in this tragedy, as Decker was portrayed as an "active dad" who attended his children's events, as noted by ABC News.

While officials initially declined to issue an Amber Alert due to a lack of evidence suggesting imminent danger, they later issued an Endangered Missing Persons Alert. This has since raised questions regarding the protocols in place for such cases, with officials admitting that the system "obviously didn't work this time," reflecting the desire for improvements to ensure future alerts are appropriately utilized, revealing sentiments from Los Angeles Times and indiatimes.

As the community mourns the loss of three innocent lives, mental health advocates have emphasized the urgent need for better resources and support for individuals with similar backgrounds as Decker's. Whitney Decker's attorney has echoed a commitment to reforming mental health services for veterans to prevent similar tragedies in the future, with calls for systemic changes to address the oversight that seemingly led to this heartbreaking outcome, as cited by ABC News and Los Angeles Times.