Travis Decker’s Ex Said His Only Joys Were Daughters and Husky — Then He Considered Rehoming Dog Before Kids' Deaths: Court Docs

Travis Decker’s ex-wife has said his only joys were his three daughters and husky, but amid financial and housing difficulties, he had talked about rehoming the dog before the girls were found dead, according to court documents.

Decker, 32, hasn’t been seen since picking up the former couple’s three daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, for a court-approved visit in Wenatchee, Wash., on May 30. He never returned the girls to Whitney, who reported their daughters missing to police later that night, setting off a frantic search for the four.

But on June 2, the girls were found asphyxiated near Travis’ pickup truck in the remote Rock Island Campground — with the father nowhere to be found.

Before the search turned tragic, Whitney Decker told investigators that her ex-husband, a former military man, was “quieter than usual” that day, noting that was “out of character” for him.

“Whitney stated his children and his dog are the two big positives in his life,” a Wenatchee police detective wrote in a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

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The detective said Whitney noted that Travis’ discussions about giving up the dog were tied to his uncertain housing situation and financial concerns, including garnished wages due to back child support and a recent traffic ticket, per the affidavit. Whitney also told investigators that Travis lost housing after she reassessed the couple’s custody agreement in court.

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In a September 2024 court filing, Whitney said Travis was living in his RV and spending nights at shelters. The new custody agreement meant Travis, who she claimed was dealing with mental health issues that affected his ability to parent, no longer had overnight stays with the girls.

Now, Travis is the subject of an ongoing manhunt, wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with their daughters’ deaths.

Whitney never suspected him of causing harm. “This man never laid a hand on those girls,” her attorney, Arianna Cozart, previously told PEOPLE.

As of June 23, investigators believe there is “no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” per a statement from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, which is one of multiple agencies involved in the search.

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The sheriff’s office said that investigators have spent “days and nights in remote terrain, working with K9 resources and experienced trackers to identify and follow any credible lead to Decker’s location.”

“Detectives have investigated dozens and dozens and dozens of potential sightings, tips, and leads provided by the public,” the statement reads. The sheriff’s office added, “We still believe public awareness and help is our best tool.”

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison recently told PEOPLE that if for some reason Decker is no longer alive, he’d still like to find him to “bring closure to not only the family, but to our communities.”