Authorities in Washington State have not found any evidence suggesting that 32-year-old Travis Decker, a fugitive accused of murdering his three daughters, is still alive. The search has been ongoing for three weeks in the mountainous region where Decker was last seen, following the discovery of his car and the bodies of his daughters—9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia—near Leavenworth.
Travis Decker became wanted on June 2, when he failed to return his daughters to their mother after a scheduled visit. The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office has stated that early promising leads have dwindled, raising concerns that Decker may have perished in the wilderness.
Investigators are now reallocating resources toward locating his remains, utilizing specially trained dogs to assist in this effort. The sheriff’s office emphasized that as long as Decker is unaccounted for, he remains a threat to the public.
The U.S. Marshals Service is actively involved in tracking him down, with added patrols in the area.
The region has various backcountry trails that connect to Chelan County, making it feasible for Decker to evade capture in its rugged terrain, where many places could provide concealment. In addition, authorities have called for public assistance to report any suspicious sightings or information.
Earlier, hikers in the Cascade Range reported encountering a person who seemed ill-equipped for the environment and was attempting to avoid others. Attempts were made to track this individual, but the lead eventually went cold.
Decker, a former Army infantryman with survival training, has drawn attention to his past mental health struggles, which his ex-wife detailed as having worsened over time. Tragically, an autopsy confirmed the girls’ deaths were due to suffocation, as they were bound and had plastic bags over their heads.
A tip line has been made available to collect any information regarding Decker’s whereabouts, with a reward being offered for tips leading to his arrest.