WENATCHEE VALLEY, WA – On May 30th, three little girls left with their father for a scheduled visit and never made it home again. The father, Travis Decker, has been accused by law enforcement of murdering the three girls, and as of writing, remains at large.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the mom, Whitney Decker, as she struggles to pay for any expenses and/or legal costs following the tragic loss of her three daughters: Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. As of writing, the fundraiser has surpassed one million dollars, as people from all over the world have donated any amount they can.
So far, $1,219,154 has been raised toward the $1,340,000 goal.
“The funds raised will go directly to Whitney to help cover funeral expenses, support time off from work, and give her space to heal without financial pressure,” Amy Edwards, the woman who organized the fundraiser, said. “In light of the overwhelming response, I want to clarify that this is the only official GoFundMe fundraiser approved by Whitney and created with her full knowledge and consent,” Amy added.
The three little girls were described as a “true light in this world and it is a darker place without them,” Amy wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “Whitney hopes to honor the memory of her beautiful girls in a way that will share their light for generations to come and your gifts will help make that possible. We are so grateful!”
The fundraiser has more than 200,000 donations, KING5 reported. “The outpouring of love, generosity and support has been overwhelming. Not only here, in Wenatchee Valley, but from communities around the world,” Mark Belton, a friend of Whitney, said. “We’re deeply moved and profoundly grateful.”
On Tuesday, June 3rd, more than 300 people attended a vigil to remember the girls. Dozens of children attended, many of whom played sports with or participated in other activities with the girls. “She was really nice. She was a really good dancer. I really think she was a really good friend,” eight-year-old Lilly Jones, who participated in dance with Evelyn, said at the vigil. “I really miss her and I just think it was too early.”
A Facebook group dedicated to the memory of the girls has also been started and already has more than 19,000 members, with people who have never met the family sharing kind words. “Sending much love and keeping Whitney and the little girls in our thoughts in Germany,” wrote one member. Another member shared a prayer for the girls.
“Dear God, we come to you with heavy hearts, holding close the precious memories of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. In the stillness of our grief, helps us to lay aside the questions that have no answers, the pain that threatens to consume us, and instead, wrap our hearts around the light they brought into this world,” the prayer read in part.
