Effort underway to change Amber Alerts in wake of Travis Decker case
Aug 4, 2025, 3:50 PM | Updated: 3:51 pm
This photo provided by Whitney Decker shows Paityn, Olivia and Evelyn Decker. (Photo courtesy of Whitney Decker via AP)
(Photo courtesy of Whitney Decker via AP)
A petition to create a new law to change the state’s Amber Alert system in the wake of the Travis Decker case is gaining steam.
Whitney’s Law is named for Whitney Decker, whose daughters were killed at a campsite outside Leavenworth in May.
So far, the petition for Whitney’s Law has roughly 5,000 signatures.
In June, State Representative and former Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett argued that Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia might be alive if the Amber Alert system — or the rules for custodial visits — had been changed by a law like Whitney’s Law.
“We’re not gonna deny you visits,” he said. “But let’s put this in a safe environment. Maybe that would have been the piece that could potentially have helped in this situation.”
RELATED STORIES
No Amber Alert issued due to Decker’s custodial visitation rights
The case didn’t meet the current Amber Alert thresholds because Travis Decker had custodial visitation rights.
Tamara Emerson with A4 Safety Alliance led a rally for change on the steps of Seattle’s City Hall in June.
“Sometimes we wait until harm occurs to put protections in place,” she said. “But if there are risk factors, children should be protected.”
Travis Decker has not been found.
Follow Luke Duecy on X. Read more of his stories here. Submit news tips here.
