An extensive manhunt continues for Travis Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran accused of killing his three young daughters in Washington state. Decker has been on the run since May 30, when he vanished with Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. He is wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.
The girls’ bodies were discovered on June 2 near Decker’s abandoned pickup at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. An autopsy determined they each died of asphyxiation, and their deaths were ruled homicides. On Tuesday, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office revealed grim details: two victims each had two bags over their heads, the third had three bags, and cable ties were found nearby.
DNA evidence has linked Decker to the plastic bags and one zip tie used in the killings. A bloody handprint on his truck’s tailgate also matched his DNA. Investigators stated that the evidence points to him as the only suspect. The murders occurred after Decker was granted a court-approved visit with his daughters; when he failed to return them, their mother reported them missing.
Last year, Decker’s ex-wife had petitioned the court to modify custody, citing his mental health issues and tendency to live out of his truck. Decker served in the Army from 2013 to 2021, including a four-month deployment to Afghanistan, and was trained in wilderness survival. Before the murders, he allegedly searched online for “how to relocate to Canada,” raising fears he may have fled across the border.
Possible sightings have been reported but unconfirmed, including one on June 10 along Highway 97 in Washington and another on July 5 in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest. The sheriff’s office said they have no evidence to suggest whether Decker is alive or deceased. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
