For much of the summer of 2025, the story of Travis Decker dominated the news cycle. Decker kidnapped his three daughters after a scheduled visit with the girls in late spring. He then disappeared, leading authorities to spend much of the summer searching for him. In September, police confirmed he was dead. A recent case out of Washington, the same state where Decker lived, focused on a dad who is accused of kidnapping his kids after assaulting his ex. The man allegedly likened himself to Decker before the abduction.
On November 14, 2025, around 9:30 p.m., officers from the Monroe Police Department responded to a domestic violence call, according to a news release. A woman called 911, telling dispatchers that her ex-boyfriend had attacked her and stolen her car. As he was leaving, he allegedly tried to run her over.
The woman then rushed to her home, fearing for the safety of her two children, ages 7 years and 10 months. She discovered the boy and girl were missing and suspected her ex had taken them.
Monroe police shared a “Be on the Lookout” alert with neighboring law enforcement, per the news release. As they were preparing an Amber Alert for the children with the Washington State Patrol, authorities learned that a deputy from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office had spotted the man’s car. The dad and children were in the car, all alive.
Officers made sure the children had warm clothes, diapers, and food after they were rescued, KOMO reported. The deputy from Kittitas County arrested the man to investigate driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. He was booked into Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, threats to kill, and second-degree domestic violence assault.
The man, who has not been named, appeared in court on November 17. His bail was set at $200,000, and a no-contact order was issued.
“We knew we needed to get these kids back safe; that was our priority,” Monroe Police Department Commander Paul Ryan shared in a statement, per KOMO.
The children’s mother told police her ex told her “he was going to be like Travis Decker and kill the kids,” according to court documents obtained by the news outlet.
KOMO asked Ryan if the dad who kidnapped his kids made any statements about Decker. Although the officer expressed discomfort with the question, he did acknowledge that the case was front of mind for everyone.
“We are all aware of the Decker case and its impacts on people across the state. I can tell you we acted on information we had in this case; it was really our priority finding these kids, and we are thankful we found them safe,” Ryan shared.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
