Remains believed to be Travis Decker wanted in murder of 3 daughters after months on the run

After a prolonged search spanning three months, human remains believed to belong to Travis Decker have been located. The Army veteran was wanted in connection with the tragic murders of his three young daughters, found near a campsite in rural Washington.

The remains, likely associated with the National Guardsman, were uncovered in the Icicle River drainage, following warnings from officials who considered him dangerous and capable of being “anywhere within the nation.”

“We are awaiting further confirmation tomorrow,” stated Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison during an interview with NCWLIFE. “However, the evidence appears consistent with the clothing he was last seen wearing.”

Identification of the remains will be carried out by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

The lifeless bodies of Decker’s daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were tragically discovered on June 2, three days after Decker took them for a supposed “planned visitation” from their home in Wenatchee.

Initial investigations suggest that the girls likely died due to asphyxiation, a harrowing detail that has emerged.

Whitney Decker, the girls’ mother, informed authorities that when Decker picked up the children, he exhibited unusual behavior, being “quieter than usual,” as detailed in an affidavit located by KOIN News.

The couple divorced a number of years ago, and while Decker was not homeless at the time, their separation was reportedly amicable. However, in the last two years, Decker’s mental health significantly deteriorated, leading to a court ruling that limited his access to the children to alternate weekends, according to statements from Whitney Decker’s lawyer, Arianna Cozart.

“He is a broken human being, like anyone who would commit such a heinous act is,” Whitney remarked, asserting that Decker had received insufficient help after leaving active duty with the US Army Rangers and was actively seeking veterans’ emergency services.

“Whitney believes that if the mental health resources for veterans were adequately funded, her girls would still be alive today. There is no doubt that Travis loved those children and was a devoted father,” she added earnestly.

Interestingly, it was reported that Decker had searched online for information on “how to relocate to Canada” and jobs in Canada, at least a week before he disappeared with his daughters, as indicated by new court documents.

Follow The Post’s coverage on Travis Decker

• Neighbor shares heartbreaking text sent by mom of the deceased girls after discovering their fates
• Examining the troubled past of Travis Decker: A homeless veteran sought for the murders of his daughters
• Footage captured of Decker before the tragic deaths of his daughters
• A closer look at Travis Decker’s unsettling behavior preceding the murders

The remains of the girls were found a mere 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a route directly leading to Canada, as per the affidavit by Deputy US Marshal Keegan Stanley, indicating a motive for Decker to flee.

During the ongoing search, authorities initially believed that Decker was hiding within the Washington wilderness, utilizing survival skills acquired during his military training, police communicated at a news conference.

Temporary closures have taken place in various remote areas throughout the state, as multiple agencies continue searching for the accused. A reward of $20,000 has been offered for information that could lead to Decker’s capture.

Decker’s history includes attending mountain survival school, and he often spent extended periods living off the grid, as recounted by his father during police investigations.

“He would sometimes live in the woods for up to two and a half months, and we fear he could have pre-planned this before the incident,” Morrison noted during the press briefing.

In a further heartbreaking turn, Whitney Decker is calling for reforms to Washington’s Amber Alert system, asserting it could have played a crucial role in locating her daughters while they were still alive. Cozart, Whitney’s attorney, indicated that Whitney believes that the decision made by the Washington State Patrol not to issue an Amber Alert promptly after her children were reported missing was a critical error.