Washington mother credits Amber Alert with potentially saving her three daughters from danger.

The mother of three girls, whose tragic deaths are attributed to their father, is urging changes to Washington state’s Amber Alert system. Following the grim discovery of her daughters’ bodies, Whitney Decker believes that an Amber Alert could have saved them. Her attorney, Arianna Cozart, emphasized the importance of reforming the alert system to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The girls—Evelyn, 8, Paityn, 9, and Olivia, 5—were found deceased several days after their mother reported them missing.

Their father, Travis Decker, is currently wanted on first-degree murder charges related to their deaths. The search for the girls began after Whitney Decker notified authorities that her ex-husband failed to return the children after a scheduled visit. Although an Endangered Missing Persons Advisory was issued, it does not carry the same mass notification capability as an Amber Alert. Cozart indicated that local police had informed the state patrol of Travis Decker’s mental health struggles and had urged for an Amber Alert without success.

A spokesperson from the state patrol stated that the situation did not meet the specific criteria required for such an alert, which includes a belief that the missing person has been abducted and is in immediate danger. Court documents reveal that while Whitney Decker and her ex-husband had a parenting plan, Travis never signed it due to homelessness and failed to pursue necessary mental health treatment as stipulated in the agreement. The girls were discovered in a remote area, zip-tied with plastic bags over their heads, a horrifying scene that has heightened concerns about Travis Decker, who is described as potentially armed and dangerous with survival skills. Local authorities are actively searching the area and reminding residents to take precautions.