In a moving display of grief and unity, hundreds gathered Tuesday evening at Memorial Park in Wenatchee to honor the lives of three young sisters found dead in Chelan County. The girls—9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker—were remembered in a candlelight vigil marked by prayer, song, and tearful tributes.
The park, located next to the Chelan County Courthouse, became a site of mourning as community members lit candles, laid flowers, and shared memories of the girls whose lives were tragically cut short. Their father, Travis Decker, remains the primary suspect in their deaths and is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Authorities say the girls were reported missing after failing to return from a visit with their father. Days later, a U.S. Forest Service deputy located Decker’s abandoned vehicle in the Icicle Road area near Leavenworth. The bodies of the girls were found nearby, down an embankment.
As the manhunt intensifies, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison issued a direct plea to the fugitive.
“Travis, if you’re listening, this is your opportunity to do the right thing,” Morrison said during a news briefing Tuesday. “Turn yourself in, take accountability for your actions.”
Investigators say Decker, a former military member with extensive tactical training, may be attempting to evade capture. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service are actively pursuing leads, and a reward for information leading to Decker’s arrest has grown to $20,000. Authorities are operating under the assumption that he is still alive.
At Tuesday’s vigil, mourners stood in solemn silence before joining together in song. One woman addressed the crowd with emotion before leading them in “This Little Light of Mine,” a symbolic tribute to the innocence lost.
The vigil also drew loved ones and teachers who knew the girls personally. Lindsay Blade, a dance instructor at Fabulous Feet Dance Studio where Evelyn—affectionately known as Evie—took classes, recalled the joy and sibling bond the girls shared.
“All three girls loved each other and were the sweetest to each other,” Blade said. “Big sister was always there.”
She added that a recital planned in the coming weeks will include a special tribute.
“We’re going to save that spot for her, and she’s going to be dancing in Heaven,” Blade said.
The tragedy has sparked difficult conversations among parents and children in Wenatchee, where families are struggling to process the enormity of the loss.
“How do you tell a 10-year-old, who shouldn’t be exposed to this reality, that a father could do something like this?” asked Wenatchee resident Bill Borchers.
Despite the heartbreak, community members used brightly colored markers to write heartfelt messages and memories to the sisters—small but powerful gestures meant to honor their lives and preserve their spirit.
