Authorities have reported a significant development in the search for Travis Decker, a former soldier wanted for the tragic killings of his three daughters. Law enforcement officials announced the discovery of human remains believed to be those of Decker in the mountains of Washington State. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office revealed that while positive identification is pending, initial findings indicate the recovered remains likely belong to Decker, who had been on the run since June 2.
Decker, 32, had eluded authorities after abandoning his truck and leaving the bodies of his daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), at a campground near Leavenworth. Prior to this grim discovery, Decker had failed to return his daughters to their mother’s residence in Wenatchee following a scheduled visit. A former infantryman in the Army, Decker had served from March 2013 to July 2021, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014, where he acquired specialized training in various survival skills.
The manhunt for Decker involved a massive search effort covering vast areas led by over 100 officials. US Marshals had offered a substantial reward for information leading to his arrest. Reports from Decker’s ex-wife indicated his deteriorating mental health and unstable behavior, prompting concerns about his interactions with his daughters. An autopsy confirmed the tragic cause of the girls’ deaths as suffocation, revealing they had been restrained with zip ties and suffocated with plastic bags.
Authorities are currently processing the crime scene in collaboration with forensic teams for DNA analysis. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has been providing support to the Decker family and has requested privacy and respect during the ongoing investigation. Further updates will be shared as the forensic examination progresses. Decker, described as a white male between 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins, was wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
