Neighbor Describes 'Strange' Last Meeting with Travis Decker Before His Three Daughters' Tragic Murder: 'He Looked Sad'

On May 30, a brief encounter unfolded between Binh Nguyen and Travis Decker, a man now at the center of a tragic investigation. Nguyen, who lives nearby, described how he barely recognized the homeless veteran as he picked up his three daughters for a scheduled custody visit.

“He was skinny. He had long hair and a beard. I said, ‘Is that you, Travis?’” Nguyen recalled, reflecting on their ten-minute conversation. This was the last time he would see Decker before the alleged murders of his daughters, Evelyn, 8, Olivia, 5, and Paityn, 9.

Nguyen noted that Decker appeared distracted during their chat, repeating inquiries about Nguyen’s well-being three times. “It was kind of weird. He had a sad face,” he added, hinting at an unsettling demeanor that contrasted sharply with the image of a devoted father he once knew.

Previously, Nguyen viewed Decker as a dedicated “girl dad,” often taking his daughters on camping trips in the Cascade Mountains even after his marriage to their mother, Whitney Decker, ended in 2022. “They loved him a lot, and he loved them too,” Nguyen stated, painting a picture of a father who cherished his time with his children.

Decker had been granted a three-hour visitation period starting at 5 p.m. on that fateful day. However, when 8 p.m. arrived without any sign of the girls or communication from Decker, their mother alerted authorities.

Tragically, the bodies of the three girls were discovered three days later near their father's abandoned pickup truck, each with plastic bags over their heads and zip ties around their wrists. The shocking nature of this discovery has left the community reeling.

The search for Decker, a highly-trained former soldier, has now extended into its fourth week. Authorities have recently acknowledged the grim possibility that he may not be alive. Cadaver dogs have been deployed in hopes of uncovering any trace of him as the investigation continues to unfold.