5, 8 and 9-year-old girls died after their “unstable” father who pleaded for more time with them during custody hearings suffocated them to death; father charged
Washington – In a deeply distressing incident in Washington, a 32-year-old father, identified as Travis D., has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after killing his three young daughters following a scheduled visit, just days after making a passionate plea to the court for more time with them.
Travis is accused of suffocating his three daughters, 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn and 9-year-old Paityn on May 30, shortly after picking them up for a court-approved visit. The girls were found dead on June 2, sparking widespread shock and outrage across the state. Authorities believe Travis fled the scene and possibly attempted to escape across the Canadian border.
In audio recordings from a court hearing last September, Travis can be heard emotionally appealing for more parenting time with his daughters, insisting that he had taken care of them since they were babies. “Every time I’ve had the girls, we have been in campsites and National Forests,” Travis told the judge. “I don’t believe that my weekends should be completely taken away since I have been gone.” The hearing was part of ongoing divorce and custody proceedings between Travis and his ex-wife, Whitney D. At the time, Whitney had primary custody of the children, and her concerns about Travis’ declining mental health and unstable living conditions were mounting.
Court documents submitted by Whitney painted a disturbing picture. She described her ex-husband as “unstable” and claimed he had no permanent home, moving between an RV, a truck, motels, campsites, and even an armory in the State of Washington. Whitney also told the court that her daughters were distressed during overnight visits and could be heard crying during phone calls from their father’s temporary residences. Attorney A. Cozart, representing Whitney, emphasized to the judge that the goal was not to take the girls away from their father entirely, but rather to prevent them from being subjected to unsafe conditions. “She just doesn’t want the children living out of a truck or in a tent in somebody’s backyard,” Cozart explained.
Travis, however, insisted his outdoor lifestyle was not a danger to the children. “I also think it’s important for the girls to understand a little bit about the world,” he argued. He acknowledged that his own living arrangements were not ideal, but claimed they didn’t reflect how he cared for his daughters. Judge R. Jourdan sided with Whitney, concluding that Travis’ living situation was “not stable.” He approved the updated parenting plan limiting Travis’ visitation.
Only days after that courtroom exchange, Travis picked up the girls for a scheduled visit and never returned them. The children’s bodies were discovered on June 2. Investigators said the former military trade worker suffocated all three girls, then disappeared, sparking a multi-agency manhunt. Authorities suspect Travis may have headed toward the Canadian border, and law enforcement agencies including the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, National Guard, and U.S. Marshals Service have all joined the search. The sheriff’s office said they believe they tracked him, but as of the latest update, Travis remained at large.
The girls’ mother has not yet publicly spoken following the devastating loss of all three of her children. But those close to the case say the signs were there — repeated warnings about Travis’ state of mind, his disregard for court orders, and his inability to provide a stable environment for his daughters. Now, instead of spending summer weekends at campgrounds or parks, the three sisters — whose lives were brutally cut short — are being mourned by their family and a shocked community. Travis remains charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and authorities are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
